Magic Slim

Though he was never one of the major star names of the blues rock scene in the 1980s and 90s, Magic Slim was an authentic, raw force on the Chicago live circuit for over 40 years, and was renowned for his booming, barking delivery and slick-toned grooves. Born in Torrance, Mississippi in 1937, Morris Holt first started playing the piano as a child but lost a finger on his right hand in an accident with a cotton separating machine and was forced to take up the guitar instead.

Given his nickname Magic Slim by childhood friend Magic Sam, he worked in the cotton fields in Grenada County and played music at local juke joints before heading to Chicago in 1955 as a bass player in Sam's band. Slim returned home when it became apparent that his skills weren't up to scratch and he played relentlessly with his own group The Teardrops until finally making it back to the big city in 1965. As a regular performer at the jumping South Side clubs, his electrified blues filled venues nightly, but it was initially fans in Europe who kick-started his recording career. French label MCM released his debut 'Born Under a Bad Sign' in 1977 and after successful tours to the UK, Japan and Brazil he collaborated regularly with John Primer live and on the albums '44 Blues', 'Spider in My Stew' and 'Blues Behind Closed Doors'. Further stand-out albums included 'Living Chicago Blues', 'Grand Slam', 'Gravel Road' and 'Black Tornado' and, with The Teardrops, he went on to win numerous W.C. Handy Awards. Slim continued touring regularly but died suddenly in 2013, aged 75, after suffering with heart, lung and kidney issues. His son Shawn Holt continues to play with The Teardrops.