After six excellent years of enthralling audiences at the Mahindra Blues Festival, Blues legend Buddy Guy hangs up his boots leaving us with memories of the smile that never left his lips
Pic Courtesy/Meghanadan A.S.
The morning before writing this piece, this writer decided to listen to only Buddy Guy songs. As strains of Feels like rain floated across the living room, the last of Mumbai’s winter already fading, we felt a certain sense of calm take over... one we have sorely needed the past month.
And though we wouldn’t call ourselves a blues listener, it’s hard to not recognise that the influence of blues and what Buddy does is all around us—be it on artistes such as Eric Clapton (who described Guy as “the best guitar player alive”), Jimi Hendrix, Keith Richards, and most recently, John Mayer, who this writer can’t get enough of. With eight Grammy awards and his Harmony acoustic guitar hanging in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame—Buddy, who was born in 1936 in Louisiana—is a legit living legend.
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Buddy Guy, 86, first performed in Mumbai in 2011, and will be performing for the last time today. Pics Courtesy/Mahindra Blues Festival
Mumbai has had the privilege of seeing him perform six times as part of the Mahindra Blues Festival. His first was in 2011, and the last one will be tonight at Mehboob Studio. Brian Tellis, host of the festival, says that there is no one as “real” as Buddy. “What stands out for me is that he is very encouraging of other talents,” says the founder of the entertainment company, Radioactive Ventures, “He always gives a platform to younger musicians. At one of the first times he played here, he brought Milind Deora [politician-music enthusiast] on stage and gave him his own polka-dotted guitar. Once, I was having dinner with him and had to scoot for a friend’s birthday; my friend was a big Buddy fan. I told Buddy that, and he picked up my phone, and called to wish him. This is what I mean when I say he is a real guy—he knows his achievements, but he doesn’t let them affect his relationships with normal people.”
V Jairam, founder of Hyperlink Brand Solutions and festival director, says that the festival got a great endorsement once Buddy got on stage and told the audience: “The blues live here.”
Buddy has a habit of teasing and joking with the audience, and fans swear that his jolly vibe is one that rubs off on every listener
“We had not planned on programming him this year,” Jairam continues, “But then he called and said he wanted to start his farewell tour in Mumbai. Who can say no to that? The festival is sold out thanks to him. There are no diminishing returns where Buddy is concerned.”
Jay Shah, Vice President of Cultural Outreach, Internal Communications, Global Recruit Programme at Mahindra and Mahindra, echoes the sentiment. “He has been the patron saint of the event—he holds a Mahindra Blues Weekend at his club, Legends, in Chicago twice a year. He is floored by the care and love he has got in India.”
V Jairam, Director, Mahindra Blues Festival and Subhash Kamath
That could be because, even when on stage, far away from the average audience member, Buddy’s light shines bright. Photographer Meghanadan, who photographed the blues man at the last offline festival in 2020, says that it was the first time he had seen him perform, but was struck by the fact that his smile never left his face. “You feel happy when you see him. And he was so active, no breaks, just playing his guitar... throwing up handkerchiefs, and just having a good time.” Shah adds, “He carries a unique child-like wonder even at 86. He is sassy and teases his audience. He represents what we all have—that inner child.”
As mid-day columnist and adman Rahul DaCunha reinstates, “Buddy is a phenomenal live player—hugely intense. He is a great showman and audience pleaser, with a rocking sense of humour which is why Bombay audiences love him and vice versa.”
Showmanship aside, as legends often do, he has inspired many others to follow their dreams. As a child growing up in Louisiana, he would pick cotton and began learning to play the guitar using a self-made two-string diddley bow. Only later, when he moved to Chicago, did he come in contact with the likes of blues singer Muddy Waters.
He has come a long way since then, and has inspired many more to walk the talk. Music director Ehsaan Noorani says, “The greatest thing about Buddy is that he has had a huge influence on blues guitar, and guitar in general.” One such Buddy fan, and somebody who may call him a mentor is Subhash Kamath. The former CEO of BBH and Publicis India, and now independent trainer and advisor, Kamath is also a musician. He even wrote a song inspired by Buddy. “Blues lyrics express pain, hardships and heartbreak,” he says, “and even though I may not have gone through that, I have connected with the genre, thanks to musicians such as Buddy and Muddy Waters. I have attended all his concerts in India and he is truly like one of his lyrics—74-year-old young. When he plays that guitar, he is electrifying. I once met him at a dinner, and he asked me ‘Why is there so much hate? Why can’t people just spread love and music?’”
Our thoughts exactly.
Also Read: From Buddy Guy to Taj Mahal: Mahindra Blues Festival returns to Mumbai this week
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