Magic Slim

Magic Slim, one of the last of the Mississippi bluesmen to make his name in Chicago in the 60s, has died in Phildelphia aged 75. Born Morris Holt in Torrence, Mississippi, he first went to Chicago in 1955 to play with his friend Magic Sam, who gave him his stage name. He recorded his first single Scuffin' in 1966 and formed the Teardrops with his brothers Nick and Douglas. His initial album, Born Under A Bad Sign, was the first of over 30 released over the years on the Alligator, Rooster Blues, Wolf and Blind Pig labels, which resulted in him winning six W C Handy Awards for Best Blues Band. His final album, Bad Boy, was released on Blind Pig in 2012. Slim and the Teardrops were regular visitors to blues festivals in the US and Europe.
A final word, too, for Kevin Ayers, aged 68, founder of late sixties prog rock band Soft Machine, who left the band early in his career and made a number of LPs during the 70s before exiling himself to the South of France where he lived until his death. There's an interesting interview with him here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2013/feb/21/kevin-ayers-final-interview

Also news through today (February 22) of the death of Cleotha Staples, eldest sibling of the Staple Singers, aged 78.  http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/turnitup/chi-cleotha-staples-dead-20130222,0,3210098.column   http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-21565928