Blues legend Buddy Guy is reflecting on his unexpected but meaningful cameo in Ryan Coogler’s 2025 film Sinners, calling it an experience he will “cherish for the rest of [his] life.”

The 89-year-old musician, who has influenced generations of guitarists including Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, and Jimmy Page, spoke to PEOPLE during Variety’s Hitmakers brunch in December, where he received the first-ever Living Legend/Iconic Collaboration in Film award for his role in Sinners.

“It’s always a surprise to me because I came up on a farm,” Guy said. “I’m a sharecropper’s son, and to be lucky enough to [have] evidently played my guitar enough to be invited to something like this.”

Guy portrayed elderly Sammie Moore in the film, joining forces with Coogler and Michael B. Jordan, and expressed humility about the recognition:

“I didn’t want to ever be the best in town. I want to be the best until the best come around,” he said with a laugh.

Passing on the Blues to a New Generation

The film has also helped introduce Buddy Guy to younger audiences. Guy shared a story of a young fan recognizing him in a grocery store after seeing Sinners:

“She said, ‘Are you the man I saw in that movie?’ I said, ‘I guess so!’ She started laughing and said, ‘My grandmama used to talk about you, but I didn’t know anything about you.’”

The legendary guitarist emphasized that his decision to join the film was rooted in his lifelong commitment to keeping the blues alive:

“I promised Muddy [Waters], B.B. [King] and them… whoever lived longest, please try to keep the blues alive. Even at my age, when they ask me to do something, I say, ‘If I can still walk, I’ll be there.’”

Since the film’s release, Guy has noticed more young fans attending his shows and engaging with blues music, proving the power of film to bridge generations.

Sinners is available to stream on HBO Max.