From:   "Dik de Heer" 
Date:  Wed Mar 13, 2002  1:17 am
Subject:  Born To Be With You : Lightnin' Hopkins
 
LIGHTNIN' HOPKINS (By Shaun Mather)

Born Samuel Hopkins, 15 March 1912, Centerville, Texas
Died 30 January 1982, Houston, Texas

Sam Lightnin' Hopkins was a legendary Texas bluesman who was equally at home
playing in a band setting or in the more orthodox solo fashion, where he
banged out boogie beats and sang down home lyrics. Nothing he ever did was
done for commercial reasons, and his large body of work was all the better
for it. Coming from a musical family he was soon working with and learning
from such luminaries as his cousin Texas Alexander. Following a spell in
prison, Hopkins worked the blues clubs of Houston's mean Third Ward
district, where he was discovered by Lola Anne Cullum. He was signed to
Aladdin who recorded him solo and with pianist Thunder Smith, as Thunder and
Lightnin'. Some of his finest work appeared on Modern/RPM for whom he hit
with Tim Moore's Farm in '49. Further sessions followed for Sittin' In
With, Jax, Decca, Mercury and Herald for whom he cut the manic Hopkins' Sky
Hop. The late 50's saw him venturing into the folk scene, and al;though he
didn't need to change his sound, he started playing in white coffee houses
as opposed to black juke joints. The 60's were a productive time for him
with further issues on Vee-Jay, Bluesville, Prestige, Verve abd Arhoolie
among others. In 1967 there was a brilliant documentary on him, The Blues
According To Lightnin' Hopkins where his accent was so strong that they had
to issue subtitles. It's a fascinating glimpse into the persona of one of
the blues' truly great artists.

Recommended listening;
The Complete Aladdin Recordings - EMI (2 CD)
Fishing Clothes: The Jewel Recordings 1965-1969 - Westside (2 CD)
Jake Head Boogie - Ace