Best buds

He’s with the band Playing onstage with Buddy Guy is part of a normal day for 10-year-old Quinn Sulliivan.

Quinn Sullivan’s circle of friends is a little different than most kids his age. The 10-year-old musician from New Bedford, Massachusetts, counts 73-year-old blues icon Buddy Guy among his closest pals and jamming buddies. Sullivan, who started guitar lessons at age five, met Guy—who said he was “blown away” by the boy’s talent—when he was eight. The two have been teaming up for shows ever since, with Sullivan frequently opening for Guy and the pair playing together at a recent show with B.B. King and Mavis Staples.

Guy helped Quinn find management and connected him with producer and songwriter Tom Hambridge, who produced Guy’s last album. We caught up with Sullivan and his dad, Terry, as they prepared for a series of shows in Chicago this week—including a solo stint on the Kidzapalooza stage at Lollapalooza.

Time Out Chicago: How did you meet Buddy Guy?
Quinn Sullivan: I went to a show he played in New Bedford. I had my guitar with me for him to autograph beforehand, and he asked me to play for him. Later, he called me on stage and I played a few riffs. He said he’d get in touch after that, and he really followed up. Now, I’ve played with him about 20 or 30 times, including some shows at Legends.

TOC: What’s the best part of playing with him?
Quinn Sullivan: He’s really a legend to me and the coolest guy I’ve ever met. It’s a dream. Buddy has taught me to be humble when I play.
Terry Sullivan: Quinn is learning so much from Buddy about American history and how music has played a part in it. He knows more about music now than I do.

TOC: What’s it like to go back home to your regular life after playing a show with famous musicians?
Quinn Sullivan: It’s mind-boggling to be doing what I’m doing and playing all across the country. I definitely want to continue to be a rock musician, keep recording [Quinn hasn’t been signed by a label yet, but recently spent time in Nashville recording a series of tracks] and touring. When I’m home, I just go to a regular school and hang out with my friends. But it’s so hard living this life in the summer when all of my friends have vacation.
Terry Sullivan: He sort of figures it out on his own, but he has a really great group of friends at home. And as long as he’s having fun, that’s what we care about.

TOC: Do you play any other instruments?
Quinn Sullivan: I tinker with the bass, drums and piano. I wrote a song called “My Sweet Guitar” about how good it feels to play my guitar and all that.

TOC: Besides Guy, who are some of your musical influences?
Quinn Sullivan: I love Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton—“Layla” and “Presence of the Lord” are two of my favorite songs. Duane Allman, too.

TOC: Not exactly what the kids are listening to these days…
Quinn Sullivan: I respect other music, but I just don’t like it.

Catch Quinn Sullivan at Legends Friday 7 and at Lollapalooza Saturday 8. His single, “Summer of Love,” is available on iTunes, Amazon and CDbaby.com.

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