When I Left Home

My Story

By: David Ritz, Buddy Guy

Narrated by: Mirron Willis

Length: 7 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

According to Eric Clapton, John Mayer, and the late Stevie Ray Vaughn, Buddy Guy is the greatest blues guitarist of all time. An enormous influence on these musicians as well as on Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, and Jeff Beck, he is the living embodiment of Chicago blues.

Guy’s epic story stands at the absolute nexus of modern blues. He came to Chicago from rural Louisiana in the fifties - the very moment when urban blues were electrifying our culture. He was a regular session player at Chess Records. Willie Dixon was his mentor. He was a sideman in the bands of Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf. He and Junior Wells formed a band of their own. In the sixties, he became a recording star in his own right.

When I Left Home tells Guy’s picaresque story in his own words, those of a storyteller who remembers everything, including blues masters in their prime and the exploding, evolving culture of music that happened all around him.

Buddy Guy was born in 1936 in Lettsworth, Louisiana. He is considered among the best blues guitarists alive today. He lives in Chicago.

©2012 Buddy Guy with David Ritz (P)2012 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Buddy has never failed to amaze me first as an artist and secondly as a beautiful guy…Long may he give us his gift.” (Keith Richards)

“Buddy Guy was to me what Elvis was for others…[He] is by far and without a doubt the best guitar player alive.” (Eric Clapton)

“Guy is a vibrant and hilarious storyteller. With a natural ease and honesty, he captures the spirit of the age, the culture of violence in the clubs, and the personalities of his colleagues...Highly recommended for any fan of Guy and those interested in the history of blues music.” ( Library Journal)

You don't know the blues until you listen to this.

What a story! What a fine attitude! Buddy's life was not easy- at all. The day he almost gave up was the day he got one of the few breaks he would receive. Even then, it was much, much later that he started to reap any financial rewards from his hard work and talent. Many of the famous early bluesmen who influenced him and who he knew never did see much that way. It's heart breaking. Buddy tells about his life in a way you don't want to stop listening. No fluff, no airs, just the real man and his story. He shares his experiences with Muddy Waters, BB King, Albert King, SRV, The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Ike Turner, Leonard Chess, Willie Dixon,...the list goes on. You get a living picture of Buddy's life and the Chicago blues scene from '57 on. The stories and language are for"mature audiences." I hope I get to meet Buddy Guy. What an example in never giving up!

Earnest and straightforward

A very earnest look into the life of one of the pioneers of the blues. Offering you a glimpse of personalities like Muddy, Walter, BB, Junior and of course Buddy himself. In ways wonderful but tragic, it is amazing how these great talents continued to produce great music no matter how much they were exploited by the record companies

Great Read!!

Love His story!!
I felt as though he was telling it to me himself!!! Great readings and excellent narrations!

The Unsung Hero of the Blues is Getting His Due

Would you consider the audio edition of When I Left Home to be better than the print version?

I'm not sure if the audio version is better than the printed version. Having seen Buddy Guy perform in many different settings, I imagine his voice different than the audio of the Narrator. That having been said, Mirron Willis does not detract from the story.

What other book might you compare When I Left Home to and why?

None

Would you listen to another book narrated by Mirron Willis?

I would listen to another book narrated by Mirron Willis. He did a fantastic job with the details of the voice that made each character in the narrative distinctly different.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

This was indeed a book that I wanted to listen to all in one sitting if that was possible for me.

Any additional comments?

I think Buddy did a good job sharing his life with his audience. However, I found myself wanting more details or more of his life's tales. Especially more of the interpersonal experiences of the day to day, not just the life defining moments of his career.

Great book for a lover of the blues!

One of the best...

Great story, great performance and a great man! One of the best Audible books I have purchased. The Blues lives on....

moving and honest

a fan of the blues I have never explored Buddy Guy's music. no matter. I feel the blues and his stories are honest, compelling, and moving. thanks Buddy I am grateful.

Wonderful life story of a blues legend

I have been a fan of Buddy Guys for over 25 years. I always wanted to know more about his life. This book is a look into his life story with all of its ups and downs. Intertwining his life movements and music with legendary friends and musicians. If it were a movie I would watch it a thousand times. Buddy Guy is an American legend.

Excellent History and Respect for The Blues

Would you listen to When I Left Home again? Why?

There's a lot of history here. It is told in a very personal way, fully accessible and very listenable. Great to get such perspective from Buddy Guy and those who were there during this era of Blues awareness.

Who was your favorite character and why?

No question, Buddy Guy although those he comes in contact with each have their own appeal.

Have you listened to any of Mirron Willis’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I might. It took a bit to adjust to Willis's performance but once I got into his rhythm it was a joy ride

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It makes me want to venture to the areas of the country central to the book and walk the steps Buddy Guy walked alongside so many legends

Any additional comments?

It's a terrific compliment to Gregg Allman's book - great background on what was happening in the music industry told through the eyes of a couple of central figures.

Wonderful!!!

In the age of American Idol we overlook our homegrown natural idols. Buddy Guy is like the seeds he speaks of planting. Buddy kept his promise to muddy, the blues will never die.

Absolutely Amazing!!!

This book is a masterpiece!
One of the best music bios I have ever had the pleasure of ingesting