Lightnin' Hopkins
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Sam "Lightnin'" Hopkins
(March 1912 - January 30, 1982)
Lightnin' Hopkins was an exceptional Texas Blues musician. He was a showman
and, as the liner notes to his exceptional album "Country Blues" suggest,
he was a Minstrel at heart. Lightnin' was well known as an entertainer,
many times on simple street corners, playing for passers-by. He could
easily fabricate a new song out of thin air and dance and play his guitar
along with it.
Lightnin' was a true Texas Bluesman, and lived the majority of his life
around Texas. Like most Bluesmen of the time, Hopkin's real history is hard
to trace, though he followed both the famous Blind Lemon Jefferson
and his cousin, Texas Alexander, and reportedly served a
time on a prison chain gang. Though the details are unclear, according to
Lightnin', he "had to cut an ol' boy and they give me time on the
Country farm [prison]." He got his "Lightnin'" nickname when he recorded a
number of tracks with Blues pianist Wilson "Thunder" Smith. Lightnin'
continuously recorded over the years, earning mild notoriety, but not
widespread fame. Like many of his Blues counterparts, though, the folk
revival of the 1960s introduced Lightnin' to a huge new audience. In 1959
he was seeked out by Blues folklorist Mack McCormick, and quickly began
enjoying an extremely long and broad recording career. He played large
venues and entertained vast audiences worldwide, all the while recording
feverously.
While the man passed away from cancer in 1982, his legend lives on. He was
a hugely influential figure in the Texas Blues that he helped forge. Many
vastly popular Texas Blues men have claimed him a major influence on them,
including none other than Stevie Ray Vaughan and his extremely
talented big brother Jimmie Vaughan. His unique finger-picking
style has earned him a place on Rolling Stone Magazine's 100 Greatest Guitarists
of All Time.
Notable songs by Lightnin' Hopkins
