With a voice that still captivates and guitar skills that rival musicians half his age, it's hard to believe blues legend Buddy Guy is 90 years old.
The moment the opening notes of "Damn Right, I've Got the Blues" echoed through Nashville's historic Ryman Auditorium, the crowd was drawn into the enduring magic.
Born George "Buddy" Guy in Louisiana, the guitarist and singer-songwriter moved to Chicago in the late 1950s, where he played alongside blues icons including Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf and B.B. King.
Nearly seven decades later, Guy continues to perform at his Chicago club and select blues festivals. While he announced his retirement from major national and international touring following his "Damn Right Farewell Tour" in 2024, he has maintained
that he'll keep playing guitar "until I can't."
"Hello, Tennessee. Do you like the blues?" Guy asked after taking the Ryman stage. "Because I'm gonna play something so funky that you can smell it."
Joining Guy on his 90th Birthday Tour was blues phenom and mentee Christone "Kingfish" Ingram. The Mississippi native is no stranger to Music City, having performed in Nashville numerous times.
"These days, anything that's blues-related doesn't get much push in mainstream media," Ingram said. "So I'm here for anything that keeps the blues alive and pumping."
Performing fan favorites such as "Empty Promises" alongside newer songs, Ingram fused deep-rooted blues with soulful grooves that would have made artists like D'Angelo proud.
Both artists have recently found newer audiences through their involvement with Ryan Coogler's hit film “Sinners”.
"I loved it and really enjoyed being a part of it," Ingram said of the film, which is set in his hometown of Clarksdale, Mississippi.
As one of the last remaining architects of electric blues, Guy showed little sign of slowing down.
"Nashville, I came here to f--- with you," he announced before launching into another song.
Throughout performances of classics, including "Hoochie Coochie Man" and "Chicken Heads," audience members struggled to remain seated. Some were so swept up in the music that they stood for much of the night.
Takeaways from Buddy Guy's Nashville concert
Guy didn't simply showcase extraordinary musicianship. He demonstrated why he remains one of the defining figures in electric blues.
Between songs, he mixed blistering guitar solos with stories about growing up in Louisiana, lessons learned throughout his career and even bits of marriage advice.
As he walked through the audience during "Let Me Love You Baby," fans of all ages crowded the aisles, some climbing onto the Ryman's wooden pews for a better look at one of blues music's living legends.
His fingers moved effortlessly across the fretboard, while his voice retained the strength and character that made him famous decades ago.
Near the end of the show, fans were treated to an all-star blues jam. Guy was joined onstage by his son, Greg Guy, Ingram and Tennessee’s own Scott Holt.
Together, they delivered a powerful reminder that while blues may not dominate popular music, the genre remains alive, thriving and deeply influential.
As the evening came to a close, Memphis resident Amy Johnson perhaps summed it up best.
"I have never seen anything like that," Johnson said. "And I probably never will again."
Fans will have two more chances to see Buddy Guy in Tennessee this fall, with stops in Knoxville on Oct. 27 and Memphis on Oct. 29, the final date of his tour.
Learn more at www.buddyguy.net/.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Legendary guitarist Buddy Guy brings blues music to the Ryman
