George “Buddy” Guy performing during the tenth edition of the Best of Blues and Rock Festival in June 2023. Photo: Emerson Santos/Fotoarena/Sipa USA

Blues giant George “Buddy” Guy announced on Monday the cancellation of his two concerts scheduled to take place next week in Israel, saying he has decided to not travel to the area.

“To all of my fans in Israel,” the multi Grammy-winning blues guitarist and singer, 86, wrote in a social media post. “Due to ongoing unrest and recent military operations, I am choosing not to travel to the region, and unfortunately, I will be canceling my July 19 and 20 performances. From the bottom of my heart, I am so sorry for any inconvenience. I wish you all peace and love. – BG.”

Guy, a pioneer of the blues scene in Chicago, was set to perform at the Caesarea Amphitheater and the Charles Bronfman Auditorium in Tel Aviv as part of his final tour, called the Damn Right Farewell Tour, that kicked off in February. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee has previously performed in Israel. His concert in 2018 featured Israeli guitarists and proceeds from the show were dedicated to Krembo Wings, a youth movement in Israel for children with and without special needs.

“We deeply regret receiving this message from Buddy Guy,” the Israeli producers of the cancelled shows said in a statement cited by Ynet. “We extend our sincere apologies to our incredible audience. Ticket buyers will receive an automatic refund to their original payment method within 45 days.”

Guy’s career spans over 50 years and he has released almost as many studio albums, with the most recent being titled The Blues Don’t Lie. He has influenced some of the greatest rock guitarists including Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page and Stevie Ray Vaughan. He has won eight Grammy awards and 37 Blues Music awards, the most any artist has received.

He has also won the Americana Music Association Lifetime Achievement Award, the 2015 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, a Billboard Magazine Century Award for distinguished artistic achievement, a Kennedy Center Honor and the Presidential National Medal of Arts. Rolling Stone magazine ranked him number 23 in its list of “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.”