Guy had a promising career as a young progressive bop musician as he worked alongside more prominent musical acts until a drug addiction sidelined him from further success.
Much of Guy's early personal life is obscured, but it is known he began his professional music career performing in New York City, and joined Fats Waller's backup band in the late 1930s.
Following that, in 1938, Guy succeeded Dizzy Gillespie in Teddy Hill's orchestra, and patterned a playing style that followed his musical role model, Roy Eldridge.
[4] In 1941–42, Guy was a regular performer as a member of the after-hours band at Minton's Playhouse,[1] alongside Nick Fenton, Kenny Clarke, and Thelonious Monk in jam sessions with early bop music.
[5] Also during this period, Guy was actively involved in numerous recordings by Jerry Newman, and also appeared on songs by Charlie Christian, Hot Lips Page, Roy Eldridge, and Don Byas.