Blues guitarist Buddy Guy has genre’s future on his mind on new album

On the cover of his latest album, “The Blues Is Alive and Well,” legendary singer/guitarist Buddy Guy is leaning against a sign that says “Lettsworth,” the name of his Louisiana hometown.

Just down the road from that sign is the highway officials named after Guy.

That highway is just one small part of the legacy Guy has established after a decades-long career, which brings him to the Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox on Friday.

Guy released “The Blues Is Alive and Well,” which features collaborations with Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Jeff Beck and James Bay, on June 15.

Most of the lyrics on the album were written by collaborator and producer Tom Hambridge, who will perform with Guy at this show.

The album deals with Guy’s dueling opinions on the future of blues.

On one hand, up-and-coming guitarists, like his 19-year-old protege Quinn Sullivan, excite Guy, making him optimistic about the continued success of the genre.

“Fashions come and go but the blues ain’t ever going out of style,” Guy told Billboard. “The blues is the truth.”

On the other, Guy has noted in several interviews that he’s worried about blues music because it’s not often played on the radio.

But as long as Guy has got a guitar in hand, the blues will continue to be alive and well.

And when the time comes for him to put his guitars back in their cases for the final time, he’s hoping his discography, including “The Blues Is Alive and Well,” will inspire others to do what they can to support the genre.

“I’m always trying to make an album that someone accidentally plays where some kid hears it, picks up a guitar, and helps keep the blues alive,” Guy said in a press release.