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Exclusive: B.B. King and Buddy Guy's Backstage Blues Summit

March 26, 2009 5:51 PM ET

Bluesmen B.B. King and Buddy Guy recently wrapped up a three-week stretch of shows together at Red Bank, New Jersey's Count Basie Theatre and Rock Daily was backstage with the two legends as they talked about their craft, reminisced about the old days and their mutual respect for one another. For an intimate look at the two Roll and Roll Hall of Famers, check out our exclusive video above.

Throughout the tour, King and Guy have traded anecdotes about some of the highlights of their storied careers. "Yesterday, B.B. was telling me about one gig where the bus broke down and the [promoter] told him, 'I'm not gonna pay you 'cause you're late,' " Guy said. "Well, the house was sold out, and B.B. went out and said, 'You all should get your money back because I'm playing for free.' "

"It's sort of incredible that Buddy and I never toured," King said, "There ain't that many of us older guys around still doing what we do." At 83, King is the elder statesman, while the 72-year-old Guy still remembers meeting his hero in 1958, when King stopped by to watch Guy play. "I say to myself, 'Oh, my God, I don't know what to play tonight, 'cause I can't play B.B. King stuff if he's sitting there," Guy said.

For more of our conversation with King and Guy, including King's assertion that he could write a book about cotton-farming but couldn't author a novel on the blues, check out our exclusive video from backstage the Count Basie Theatre.

Related Stories:

• Secrets of the Guitar Heroes: B.B. King
• Buddy Guy: The Kingpin
• Secrets of the Guitar Heroes: Buddy Guy

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