Film
‘The Torch’ New documentary sheds light on Buddy Guy and his legacy as a Blues legend By D av id Burak
“B Freedom and Free Societies presents China's Genocide of the Uyghurs a talk with Nury Turkel ur., April 28, 5:30 PM In-person: Statler Hall, Room 398 Via zoom: Registration required
Free and open to the public
Zoom Registration cornell.zoom,us/webinar/register/WN_zf TmdnLRD6kkBKLBxeKow Nury Turkel is a Uyghur-American lawyer, a fellow of the Hudson Institute, and a member of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. He co-founded and is president of the Uyghur Human Rights Project & serves as chairman of its board. He was named one of Time’s 100 Most influential People in the World in September 2020 and was on Fortune’s List of the World’s 50 Greatest Leaders in May 2021. Turkel will discuss his memoir No Escape: The True Story of China’s Genocide of the Uyghurs.
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uddy Guy is a revelation. He’s could use some form of this method the Moses of the Blues. He with students who are having trouble parts the sea, ” Carlos Santana articulating their thoughts in standard said when interviewed in “ The Torch, ” linear form. It occurred to me that I’ve a fascinating documentary about the life actually had a few students who have and work of the iconic Blues writer and demonstrated some noteworthy rapguitarist. ping skills. “ I didn’t know what running waBuddy Guy started out in Chicago as ter was, ” said Bluesman extraordinaire a young fellow, and he won the respect of Buddy Guy when the “ elder statesdescribing his earmen ” of the Blues, ly life as part of a like Muddy Waters sharecropper famand Howlin’ Wolf. ily. On the screen, Now he encourages we see vintage footyounger musicians age of several Black to come to the people working in stage and play a cotton field. It apwith him. Carmen pears that they’re Vandenberg, a taking note of the respected contemcamera that’s on porary performer them, providing a who is quite striksurreal “ time traving with her short el ” effect. Those blonde hair, as well who are being obas her guitar skills, served become the describes Mr. Guy observers. We are as “ my idol. ” led to wonder what Quinn Sula bemused woman livan, an extraorbeing filmed may dinarily talented Buddy Guy performing in 1983. have been thinking. musician, also ( Photo : Provided ) Buddy Guy began playing with then tells us how, as a youngster, he Buddy Guy when his parents brought made his “ first musical instrument ” him to a concert at age 7. “ I’ve encourby cutting out the center of an empty aged Quinn to go to college, ” Guy notes, lighter fluid can and then wrapping a “ because in our business, in 10 years couple rubber bands around it. Eventuyou might have to be a rocket scientist ally, he was able to get an old guitar and to do music. ” taught himself how to play. Reflecting on his first encounters with After Guy’s father could no longer Waters and Wolf, Guy said that Muddy work in the cotton field, Mrs. Guy told “ slapped me, ” and said, “ whatever you her son he had to “ figure out a way do, keep the ( expletive deleted ) Blues to make some money. ” So, Buddy left alive. ” In similarly emphatic language, Louisiana for Chicago. Buddy reflects on Howlin’ Wolf encouraged Guy to keep the being impressed with John Lee Hooker Blues going strong. and his album “ Boogie Children. ” They Those moral and musical missions became friends, but it was hard to talk helped Guy to become, as Carlos Santana with John Lee, “ because he had a strange and others have noted, the connective stumble-way of speaking. So, when he thread, going from Waters and Wolf to tried to tell a joke, I told him to sing it, Cream, The Rolling Stones, Tina Turner because he didn’t have trouble saying and beyond. things that way. ” You can stream “ The Torch ” by This prompted me to wonder renting or purchasing on Google Play, whether speech or English teachers iTunes, Amazon Instant Video or Vudu.
