by John Funke / Backwoods, Saturdays 10 am – noon
Today we celebrate Magic Sam‘s birthday. His gospel-influenced vocals and raw, propulsive guitar playing set a new standard for electric blues that remains to this day. Born in Grenada County, Mississippi in 1937, Sam Maghett eventually moved to Chicago and began playing in clubs in 1956. Along with Otis Rush and Buddy Guy, Sam developed a style combining soaring vocals and fiery guitar playing that became known as the West Side Sound. Recording singles for Cobra Records in 1957, Sam cut the first version of his classic All Your Love along with 21 Days in Jail, a storming slice of black rockabilly.
Sam broke through to a wider audience with the release of West Side Soul on Delmark Records in 1968. A classic album that has become a cornerstone of many a blues collection, West Side Soul is a hot session that showcases Magic Sam’s modern approach to a set of covers, his rocking version of Sweet Home Chicago is definitive.
Gaining acclaim with performances on college campuses and at blues festivals, Sam was poised for further popularity when he died in December 1969, felled by a heart attack. We’re fortunate to have a filmed interview and performance from Sam’s tour with the American Folk Blues Festival in Germany from 1969. His humility, good looks, and awesome talent are on full display conjuring a star power that shone too briefly. Happy Birthday Magic Sam!