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La Grange teen plays for Buddy Guy send-off
Aspiring blues guitarist August Domanchuk of La Grange trades a moment with blues great Buddy Guy, who was honored Nov. 27 in Chicago. | Photo courtesy of Ted Domanchuk
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Updated: February 4, 2013 1:17AM
LA GRANGE — August Domanchuk, an eighth-grader at Park Junior High School in LaGrange Park, was invited to perform for a tribute and send-off Nov. 27 for Buddy Guy. The Chicago blues legend was headed to Washington, D.C. to be honored Dec. 2 at the Kennedy Center for his lifetime contribution to the arts.
August said he was in awe of the list of fellow performers and attendees, which read like a Who’s Who of blues greats, including Eddie Clearwater, Lonnie Brooks, Big Head Todd, Kenny Kinsey and Fernando Jones.
“It was amazing, so cool,” August said. “I’m so happy for Buddy Guy.”
Although about 150 people attended to honor Guy at the Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park, August said he wasn’t overly nervous, but very conscious of the enormity of the occasion, particularly with dozens of cameras recording every move.
August teamed up again with 13-year-old Alex Lund of Chicago’s north side after the two performed during a luncheon for spouses of dignitaries attending the NATO summit in May.
The teens met through Fernando Jones, who has hosted a summer blues camp for kids since 2010 at Columbia College.
The duo traded guitar solos and vocals on “Chicago (Has Got Everything You Need)” and “Oil and Water,” both by Jones, and performed with four other young musicians.
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“I got a text from Mr. Jones that he had a gig for us,” August recalled. “I didn’t know anything about it. Then two days beforehand, he sent us a script we had to memorize for the intros and the rest.”
August said the tribute concert was his second chance to meet Guy, after performing at his bar with a couple of other young musicians a year ago.
“I got him to sign my guitar,” August said. “And this time while I was doing my solo, he was smiling at me.”
