Address 700 S. Wabash Owner Buddy Guy Seating type cafe tables + SRO | Location Chicago, Illinois Genre(s) Blues, Chicago Blues Capacity 500 | |
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Buddy Guy's Legends is a blues club in Chicago, Illinois. It was opened in 1989 by blues musician Buddy Guy who still owns the club and who still makes regular appearances, performing a month of shows each January.
Legends is one of the few blues clubs left in Chicago, a city renowned for its own particular brand of blues. The club has hosted blues greats such as Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Buddy himself. Legends has developed an international reputation. It was the site for recordings such as Guy's Live at Legends, Junior Wells:Live At Buddy Guy's Legends, and Guy's live set with Junior Wells entitled Last Time Around - Live at Legends.
Each year, Legends hosts the annual Chicago Blues Hall of Fame induction celebration.
History
Prior to his death in 1983, Muddy Waters made Buddy promise to keep Blues alive. Guy says that Legends is part of keeping that promise.
Guy, who had previously owned the Checkerboard Lounge on the south side in the 70s and 80s, first opened Legends at 754 S Wabash inside the Loop, behind the Big Hilton on Michigan Avenue, hoping to attract convention attendees from the Hilton. Legends moved to its current location at 700 S. Wabash in 2010.
Over the years, the club has been decorated with Guy's collection of blues memorabilia.
In 2013 Legends became one of the only blues clubs to offer livestreaming concerts.
In 2015, the Rolling Stones visited the club.
Legends is also a restaurant. It serves a menu of Louisiana style Cajun and Soul food including gumbo, jambalaya, chicken and ribs, and catfish po'boys. Legends is currently the only place which serves Guy's craft beer called Buddy Brew.