I have received a lot of great comments on some of the posts I put up about early blues men… so, I want to continue my “listening party” with a spotlight on Lightnin’ Hopkins.
Hopkins was an early Texas blues man, known for his hard boogie-woogie rhythms, signature leads, and rough vocals.
About.com has a great feature on Mr. Lightnin’ Hopkins that gives some history behind the famous Texas blues guitarist, but he was born March 15, 1912 in Centerville TX, and passed away on January 30, 1982 in Houston TX.
Sam “Lightnin'” Hopkins was one of the most influential blues guitarists to come out of the state of Texas. A country-styled bluesman that often performed solo, Hopkins’ unique finger-picked guitar style would alternate single-note leads with rhythm and bass guitar, adding percussive elements by slapping or tapping his guitar body. A prolific songwriter whose lyrics chronicled life in the South, romantic turmoil, and bawdy sexual themes, Hopkins’ vocals mixed a soulful voice with a talking blues style.
Hopkins’ extensive body of recorded work and dynamic live performances would influence a generation of guitarists to follow, from bluesmen like Buddy Guy and Albert Collins to blues-rockers like Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Jimmie Vaughan of the Fabulous Thunderbirds. Hopkins was also a major influence on country-folk singer/songwriter Townes Van Zandt, and would land at #71 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.”
In this first clip, one of his most famous tunes, notice his solid right hand thumb and how he keeps the time going constantly through the song:
In this next clip, Hopkins is playing with a band on an old school, slow, down and dirty blues (yeah!)
And finally, one of his last appearances from 1979 on Austin City Limits… notice how he just sort of changes chords when he feels like it and the band follows as best as they can. Sometimes it’s a 12 bar form, but more often than not, in the style of a lot of the classic bluesmen, the changes just come when they want to come (imagine keeping up with that!)
Hope you enjoyed this one and got to expand your ears a little.
33 replies to "Lightnin’ Hopkins And Early Texas Blues"
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Thanks Griff, great job of bringing Lightning’ to life. I am glad to hear that I am not the only Lightning’ fan. I can never think of the blues without thinking of Lightenin’. I love his soulful sound and would love to learn how to make it. Thanks again.
Magic Griff
This bloke is it
I reckon JJ cale walked afew miles
Inhis shoes
Specially in some of the high end slow
Solos
Can reckonend recording of ebbits field
Concert
Also a wild rythmic recording of baby please dont go
Joe williams on a 9 string awesome
Thanks again griff
Joe
Wow, in the first video was he playing that with just his thumb and one finger?
Lightin Hopkins – yes sir. Thanks.
I like Lightnin’s way of playing a acoustic guitar. Kinda tricky to do for me, but I am still trying to learn his way of doing things.
My introduction to Lighting (Slim) Hopkins came in the U.S. Air force. Down the hall from my room came this great picking and singing (as only a black man or woman can sing). I was hooked. Some of his picking seems not too difficult to play. Think I’ll give it a try…thanks Griff!!!!
Always did like his minimalist style.
Great stuff, thanks Griff. He makes it look so easy. Hey, did anyone else notice how amazingly long his fingers are. SOOOO jealous!
Oh yeah daddy. That’s the real stuff.
This is where it all comes from folks.
Lightnin’ was my first guitar hero. Last time I saw him he was playing a gig at Rice University, and I was walking behind him when he spotted a quarter lying on the sidewalk. He quipped “I’ll get it! Might be a ol’ man, fall down on my knees…but I’ll lie there, and work with it!” Storyteller indeed. He’s also directly responsible for my limited (very) ability on the piano. I heard him playing piano (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TN2Zg6QJO_M) and it was…not very good…and I LOVED it. I thought, if he can do that, I can do that…and have some fun. So a couple of my roommates threw in with me and we bought an upright piano for 50 bucks…and pushed it home down the street in Cambridge, Mass. Set it up in our kitchen. I was right…I did have some fun! R.I.P. Lightnin’…thanks for amazing, and inspiring a bunch of us white boys!
All I can say,Is WOW, Hey Griff with the lesson’s I’ve been reciving I even follow some of his playing, I was doing single soloing.
Lightning the Master !
There’s this great cut on a “live” Lightnin” recording where he’s bopping’ along, singing’ his song and comes to an instrumental bridge line that he muffs midway through. Finishing the passage, he laughingly grumbles into the mike “Dat ain’t right! , proceeds to sing through the next verse and returning to the bridge, nails that lick, again laughing into the mike says “Das right!’ with his Lightnon’ smile. Infectious personality, storytelling and style. Check out “Big Black Cadillac Blues” on “The Best of Lightnin” Hopkins”. Great piece, is the best of Lightnin’ rolled into one song! Enjoy!
