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.
Links to Peel[]
In his column on the Disc & Music Echo music paper, published on 11th April 1970, Peel recommended Magic Sam's '(1937-1969)' album and mentioned that there some weak tracks on the LP, but said that these are the 'cases where it is important to hear the lapses of a master - almost as important as hearing the good things on the record'.
In the 80's and 90's, Peel played many of Magic Sam's records on his shows. It is not known whether he played any of his music during the 60's and 70's, but there is a high chance that he probably did, especially his praise of the album on his Disc & Music Echo article.
Shows Played[]
- 16 August 1977: Out Of Bad Luck (v/a album - Guitar Star) Red Lightnin' RL 0017
- 1985
- 30 October 1985: Everything Gonna Be Alright (LP - Easy Baby) Charly
- 20 November 1985: Everynight About This Time (LP - Easy Baby) Charly
- 1988
- 13 July 1988: All My Whole Life
- 02 August 1988: Love Me With A Feeling (LP - (1937-1969)) Blue Horizon
- 1990
- 17 November 1990: Everything Gonna Be Alright (album - Easy Baby) Charly R&B
- 1993
- 07 May 1993: Love Me With A Feeling (CD - West Side Soul) Charly
- 08 May 1993: 'Everything's Going To Be Alright (Compilation CD-West Side Soul)' (Charly)
- 22 May 1993: Look Watcha Done (CD - West Side Soul) Charly
- 05 June 1993: All My Whole Life (CD - West Side Soul) Charly
- 19 June 1993 (BFBS): All My Whole Life (album - West Side Soul) Charly
- 25 June 1993: Love Me This Way (album - West Side Soul) Charly
- 02 July 1993: 'Magic Rocker (CD - West Side Soul)' (Charly Records)
- 03 July 1993 (BFBS): Magic Rocker (album - West Side Soul) Charly
- 17 July 1993: Roll Your Moneymaker (CD - West Side Soul) Charly
- 24 July 1993 (BFBS): Roll Your Moneymaker (album - West Side Soul) Charly
- 06 August 1993: 'Out Of Bad Luck (CD – West Side Soul)’ (Charly Records)
- 14 August 1993 (BFBS): Out Of Bad Luck (album - West Side Soul) Charly
- 10 September 1993: 'All Of Your Love (CD-West Side Soul)' (Charly)
- 01 October 1993: Look Watcha Done (album - West Side Soul) Charly
- 15 October 1993 (BFBS): Look Watcha Done (album - West Side Soul) Charly
- 1997
- 10 April 1997: Out Of Bad Luck