Blues guitarist Steady Rollin’ Bob Margolin hasn’t been to Des Moines in over 15 years. But he is looking forward to playing at Sheffield’s in Des Moines tonight.

“I haven’t been to Des Moines since I was there with Muddy Waters in the 70s,” Margolin said. “I’m looking forward to making good music for everybody.”

Margolin has played with just about every blues legend and many of rock ‘n’ roll’s biggest stars. He is best known as a veteran of the Muddy Waters Blues Band, with whom he played guitar from 1973 to 1980. “[Waters] was very influential on a lot of people,” Margolin said.

In 1978, Margolin performed at the White House in front of President Jimmy Carter.

Margolin grew up listening to authentic Chicago Blues. He began playing with blues guitarist Luther Johnson in the early 70s. It was through Johnson that Margolin befriended Muddy Waters, and in 1973, Waters gave Margolin a big break by asking him to join the Muddy Waters Blues Band.

“I’m still trying to digest all the things he showed me,” Margolin said of Waters in a press release.

The Muddy Waters Blues Band’s farewell performance, captured in the Martin Scorcese film, The Last Waltz, features Margolin playing guitar.

Although Margolin now fronts his own power trio, he often jams with old Muddy Waters bandmates (including Pinetop Perkins, Luther Johnson and Willie Smith).

Margolin’s most recent album is entitled My Blues & My Guitar, and it is his second release on the Alligator record label. It was produced by Margolin and saxophonist Mark “Kaz” Kazanoff, and 9 of the 15 songs on the album are Margolin’s original compositions. “A lot of the foundation [on the CD] is from when I was in the Muddy Waters Blues Band,” Margolin said.

Much of the music on the CD is rooted in “old school” guitar playing, a style which Margolin describes as “very simple and literal.”

“It’s primitive sounding. I like that sound, myself.”

Tonight’s show at Sheffield’s begins at 9:30 p.m.