Originally written in 1936 by Robert Johnson, Sweet Home Chicago has been debated time and time again, regarding the true meaning behind the lyrics, with many references to California.  Does it matter? Not to me, I enjoy listening to any great guitarist buzz through the legendary song, with their own style and rendition.  

When I think of Chicago Blue’s music, Buddy Guy comes to mind instantaneously.  With his well known club - Buddy Guy Legends.  Even though Buddy’s beginnings were in Louisiana, he has become a household name in the Chicago area. 

Where mind you the first day of spring brings us a winter weather advisory.

The original form of Blue’s music is said to have a single line repeated four times, with a very loose narrative.  I recently read the book Moanin’ at Midnight - Howlin’ Wolf, and if you are interested in getting down to the nitty gritty raw life style of a true blue’s musician, this should be on your to read list.

One of my favorite CD’s of Buddy Guy’s is Damn Right, I’ve got the Blues, released in 1991.  “Remebering Stevie” is one of the tracks that makes you feel Damn Right, I’ve got the Blues, you can feel the heartfelt emotion felt by a friends loss, a beautifully done instrumental with that gut wrenching power of the blues.

Many years after Stevie’s death, Rolling Stone ranked him #7 out of 100, in their list of Greatest Guitarist of all time.

What makes a great musician? As in anything we do, I belive it is the passion behind what we are doing that drives us to greatness.  Life certainly can have it’s share of trials and tribulations, for some way more than others.  I wrote of Wellness Wednesday a few posts back, when you have the blues, winter blues or otherwise, remember your passions in life, and sink into one of them.  Even if it is only for a glimmer of a minute. 

I found this picture of Stevie many years ago and it has always been a favorite of mine.  Yes, I have always been attracted to “attitude”, this is a picture of Stevie that carries that attitude and the swagger of an outstanding musician.  The intesity that Stevie played with is incredible.   I have said it before, and I will say it again, if you have not watched Hug You, Squeeze You, go look it up on YouTube, at one point in the video the camera shoots him at an upward angle, and he glimpse’s directly into the camera, you can literally see the passion of the song in his eyes. 

I was working on this piece that was done with a woodless graphite, 97 4B with an extreme amount of shading.  I got to his muscular chest, and sat thinking, what the heck is wrong with this? I realized, I had his peacock tattoo drawing backwards, as well as his famed belt buckle, “The End of the Trail”, which still is backwards on the sketch above.

Take today to chase away your blues!

~ Soul to Soul - Susie