Magic Sam

Magic Sam was born Samuel Maghett in Greasy Creek, Mississippi in 1937. He moved to Chicago when he was fifteen, where he developed his guitar style while absorbing the city's blues scene. His early influences included Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf, but he found his own voice on the West Side.

His 1967 debut album 'Magic Sam Blues Band' introduced his raw, emotive approach. The following year's 'West Side Soul' featured tracks like 'All Your Love' and 'Easy Baby,' which became staples of his live sets. These recordings captured his sharp, stinging guitar lines and a vocal delivery that could shift from a pleading whisper to a full-throated shout.

He struggled with addiction during his career, which sometimes interrupted his momentum. Still, he managed to record 'Black Magic' in 1969, which included his version of 'Sweet Home Chicago.' Magic Sam died of a heart attack in 1969 at age thirty-two, leaving behind a compact but influential body of work that Chicago blues guitarists still reference.