The Chicago blues community has lost a talented blues musician. Phil Guy, 68, died this morning at St. James Hospital in Chicago Heights. According to his website, Phil was diagnosed in January with advanced prostate cancer.
Phil was a familiar face for decades, playing in clubs around town and frequently popping in to visit the club of his older brother, Buddy Guy. Buddy, touring in support of his new CD, will be flying back for the funeral. Details have not yet been announced.
Like Buddy, Phil grew up in Louisiana and followed his brother to Chicago when he was just 17. You can read his full biography here. Though less well-known than his brother, Phil Guy was a talented musician in his own right. Since the late 1950s, he performed and recorded with a long list of blues musicians while at the same time fronting his own band.
The picture above is from the 2007 Chicago Blues Festival. I'd seen Phil perform many times in various places, but I was reminded again at just how good a guitarist he was when I reviewed the CD, Junior Wells: Live at Theresa's 1975. Phil did outstanding guitar work on that album.
From Buddy Guy's MySpace page:
But to know that he will never stand on Legends' stage with the club's logo in the background, or that fans listening to him will never boogie to the funky sounds screaming from his guitar, remains an even greater tragedy. His love of Blues remains his legacy. More than a Bluesman, Phil was of course a beloved brother to his siblings as well as a father, grandfather, uncle and husband.Phil Guy will be missed by so many. I'll post information about funeral arrangements as soon as I get it.
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3 comments:
Phil Guy has passed away on Wednesday. This is the first I heard. Rest in peace, Phil. I've seen him play a few times, once in Helena, Arkansas. It was raining a bit, and I made a point to wander over to that smaller stage, as the headline act was playing on the main stage. So glad I did. At that point I had seen Phil play before: at Tip On Inn in Blue Island, where I first saw him, and in Chicago Heights where he jammed with Lonnie Brooks and Ronnie and Wayne, I believe it was Ronnie's or maybe Lonnie and Ronnie's show, but there were guests there! The guitar solos were played from where the audience was standing, via their wireless connections.
And of course Phil played the Chicago Blues Festival again this summer, which is where Karen shot that portrait, I'm guessing.
By coincidence, I deleted very similar pics from my camera last night. Of course I still have them saved, though.
Another memory which you can share is Phil's CD, with the first song featuring Buddy--they sing about being blues brothers. And they're not acting all Hollywood, either. HA HA.
My condolences to Phil's family and friends, he was so entertaining and put a lot into his guitar playing. He liked to include funky songs, he got into jammin' grooves.
(Oh, I wanted to mention in Helena, October 2004, the gig I saw included some cool musicians I like, Donya Oxford on keys and Michael Coleman on guitar. These are the ones I remember, sorry I don't know all the names.)
I don't know if Phill changed his band a lot or worked with some guys regularly...)
About the previous comment--time flies! Phil played the Chicago festival in '07, not this year, at least that's when Karen's and my pics are from.
Phil,
Although we never got to jam together, I did enjoy your music. Rest in peace my brother in the Blues. Say hello to Junior, Muddy, SRV and all the rest. I am sure they will welcome you into thier nightly jam sessions in heaven!
Buddy my condolences to you! Everone else please make sure to get checked once a year!
Peace out!
Big Daddy Durpree the Prince of Funk.
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