The distinct twang of two legendary blues guitarist will push back the night Tuesday when Buddy Guy and Robert Cray play the Tulalip Amphitheatre.
At 74, Guy shows no signs of slowing down. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member influenced some of the titans of the rock world, including Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck. When Rolling Stone magazine published its list of the 100 best guitarists of all time, they put Guy’s photo on the cover.
Today, Guy continues to tour, playing old favorites plus cuts from his recently released “Skin Deep” album, which features a tour of his personal history with songs like “The First Time I Met the Blues.”
He grew up the son of a sharecropper in the Jim Crow South. By age 7, he was plucking a homemade two-string guitar held together with his mother’s hairpins.
By his late teens, he was playing a real guitar and was on his way to Chicago, where he took up residence at the 708 Club and made history.
His recent album gives nod to the next generation of blues greats, with appearances by Derek Truks, Susan Tedeschi and Eric Clapton.
“I just try to get the best players, and hope I can pop the top off this can and show that the blues are back,” Guy said. “These guys got me feeling like I was 22 years old and went into the studio with Muddy Water.”
Guy said he plans to continue to play the blues.
“It’s like being a prize fighter — if you lay down, you never have a chance to win. But if you keep punching, you might hit ‘em with the one that lays ‘em down,” he said.
Robert Cray’s signature blend of rhythm and blues, pop, rock, soul and traditional blues has helped open his music to new audiences.
His music stays fresh with improvisational licks and no song is ever played the same way twice.
A generation younger than Guy, Cray — who just turned 57 — also stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the greats of the guitar world.
His latest album, “Cookin’ in Mobile,” was released last month. It’s a live CD featuring some great blues favorites like “Chicken in the Kitchen,” “Sitting on Top of the World” and “That’s What Keeps Me Rockin’.”
Two blues giants on one stage sure will keep the Tulalip rockin’ well into the night.
Jackson Holtz: 425-339-3447; jholtz@heraldnet.com.
Buddy Guy and Robert Cray
7 p.m. Tuesday, Tulalip Amphitheatre; SOLD OUT.
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