My Buddy in Chicago....

We rolled into Chi-Town this week on a night off. We don't get many nights off on this tour, so we planned a night out on the town. My good friend and fabulous blues man, Nick Moss hooked up a jam at the HOB for the band to attend. Before the night was over I insisted we make a stop at Buddy Guys' Legends.
It's the new location now, but it looks great and still has the feel of the old club.
For me Legends was the catalyst in my blues career.
In fact, Buddy Guy has been there every step of the way, although I'm sure he has no idea......
I was 20 years old when a group took a trip to Chicago to visit a friend and I begged everyone to go to Legends.
I was a huge Buddy Guy fan and I had this dream he might be there.
He was not there that night, but someone else was rocking the joint.
Joanna Connor.
She was on fire with her slide guitar.
Her band rocked, she had attitude and commanded the stage.
I was in awe....(and maybe in lust too)
I bought her new cd - Live in Germany on a new record label- Ruf Records.
I went home excited about the blues and the energy I had seen on stage.
I knew its what i wanted to do. I was also interested in this record label, Ruf.
I had no idea their were labels out there beyond Columbia and Elektra.
Independent labels were around but not like now.
8 years later I'm making my own records in Saint Louis and opening shows for bigger name acts when they roll through town. I get a call that Joanna Connor is playing and did I want to open the show. I absolutely said yes! I still had the cd I bought from her and couldn't wait to show her.
Joanna was so gracious and we hit it off right away. She invited me to come to Chicago and try to get in on the blues scene. She invited me to play with her and her band at Legends.
I was so excited to make the trip....
So excited I got lost in the city and was running late to the gig, my first gig at Legends and I'm gonna be late!
I found the club, pulled to the back lot and a big suburban was blocking the entrance. Just sitting there talking to the attendant, in no hurry....
I waited a few and then began honking my horn. I rolled the window down and yelled "Come on!!"
The car finally pulled in and the attendant gave me this crazy look like I was in trouble. I got out of the car, grabbed my guitar, turned around and Buddy Guy is standing there looking at me all mad. Silence for what seemed like days. I was in shock and thrilled to death at the same time.
He asked "You in the band??"
"Yes sir, I'm playing tonight."
He waited....then smiled and said
"you better get going, you're gonna be late"
I started to make the trip to Chicago pretty regular the next few years.
Opening shows for little to no money, but getting experience and exposure.
Another time I opened for Jimmy Thackery at Legends. I was feeling pretty good. I knew Jimmy and his band. I had become good friends with his sax man Jimmy Carpenter.
I was setting up when I heard a lot of laughter at the bar. A couple of fellows were real loud. I was always a little shy in Chicago at Legends. I knew I was in over my head and I wanted to do a good job. I walked over to the bar to get a drink and there's Buddy Guy and Otis Rush laughing and being loud.
They were drinking and Buddy turns around and asks "hey, you playing in my club tonight?"
"yes sir Mr. Guy"
He turned around and busted out laughing with Otis.
Otis said " you do good son".
Now I'm like nervous as shit.
I have to go onstage in Chicago in front of a packed house and play my best with Buddy Guy and Otis Rush watching me......
I started drinking!!!
We had a great set to a standing ovation and when I finished the bouncer came and got me and said Mr. Guy wanted to see me.
I walked to the bar where Buddy and Otis were clapping and laughing and handed me a drink.
"You did good son" said Otis
"Boy, you can play the blues in my club anytime, as long as you play like you just did" said Buddy
The inspiration was exhilarating.
Years later when I had moved to southeast Texas, I was just getting into playing music again. This time I was clean and sober and in a new part of the world. I was playing every night trying to get my name out there when I got a call from a casino in Vinton, La asking if I wanted to open for Buddy Guy and his band.
This was just what I needed.
A chance to play for a big crowd in this new neck of the woods.
Buddy sold out the show.
We played a 25 min set to about 5000 people. I sold every cd I brought that night. Made good friends with Ric Hall, Buddy's second guitarist, and really started getting gigs in the new region.
It seemed like every time I needed a push or kick start, Buddy Guy would be there for me.

In 2010 I was nominated for my first ever BMA Awards. My album Pearl River was nominated for Rock/Blues Album of the Year and the title track, Pearl River, was nominated for Song of the Year. I had the honor of writing that song with my soul brother Cyril Neville.
I was unable to attend the awards because I was making my first European tour and would be in Denmark the evening of the ceremony.
Cyril performed with Debbie Davies and Johnny Sansone at the awards show and I got a call at 7am in Denmark that we had won the Song of the Year.
I was so excited and happy!
This was a dream come true.
I've always wanted to be a part of this blues music world and I finally felt like I was.....
I had a good feeling leading up to the awards. Buddy Guy was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame that year at the awards ceremony.
He hadn't let me down yet and when I saw that this was all happening at the same time, I got a big smile on my face.
Buddy Guy has been there ever step of the way in my book. He stepped in for only a few minutes at a time, but man at the exact right time. I've listened and continue to listen to his albums almost everyday. He's my biggest influence in the blues. He got me hooked with "You're Damn Right I got the Blues" and things have never been the same.
I've been on his tour bus, I've shook his hand many times, looked him in the eye, he's smiled at me, and I've seen him play too many times to recall.
He probably doesn't know much about me. I'm sure these memories to him are just people passing by. But to me these memories are priceless.
I have a music room at home. I have my guitars hanging, my albums are on the wall (thanks to my wife), posters signed, festival passes, pictures of all my friends playing music, and a huge framed poster of Buddy Guy commemorating the 2010 Blues Music Awards. Every time I see it I think about these moments in my life and thank God.
You're damn right I got the blues.