“The first time I saw Buddy Guy live was . . . at the Marquee Club in Soho, London, in 1965. He was exactly what I had hoped for. . . . But what he represented to me went much deeper. . . . I needed to know that the blues was going to survive in the future. . . . I first heard Buddy on Folk Festival of the Blues. . . . On the first track, ‘Wee, Wee Baby,’ . . . there’s this fantastic guitar solo, and you know it’s Buddy—wild and crazy and frantic. . . . If there’s a guitar player in the world who has heard this solo and not been shaken up by it, then I haven’t met him yet, and all I can say is he’s missing something fundamental, something revolutionary.”—from the foreword by Eric Clapton “With Buddy Guy: The Life of ‘The Legend’ and a Story of the Chicago Blues, Sandra B. Tooze has written the definitive account of a man who has dedicated his entire life to preserving and enriching a uniquely American art form. Incredibly well researched and artfully written, this book proves beyond any shadow of a doubt that ‘The Blues Is Alive and Well!’”—Robert Greenfield, Exile on Main St.: A Season in Hell with the Rolling Stones “I’ve learned that the most revealing stories in music happen backstage, in the studio, and on the road. Sandra B. Tooze takes readers to all three in her portrait of Buddy Guy, a book that captures not just the legend, but the heart and soul of one of the greatest blues musicians of all time.”—Eric Barrett, author of Experienced: On the Road with Jimi Hendrix and Beyond “Sandra Tooze’s Buddy Guy is a comprehensive, passionate, and beautifully written biography. Rich with detail about Guy’s art, career, guitars, and personal life, it chronicles his interactions with virtually every blues and rock guitar master since the 1950s. Tooze has created an indispensable volume in the history of the blues.”—Danny Goldberg, Serving the Servant: Remembering Kurt Cobain and Bumping Into Geniuses “As biographer and blues historian Tooze points out in this fine, richly anecdotal biography, Guy considers himself a caretaker. Tooze calls him a ‘bridge’ between rock and blues. . . . A fascinating look at a key musician and the blues tradition.”—Booklist Praise for Sandra B. Tooze’s previous book, Levon: From Down in the Delta to the Birth of the Band and Beyond: “Levon Helm put his heart and soul into every beat he played, every song he sang. He brought joy to people all over the world by sharing the unique blend of musical styles he grew up with in the Arkansas Delta. Along the way, he became a good actor, too! I’m glad his story is getting the telling it deserves.”—President Bill Clinton “An impressive heap of research [and] a sure grasp of Helm’s musical accomplishments. . . . One of the great virtues of Tooze’s book [is that] she reminds us of the richness of Helm’s post-Band existence.”—Boston Globe “In this captivating biography, Sandra B. Tooze channels the creativity, drive, and endurance of this iconic artist. Filled with fresh insights and anecdotes, Levon is a fascinating exploration of the man, his music, and his life.”—Vince Gill, Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, and musician “Rendered with a sensitivity and detail rare in rock biographies.”—Modern Drummer “A brilliant road map covering how [Levon Helm] became one of the towering figures in 20th century music. Ride shotgun as she follows Helm’s wild exploits—from early Sixties cult hero with the Hawks to playing stadiums with Bob Dylan and the Band. This is the story of rock and roll.”—Brad Tolinski, author of Play It Loud: An Epic History of the Style, Sound and Revolution of the Electric Guitar “Levon brilliantly puts readers behind the scenes of many of the most important moments in rock ‘n’ roll history with a man whose influence on them was immense.”—John Glatt, author of Live at the Fillmore East and West: Getting Backstage and Personal with Rock’s Greatest Legends
