Magic Sam, pictured here in his West Side Soul LP on Delmark, is the best example of Chicago’s west side soul-blues sound.  Drawing from Detroit’s soul sound, and combined with Chicago’s rich history of modern electric blues, Magic Sam wails away with a melodic soul twist.  The West Side was known for this style, and Magic Sam was one of the creators, along with Freddie King, Otis Rush, Magic Slim, Buddy Guy, Luther Allison, Fenton Robinson, and others.  Sam died tragically at age 32 of a heart attack, right in his prime.  Had he continued, he may have emerged into one of the more well known modern blues artists, being able to capialize on the blues revival festivals and European tours that followed in the decades after his death.

Here is a great sample of his style, the track , from the LP shown above.