Soul man Sam Mahood - a legend of the Irish live music scene sadly passed away on Sunday, December 23.
Back in the day of the Belfast Beat (Maritime Blues) scene, Sam Mahood played with Just Five and later toured with Sam Mahood Soul Foundation. Sam was a well known character around Belfast and, like fellow musician Rory Gallagher, he always had time to stop and talk to fans. In his orange corduroy jacket, blue corduroy trousers, knee high boots and with his long curly hair people would joke that he looked like ‘King Billy’. Sam gave the impression of being a quiet and gentle man but when he started singing he could belt it out with great energy.
He disappeared off the scene for a few years and a number of rumours flew about as to where he had gone to but he eventually made a come-back and the power of his singing had in no way diminished. He will be sadly missed on the local music scene.
Just Five, which also included another two of today’s top musicians Billy McCoy and Mervyn Crawford, were a powerhouse R & B act and one of Belfast's hottest acts. The band was founded by Sam Mahood, who had long wild red hair, staring eyes, and a voice steeped in gospel, which lived in University Street with John Cox, brother of Mick Cox later of Eire Apparent. Promising guitar player John Cox nearly joined Just Five.Sam was also ‘solely’ responsible for introducing his ‘protégé’ and now rising star in his own right onto Ireland’s music scene Lee Hedley.
He was Lee Hedley’s mentor and friend, and was the inspiration for Lee and if it was not for Sam’s intervention and guidance, Lee would not be doing music at all. Lee is carrying on Sam’s legend on Saturday 23rd in St’ George’s Market by stepping into Sam’s ‘boots’ and fronting the original Sam Mahood Soul Foundation for the concert (complete with original backing singers, Karen and Liz), before he introduces his very own line up and raises the roof with some seriously smokin’ hot rock blues to finish off the Sam Mahood Tribute in fine style.
