Samuel Gene Maghett (February 14, 1937 – December 1, 1969), known as Magic Sam, was an American Chicago blues musician. He was born in Grenada County, Mississippi, and learned to play the blues from listening to records by Muddy Waters and Little Walter. After moving to Chicago at the age of 19, he was signed by Cobra Records and became well known as a bluesman after the release of his first record, "All Your Love", in 1957. He was known for his distinctive tremolo guitar playing. The stage name Magic Sam was devised by Sam's bass player and childhood friend Mack Thompson at Sam's first recording session for Cobra, as an approximation of "Maghett Sam". The name Sam was using at the time, Good Rocking Sam, was already being used by another artist.

Life and career

Maghett moved to Chicago in 1956, where his guitar playing earned him bookings at blues clubs on the West Side. He recorded singles for Cobra Records from 1957 to 1959, including "All Your Love" and "Easy Baby". They did not reach the record charts but had a profound influence, far beyond Chicago's guitarists and singers. Together with recordings by Otis Rush and Buddy Guy (also Cobra artists), the West Side Sound was a manifesto for a new kind of blues. Around this time Magic Sam worked briefly with Homesick James Williamson. Magic Sam gained a following before being drafted into the U.S. Army. He served six months in prison for desertion and received a dishonorable discharge. AABF 1969 Magic Sam JT

In 1963, his single "Feelin' Good (We're Gonna Boogie)" gained national attention. He successfully toured the U.S., Britain and Germany. He was signed to Delmark Records in 1967, for which he recorded '' West Side Soul'' and '' Black Magic''. He continued performing live and toured with a band that included blues harp player Charlie Musselwhite, future Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen bassist "Buffalo" Bruce Barlow and drummer

Sam Lay Samuel Julian Lay (March 20, 1935January 29, 2022) was an American drummer and vocalist who performed from the late 1950s as a blues and R&B musician alongside Little Walter, Howlin' Wolf, Paul Butterfield, and many others. He was inducted int ...

. Magic Sam's breakthrough performance was at the Ann Arbor Blues Festival in 1969, which won him many bookings in the U.S. and Europe. He sometimes performed with his uncle, Shakey Jake Harris.

Death

His career was cut short when he suddenly died of a

heart attack A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when Ischemia, blood flow decreases or stops in one of the coronary arteries of the heart, causing infarction (tissue death) to the heart muscle. The most common symptom ...

in December 1969. He was 32 years old. Magic Sam was buried in the Restvale Cemetery, in Alsip, Illinois. He was survived by his wife, Georgia Maghett. In February 1970, the Butterfield Blues Band played at a benefit concert for Magic Sam, at Fillmore West in San Francisco. Also on the bill were Mike Bloomfield, Elvin Bishop, Charlie Musselwhite and Nick Gravenites.

Legacy

Magic Sam's guitar style, vocals, and songwriting have inspired and influenced many blues musicians. "Magic Sam had a different guitar sound", said his record producer,

Willie Dixon William James Dixon (July 1, 1915January 29, 1992) was an American blues musician, vocalist, songwriter, arranger and record producer. He was proficient in playing both the upright bass and the guitar, and sang with a distinctive voice, but he ...

. "Most of the guys were playing the straight 12-bar blues thing, but the harmonies that he carried with the chords was a different thing altogether. This tune "All Your Love", he expressed with such an inspirational feeling with his high voice. You could always tell him, even from his introduction to the music." His recording of the popular blues standard " Sweet Home Chicago" in 1967 has been identified as one of the most accomplished performances of the song. Author

Stephen Thomas Erlewine Stephen Thomas Erlewine (; born June 18, 1973) is an American music critic and former senior editor for the online music database AllMusic. He is the author of multiple artist biographies and record reviews for AllMusic, as well as a freelance ...

writes: For the performance of the song in the 1980 film '' The Blues Brothers'', John Belushi's character announces, "dedicate to the late great Magic Sam".

Awards and recognition

* 1982, Blues Foundation Blues Music Award for ''Magic Sam Live'' in the category Vintage or Reissue Album of the Year (US) * 1982, Blues Foundation Hall of Fame, induction as Performer * 1984, Blues Foundation Hall of Fame, '' West Side Soul'' selected in the category Classics of Blues Recordings – Albums * 1990, Blues Foundation Hall of Fame, '' Black Magic'' selected in the category Classics of Blues Recordings – Albums

Partial discography

Singles Albums

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Magic Sam 1937 births 1969 deaths 20th-century American singers People from Grenada County, Mississippi Military personnel from Mississippi Chicago blues musicians Electric blues musicians American blues guitarists American male guitarists American blues singers Blues musicians from Mississippi Delmark Records artists 20th-century American guitarists Guitarists from Illinois Guitarists from Mississippi 20th-century American male musicians Cobra Records artists