Sunday, May 4, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Back in 2001, I joined the Evanston Athletic Club in Evanston, Illinois. Being a new member of any club can be challenging, but this big guy came up to me on my first day and introduced himself as Richard Dux. He was a little taller than I was, a few years younger, but his friendly personality disarmed me right away, and we became fast friends. I found out that he would go to Cozumel every year with a group of friends to go diving; and try as I would, to convince him to come to Belize with me, he foolishly thought that Cozumel was better for diving. Rich also introduced me to the blues; surprising for a white guy, but he loved Buddy Guy, the last living blues legend, who is still kicking. Buddy Guy owns a nightclub in Chicago called Legends, and every January he would perform there for the entire month. Rich and I and some of our friends would stand in line in subzero degree temperatures waiting for the doors to open to get front- row tables; and we always did. Buddy was never disappointing, and his mastery of that guitar was incomparable. Jimi Hendrix was one of his pupils, along with Eric Clapton and many others. That’s how great he was, and still is.
I just got back from watching the movie, Sinners, with Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo and an amazing cast, directed by Ryan Coogler of Black Panther and the Creed series. Young kid with too much talent.  I would invite everyone to see this masterpiece of a movie, which has some of the most memorable music, including Irish songs, which I didn’t expect. Both the plot and music are very surreal, and in my opinion, if you don’t enjoy this movie, you have no soul. Wat a ting!
Don’t waste your time watching any bootleg version, which I understand was being shown in the city last weekend. It is such an injustice to this work of art. It takes you to another time, in a younger and more defined America, especially where race is concerned. But it also shows you what creativity and the will to be better, can achieve. A truly special movie.
The reason I brought up Rich is because Buddy Guy is also in this movie, and I’m sure Rich would’ve been ecstatic. My friend passed away a couple of years ago, unexpectedly and way before his time, in my opinion. This column is a kind of a tribute to him, for his introducing me to a genre and a man who at 89, I believe, is still playing some of his best music.
Go see the movie.
Glen