West Side Chicago Blues

West Side Chicago Blues is the harder, guitar-led school of Chicago blues that emerged on the city's West Side in the late 1950s and 1960s. Against the harmonica-driven South Side sound, West Side players favored modern electric guitar tones, minor-key progressions, extended solos and intense, soul-tinged singing. *Magic Sam*, *Otis Rush* and *Buddy Guy* defined it in singles for #Cobra# and albums for #Delmark# that rewired blues guitar worldwide. Its phrasing and sustain became foundational for blues rock and for guitarists from Eric Clapton to Stevie Ray Vaughan.