Magic Slim

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Magic Slim (born Morris Holt on August 7, 1937 in Torrence, Mississippi) is a blues singer and guitarist. He and Magic Sam are the best known representatives of the West Side Chicago blues.

[edit] Biography

Magic (born Morris Holt in Torrence, Mississippi in 1937) Slim is a well-known Chicago blues guitarist who has led one of the major Chicago blues bands for about 30 years now. He first came to the city in 1955 with friend and mentor Magic Sam. The elder Magic (Sam) let the younger magic (Slim) play bass with his band and even gave him his nick-name. (the now-imposing Magic Slim was apparently bit leaner back in the fifties). Now, he's a big, gruff, hat-wearing fellow, whose guitar solos sizzle. Slim's raspy passionate vocals, and screaming, roaring jazzmaster create a "whirlwind of Chicago blues." (Kevin Toelle, Illinois Entertainer). Guitarist John Primer played for him for 13 years. New City says of him, "Magic Slim provides a textbook example of what's missing in most of the rock-tainted contemporary blues of today... This band is unmatched for sheer joy, amazing guitar work without an afterthought, and a raucous good time."

He & his band The Teardrops, who the L.A. Weekly describes as "house rockers of the magnitude approaching the late Hound Dog Taylor" have a new record called Black Tornado (Blind Pig Records). Earlier releases include Spider in My Stew on Wolf Records, and a 1996 Blind Pig release called Scufflin'.

The powerful style of his band The Teardrops, with whom he has been playing since 1967, is based on the interplay between Magic Slim's deep voice and characteristic guitar style and the strong rhythm section provided by Jon McDonald (2nd lead guitar), Chris Biedron (electric bass) and Vernal Taylor (drums).

Slim's recording career began with the 1966 recording of the song Scufflin', followed by a number of singles in the mid-70s. He recorded his first album in 1977, Born Under A Bad Sign, for the French MCM label. During the 1980s, Slim released titles on Alligator, Rooster Blues and Wolf Records and won his first W. C. Handy Award.

In 2003 Magic Slim and the Teardrops were recognized as the finest blues band in the land when they won the coveted W. C. Handy Award as "Blues Band Of The Year". It was the sixth time Slim has won a Handy Award, considered the highest honor in the blues field.

Magic Slim & the Teardrops captured a live performance that was released on CD and DVD in August of 2005 titled Anything Can Happen.

Magic Slim has been known to frequent Duggan's Pub in Lincoln, NE. He will occasionally sit in with blues bands that play at the venue for a song or two.