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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZMAGIC SAM(b Samuel Maghett, 14 February 1937, Grenada MS; d 1 December 1969, Chicago) Superb blues singer, with high, soaring voice, exciting lyrical guitar style. He grew up on a farm, learned to play at ten on a homemade instrument; to Chicago high school '50; played in gospel group, then Homesick James band (Chicago legend James b John A. Williamson, 30 April 1910, Fayette County TN; d 13 December 2006). Sam formed his own band to play the 708 Club '55, known as Good Rockin' Sam. With Shakey Jake band '57; the same year he cut first single for Cobra, 'All Your Love', noted for eerie chord progression and dramatic vocal. More records for Cobra, Chief; club, college dates in Chicago area early '60s, two LPs for Delmark, booking at '69 Ann Arbor Blues festival: Blues Unlimited wrote that 'The music alone moved the people who weren't expecting it from someone they'd never heard of, and they screamed for him the rest of the evening.' He died of heart attack that year. Magic Sam Live '80 on Delmark included an Ann Arbor set plus material from Chicago Alex Club gigs '63-4; Legacy '89 was alternate takes etc but much better than a souvenir. |