\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tby Sidnee Michelle <\/p>\n
July 5, 2026<\/p>\n
The 89-year-old Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee reflected on the lasting impact of Clapton’s public admiration<\/p>\n
Blues icon Buddy Guy says decades of praise from fellow guitar legend Eric Clapton have done more to expand his audience than any record label campaign, introducing generations of younger listeners <\/a>to one of the genre\u2019s most influential performers, <\/strong>Guitar Playe<\/em>r reports. <\/p>\n The 89-year-old Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee reflected on the lasting impact of Clapton\u2019s public admiration, saying the guitarist\u2019s endorsements continue to bring new fans to his music more than 70 years after Guy began performing professionally.<\/p>\n \u201cIt makes me feel great, because some of the things that people like Eric Clapton and Keith Richards and the late Stevie Ray Vaughan said about me have helped me more than any record company,\u201d Guy told the magazine. \u201cSo many kids come up to me and say, \u2018I didn\u2019t know anything about you until I read what Eric Clapton said.\u2019 That gives me a big lift.\u201d<\/p>\n Guy\u2019s remarks underscore the role fellow musicians have played in preserving the legacy of the blues. Although he became a foundational influence on rock guitar, inspiring artists including Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, Keith Richards, and Stevie Ray Vaughan, widespread commercial recognition came years after many of those musicians had already cited him as an inspiration.\u00a0<\/p>\n During the interview, Guy also reflected on the artists who shaped his own playing, including Muddy Waters, B.B. King, T-Bone Walker, John Lee Hooker, and Lightnin\u2019 Hopkins. Rather than striving for originality, he said those pioneers taught him the importance of remaining authentic and honoring the musicians who came before him.<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t really say how my style has changed,\u201d Guy said, recalling conversations with his mentors. \u201cThey said, \u2018Buddy, we got it from someone else, too.’\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Guy also addressed the historical challenges Black blues musicians have faced in reaching mainstream audiences, saying the genre often received broader recognition only after white rock artists introduced it to larger audiences. <\/p>\n \u201cBlues has been like that ever since I\u2019ve been alive,\u201d he said. \u201cIt has been ignored until some rock group gets it, plays it to big audiences, and tells them whose music it is.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Guy\u00a0recently graced the big screen, playing the pivotal role of\u00a0Old Sammie\u00a0in Ryan Coogler\u2019s hit horror film\u00a0Sinners. Guy will celebrate his 90th birthday July 30, as he continues his BG90 Tour, extending a career that has helped shape modern blues and rock music while inspiring generations of guitarists around the world.\u00a0<\/p>\n RELATED CONTENT: Blues Legend B.B. King Dies<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" by Sidnee Michelle July 5, 2026 The 89-year-old Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee reflected on the lasting impact of Clapton’s public admiration Blues icon Buddy Guy says decades of praise from fellow guitar legend Eric Clapton have done more to expand his audience than any record label campaign, introducing generations of younger listeners 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NEWS<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"by Sidnee Michelle July 5, 2026 The 89-year-old Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee reflected on the lasting impact of Clapton’s public admiration Blues icon Buddy Guy says decades of praise from fellow guitar legend Eric Clapton have done more to expand his audience than any record label campaign, introducing generations of younger 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