Biography Magic Sam
Samuel "Magic Sam" Gene Maghett oldies.com biography - accessed January 2008 (February 14 1937 ? December 1 1969 All Music Guide biography - accessed January 2008) was a blues guitarist and singer.
After moving to Chicago, Illinois in 1950, his guitar playing earned bookings at blues clubs in Chicago's West Side. He met his old childhood friend Magic Slim there in 1955, and gave him his nickname. Sam recorded for the Cobra label from 1957 to 1959, recording singles, including "All Your Love" and "Easy Baby." They never appeared on the charts yet they had a profoud influence, far beyond Chicago's guitarists and singers. Together with the records of Otis Rush (also a Cobra artist) and Buddy Guy, they made a manifesto for a new kind of blues. Around this time Sam also worked briefly with Homesick James Williamson. Sam gained a following before being drafted into the Army. Not a natural soldier, Sam deserted after a couple of weeks' service and was subsequently caught and sentenced to six months imprisonment. He was given a dishonourable discharge on release, but the experience had undermined his confidence and immediate recordings for Chief Records lacked the purpose of their predecessors.
In 1963, he gained national attention for his single "Feelin' Good (We're Gonna Boogie)". After successful touring of the United States, UK and Germany, he was signed to Delmark Records in 1967, where he recorded West Side Soul and Black Magic. He also continued performing live and toured with blues harp player Charlie Musselwhite.
Sam's breakthrough performance was at the Ann Arbor Blues Festival in 1969, casacadeblues.org biography - accessed January 2008 which won him many bookings in the United States and Europe. His life and career was cut short when he suddenly died of a heart attack in December of the same year. He was 32 years old. He was buried in the Restvale Cemetery in Alsip, Illinois.
His guitar style, vocals and songwriting ability have inspired and influenced many blues musicians ever since. In The Blues Brothers, Jake Blues dedicates the band's performance of "Sweet Home Chicago" to the "late, great Magic Sam".
In 1982, Sam was posthumously inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame.
1937 births1969 deathsChicago blues musiciansElectric blues musiciansAmerican blues guitaristsAmerican blues musiciansAmerican blues singersAmerican guitaristsBlues Hall of Fame inducteesBlues musicians from Mississippi
Magic SamMagic SamMagic SamMagic Sam
Life and career
Magic Sam was born in Grenada, Mississippi.After moving to Chicago, Illinois in 1950, his guitar playing earned bookings at blues clubs in Chicago's West Side. He met his old childhood friend Magic Slim there in 1955, and gave him his nickname. Sam recorded for the Cobra label from 1957 to 1959, recording singles, including "All Your Love" and "Easy Baby." They never appeared on the charts yet they had a profoud influence, far beyond Chicago's guitarists and singers. Together with the records of Otis Rush (also a Cobra artist) and Buddy Guy, they made a manifesto for a new kind of blues. Around this time Sam also worked briefly with Homesick James Williamson. Sam gained a following before being drafted into the Army. Not a natural soldier, Sam deserted after a couple of weeks' service and was subsequently caught and sentenced to six months imprisonment. He was given a dishonourable discharge on release, but the experience had undermined his confidence and immediate recordings for Chief Records lacked the purpose of their predecessors.
In 1963, he gained national attention for his single "Feelin' Good (We're Gonna Boogie)". After successful touring of the United States, UK and Germany, he was signed to Delmark Records in 1967, where he recorded West Side Soul and Black Magic. He also continued performing live and toured with blues harp player Charlie Musselwhite.
Sam's breakthrough performance was at the Ann Arbor Blues Festival in 1969, casacadeblues.org biography - accessed January 2008 which won him many bookings in the United States and Europe. His life and career was cut short when he suddenly died of a heart attack in December of the same year. He was 32 years old. He was buried in the Restvale Cemetery in Alsip, Illinois.
His guitar style, vocals and songwriting ability have inspired and influenced many blues musicians ever since. In The Blues Brothers, Jake Blues dedicates the band's performance of "Sweet Home Chicago" to the "late, great Magic Sam".
In 1982, Sam was posthumously inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame.
Citation
"Magic Sam had a different guitar sound," said his record producer, Willie Dixon. "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."See also
- Chicago blues
- List of blues musicians
- List of Chicago blues musicians
- List of people from Mississippi
- List of people from Louisiana
- List of stage names
- Mississippi Blues Trail
References
External links
1937 births1969 deathsChicago blues musiciansElectric blues musiciansAmerican blues guitaristsAmerican blues musiciansAmerican blues singersAmerican guitaristsBlues Hall of Fame inducteesBlues musicians from Mississippi
Magic SamMagic SamMagic SamMagic Sam
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic Sam
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