Thanks for the party, Griff! Always great to hear the roots of the music! I was studying his fingers (don’t all guitar players watch other players’ fingers?) and noticed he doesn’t use his pinky (left hand)! Got to get that guy some “technique” lessons! He won’t go very far if can’t use all his fingers and do some serious shredding!
Lightin H was one of those revered breed of men and woman – he was the blues. Like so many oppressed Afro Americans that worked the cotton fields etc, he built up a repertoire of pieces, soon to be copied by many. People like the Rollin Stones, Animals, Yardbirds (all groups that originated in the UK) – copiers that followed the greats. Interestingly the Yardbirds at varying times had Eric Clapton, often said to be the most influential blues player this side of the big pond, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page. I often wonder what those three would have sounded like if they were all in the Yardbirds together. perhaps it might have too much, not unlike gunfighters of the old west trying to see who is best with their guns 9read guitars in this case).
Thank you Griff for not letting the giants of the blues slip away into obscurity.
In the film Blow up there is a sequence in the old Marquee club in London with the Yardbirds with both Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page. To my knowledge that is the only recording of the two together. Clapton had left the band well before as he disapproved of the band’s ‘pop’ direction.
It was 1955 and I was 13 years old in a small southern town. Sitting on my bicycle looking through the window of a black juke joint was an amazing display of sounds and vitality that before did not exist in my world. However, it soon became my world as I became baptized in the Blues. Of course, I could not go in. I was too young and too white to be found inside the club. I was basically ignored and left alone as I watched those guys play. Names I remember were Guitar Jr, later to become known as Lonnie Brooks, Smiley Lewis, Clarence Edwards, Lightnin Slim and his brother-in-law Slim Harpo and Little Walter. Occasionally I might catch Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown or see him come through town with his little trailer towed behind on his way to another town. It was the music I was brought up with. As I grew older I found places that were playing the blues for the white crowd. It was the period of segregation in the south but the blues knew no barriers. The blues was the first integration policy and it required no enforcement as all came to it willingly. I have been steeped in the blues for generations and there I remain. I only grieve that the bluesmen seem to be dying off without replacement. Blues is the real American music and it would be shame to see it disappear and become a relic of the past. But at 74, I guess I too am a relic of the past. I play every day struggling with stiff arthritic fingers. Sitting on the coach plucking away, I try to recall those sounds that still resonate in my head. Occasionally they will translate to my fingers and when they do it is truly a reward unlike any other.
You keep on pickin’ Gary Odom, you keep on makin’ her sing!
In addition to being one of the truly great blues men, he’s a genuine storyteller. Listen to some of his live albums, where he talks a lot between the songs. It’s absolutely great, often very funny too…..
Fantastic, his playing is just amazing. Just been reading ‘The History of the Blues’ by Francis Davis. Lightning is featured on page 217. According to the discography he made several recordings.
For those of us who have been know to frequent Centerville Texas (half way between Dallas and Houston… a MUST STOP if you like BBQ) it’s great to see his front porch country style. It’s like Jeff Beck borrowed his thumb and index finger style, Billy Gibbons took the raunchy, smokey voice and intonations and the Hopkins “movin forward” style echoing in SRV, JJ Cale, Leon Russell’s (yes Leon) songs. Really fun stuff.
Thanks Griff, my first exposure to blues was hearing Lightnin Hopkins while listening to Wolfman Jack broadcasting from a powerhouse station in Mexico about 1964 or ’65. I have loved blues music ever since. I believe the first time I heard Johnny Winter was on that same outlaw station. I was living in Jackson MS at the time .
He was also a big influence on Doyle Bramhall II whose dad played drums in Lightnin’s band.
Man! A lot of fine licks there.
OK Griff. There must be a lot of Lightnin fans amongst us. If you can navigate the Copyright laws there is a course there or at least a solo “in the style of”.
Thanks,
Pat
Hey Griff, Thanks for sharing with us, showing the great origins of the Blues. The first song Baby Please Don’t Go I think was revived by either Manfred Mann as well as Them in UK during the 60’s.
Simple Guitar work with an effective sound.
Michael-Sydney-Australia Nov 2016.
One word: Wow!
Thank you for these fine pieces of art.
Now that’s what I’m talking about. Sounds like another acoustic course should be cooking in the pot 🙂
It would appear that Lightin wasn’t all that happy with his bass player in the last clip but it was Lightin that was making all the off the wall changes, but I guess it was just his style.
Reminds us students that the origins of good blues guitar is acoustic.
Yeah! I noticed that, too! I always hate that when I see performer berate (nasty looks count) another musician on stage.
Chuck Berry and Ray Charles were notorious for being very hard to play with, too.
well this reply didn’t up in the right spot
Way cool!! Love that groove and killer tone.