Lightnin’ Hopkins (1912-1982)—real name Sam John Hopkins—was born in Centerville, Texas and met Blind Lemon Jefferson at a church function. From that time on, Lightnin’ felt the blues welling up within him. Having relatives who played blues certainly helped. One cousin was blues singer Texas Alexander. Another was electric guitarist Frankie Lee Sims (with whom Lightnin’ would later record). Like T-Bone Walker, Lightnin’ became a protégé of Blind Lemon Jefferson and functioned as a guide playing at various church functions with him. Hopkins did time at the Houston County Prison Farm for an offense that has never been disclosed (of course in Texas during that era a man didn’t have to do anything to end up in prison except be black). He was discovered by Aladdin Records in 1946 and went to L.A. to record with pianist Wilson Smith. An exec there decided they needed dynamic, bluesy nicknames and named Hopkins “Lightnin’” and Smith “Thunder.” Hopkins liked his moniker and kept it the rest of his career. He returned to Texas and began recording for Gold Star Records. Even though he rarely toured outside of Texas in the 40s and 50s, Lightnin’ recorded anywhere from 800 to 1000 songs in his career. When Mack McCormick persuaded Lightnin’ to play at folk revival concerts in the late 50s both in Houston and California before integrated audiences (a first for Lightnin’) on the same bill as people as Seeger and Joan Baez, his popularity, already very high among blacks, now skyrocketed him to international acclaim culminating in a performance at Carnegie Hall in 1960. That same year, he released his biggest hit—“Mojo Hand” for Tradition Records. Throughout the 60s and 70s, Lightnin’ released at least one album per year and toured Germany where audiences, hungry for American blues, packed the halls to hear him and many fans followed him from town to town. He toured Holland some years later and Japan in 1978.
Both Stevie Ray and Jimmy Vaughan cite Lightnin’ as a primary influence. Lightnin’, like many acoustic bluesmen, traveled alone and so developed melodic, bass and percussion with his guitar. He picked, strummed and slapped his guitar in ways that set him apart for other bluesmen. His voice was powerful and could fill a room without needing a microphone. A true artist in every sense. In his later career, Lightnin’s backup band consisted of Dusty Hill and Frank Beard—two-thirds of Z.Z. Topp before the band existed—and they once asked Lightnin’ to give them cues when he was about to change so they could change with him. Lightnin’ just looked at them puzzled and said, “Lightnin’ change when Lightnin’ want to change.” As with John Lee Hooker, Lightnin’ played whatever he felt like playing as soon as the
moment struck him and did not know himself until it happened.
He has recorded more albums than any other blues artist. He died of cancer in 1982 and was memorialized in Crockett, Texas with a statue.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keQR4_7DBnM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lK5zYI86wIw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCqEOboRctY