Buddy Guy’s Legends (2003)
Chicago, Illinois

Oh, it’s no joke. There’s no punchline. That really happened. Let me tell you how.

I love Christmas traditions, especially the holiday parties with family and friends. Some years, you get unexpected invites from unexpected people. That was the case in 2003.

Marianna’s college friend, Brian, invited us to his brother’s place in the city who was hosting a holiday open house. Brian was on military leave from the Iraq War where he was serving with the U.S. Marine Corps Expeditionary Force. I was in awe of his service, even more so after hearing his grueling tales. 

Before going to this party, Brian was the only person we knew. Not the ideal scenario ahead of the night’s first drink. But by the end of the night, at this random North Side Chicago apartment, we were best buds with a bunch of new faces. 

One of those new friends was Roddy Chong. He was on a slightly different type of holiday leave than Brian. Roddy had some time off from a worldwide tour playing violin with the one and only country and pop music star, Shania Twain.

Let’s just say Roddy’s stories of life on the road had a much different vibe than Brian’s stories.

So there we were: gathered in a stranger’s apartment, hearing about a brave Marine’s risky missions as we learned how a classically-trained Chinese immigrant ended up a U.S. citizen touring with one of music’s biggest stars.

Those stories led to more drinks. More drinks led to more stories. Only the die-hards were left standing around the kitchen island laughing and carrying on. 

But the night was young. Chatter became a brainstorm of spots we could go to keep the party going on a Monday night in December in the city. 

I knew we had a few music fans left. So I lobbed out the idea of going to Buddy Guy’s Legends. Monday was jam night at the blues bar. A great way to expect more of the unexpected. I didn’t think this idea would stick, but it did. A few people had always wanted to go there, but hadn’t made it there yet. 

We pile in a couple taxis and head for South Wabash Avenue.

Before I go on, there are some things to understand about this situation: 

1. I certainly didn’t think we’d end up at a blues jam that night. But like most harmonica players, I usually travel with one or two harps in my pocket. They’re small enough and you never know when the opportunity to play might strike.

2. Among the party-goers left, Marianna was the only one who heard me play harmonica in public. So she knew how I sounded on stage. The others had little-to-no expectations.

3. I started to think of my voice as another musical instrument to express myself. I began transcribing some of my favorite song lyrics to sing at home. I loved my new instrument.

4. I began to realize that I’m more likely to get called up to perform at a jam or a friend’s gig if I knew how to play an instrument AND have a few songs in my vocal repertoire.

5. Up to that point, Marianna had never heard me sing a song in public from start to finish. Neither had any of our new friends. Until that night.

6. One of our new friends is Roddy, Shania Twain’s violin player, for crying out loud. And I’m going to attempt to sing a song in front of him that I’ve never sung before in public?! 

So we arrive at the club, walk through the front doors of Buddy Guy’s, and pay our cover. I spot the blues jam sign-up sheet at the edge of the bar near the bouncer at the front door. Not a huge number of jammers on the list and only a few singers, so I add “Kirk Manley - vocals and harp” to the list.

We make our way to a couple of tables in the back of the club opposite the stage. The Jimmy Burns Blues Band was hosting the jam that night. Jimmy is quite a talent, a super nice guy, and a great jam host. 

After a round of drinks and a couple of jammers ahead of me on the list, Jimmy calls me to the stage. I introduce myself to the rest of the jammers already on stage and share my plan with them:

“Do you all know ‘Let The Good Times Roll’?,” I posed.

I see head nods from everyone.

“Alright, great. Let’s do it in the key of G with turnarounds. I’ll start us out singing without the band and signal you in for quick hits. Let’s give it a nice upbeat shuffle like this…”

I clapped and stomped out the ideal tempo I had in mind for a few seconds.

“And watch me for the breaks throughout.”

I turn back toward the audience, grab my C harp from my pocket, adjust the mic, and belt out the opening lyrics a cappella at the top of my lungs:

“Heyyyyyyyyyyyyyy…everybody!!!”

I abruptly drop my right arm signaling the band for a quick one-note hit.

“Let’s have some fun!!”

I signal them in again for another quick hit.

“You only live but once and when you’re dead, you’re done…”

I raise my hand again, twirl my pointer finger up in the air in a circular motion signaling the band to start and stay in that uptempo shuffle beat I wanted. 

“So let the good times roll…let the good tiiiiiiiiiimes roll…I don’t care if you’re young or old, baby let the good times roll.”

Even though I never played with any of those jammers before that night, they looked and sounded like they were having a good time. It helps when you all speak the language of the blues and actively listen to what everyone is playing.

As the song continued, I spotted my crew in the back beyond the empty front tables and sparse audience. Instant shock and surprise were on the faces of Marianna, Roddy, Brian, and the others. Shock quickly turned to hooting, hollering, and arms raised in the air. 

They must know the language of the blues, too.

That’s no joke.

The Blues Jam Series (Part V) Playlist: Jimmy Burns

Playlist Highlights (Featuring Jimmy Burns):

• “Stop The Train” - Back to The Delta

• “No Consideration” - Night Time Again

• “Better Know What You’re Doing” - Leaving Here Walking

• “Cold As Ice” - The Chicago Sessions

• “Forget It” (1964 Single, Side B)

• “Through All Your Faults” (1964 Single, Side A)

• “Whole Lot A Lovin’” - Live at B.L.U.E.S.

• “Wait a Minute” - Night Time Again

• How Many Times - Leaving Here Walking

• Long As You’re Mine - It Ain’t Right

• Rock Awhile - It Ain’t Right

• Surrounded - It Ain’t Right

• Big Money Problem - It Ain’t Right

• Red Hot Mama - Back to The Delta

• Back to The Delta - Back to The Delta

• Country Boy in The City - Back to The Delta