Legendary Bluesman Buddy Guy Bringing a Whole Lotta Soul to Coconut Creek

By Victor Gonzalez Fri., Nov. 9 2012 at 7:58 AM

Categories: Concert Preview

When legendary bluesman Buddy Guy first picked up a six-string for the first time, the now 76-year-old musician wasn't thinking about commercial success and critical praise. He was too busy falling in love with music.

"When I picked up the guitar, learning how to play it was for the love of music -- not the love of money or the love of awards," Guy told Chicago ABC affiliate WLS-TV in early October. He'd just been named one of the seven recipients of the 35th Annual Kennedy Center Honors.

Throughout the course of his nearly 60-year career, Buddy Guy has worked with, and influenced, some of the most prolific musicians of all time. When he arrived in Chicago in 1957, Guy joined Muddy Waters' band.

Ten years later, he was mentoring Jimi Hendrix. "I think it was 1967, and I was going wild as usual, and somebody kept hollering, 'There's Hendrix, there's Hendrix,' " Guy said in PBS' American Roots Music series. "We became pretty close from that night on. And every time I went through New York or somewhere, he would show up and we would jam together." Buddy Guy is coming to Seminole Coconut Creek Casino this Sunday night with the soulful Jonny Lang.

Buddy Guy, with Jonny Lang. 7 p.m. Sunday, November 11, at Seminole Casino Coconut Creek, 5550 NW 40 St., Coconut Creek. Tickets cost $70 to $90, plus fees. Age 21 and up. Call 954-977-6700, or visit ticketmaster.com.