Samuel John Hopkins, better known as Lightnin’ Hopkins (March 15, 1912 – January 30, 1982) was an American country blues singer, songwriter, guitarist and occasional pianist, from Centerville, Texas. Rolling Stone magazine ranked him number 71 on its list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time. Hopkins was Houston's poet-in-residence for 35 years. He recorded more albums than any other bluesman.
Hopkins was born in Centerville, Texas, and as a child
was immersed in the sounds of the blues. He developed a deep appreciation for
this music at the age of 8, when he met Blind Lemon Jefferson at a church
picnic in Buffalo, Texas. That day, Hopkins felt the blues was "in him".
He went on to learn from his older distant cousin, the country blues singer
Alger "Texas" Alexander. Hopkins began accompanying Jefferson on
guitar at informal church gatherings. Jefferson reputedly never let anyone play
with him except young Hopkins, and Hopkins learned much from Jefferson at these
gatherings.
In the mid-1930s, Hopkins was sent to Houston County Prison Farm; the offense for which he was imprisoned is unknown. In the late 1930s, he moved to Houston with Alexander in an unsuccessful attempt to break into the music scene there. By the early 1940s, he was back in Centerville, working as a farm hand.
Hopkins took a second shot at Houston in 1946. While
singing on Dowling Street in Houston's Third Ward (which would become his home
base), he was discovered by Lola Anne Cullum of Aladdin Records, based in Los Angeles.
She convinced Hopkins to travel to Los Angeles, where he accompanied the
pianist Wilson Smith. The duo recorded twelve tracks in their first sessions in
1946. An Aladdin executive decided the pair needed more dynamism in their names
and dubbed Hopkins "Lightnin'" and Wilson "Thunder".
"Katie May," cut on November 9, 1946, in L.A.
with Smith lending a hand on the 88s, was Lightnin' Hopkins' first regional
seller of note. He recorded prolifically for Aladdin in both L.A. and Houston
into 1948, scoring a national R&B hit for the firm with his "Shotgun
Blues." "Short Haired Woman," "Abilene," and "Big
Mama Jump," among many Aladdin gems, were evocative Texas blues rooted in an earlier era. He returned to Houston and began recording for Gold Star Records.
Mama Jump," among many Aladdin gems, were evocative Texas blues rooted in an earlier era. He returned to Houston and began recording for Gold Star Records.
In the late 1940s and 1950s he rarely performed outside
Texas, only occasionally travelling to the Midwest and the East for recording
sessions and concert appearances. It has been estimated that he recorded
between eight hundred and a thousand songs in his career. He performed
regularly at nightclubs in and around Houston, particularly on Dowling Street,
where he had been discovered by Aladdin.
He recorded the hit records "T- Model Blues" and "Tim Moore's Farm" at Sugar Hill Recording Studios in Houston.
By the mid- to late 1950s, his prodigious output of high-quality recordings had gained him a following among African Americans and blues aficionados.
He recorded the hit records "T- Model Blues" and "Tim Moore's Farm" at Sugar Hill Recording Studios in Houston.
By the mid- to late 1950s, his prodigious output of high-quality recordings had gained him a following among African Americans and blues aficionados.
Hopkins's style was born from spending many hours playing
informally without a backing band. His distinctive finger style technique often
included playing, in effect, bass, rhythm, lead, and percussion at the same time.
He played both "alternating" and "monotonic" bass styles
incorporating imaginative, often chromatic turnarounds and single-note lead
lines. Tapping or slapping the
body of his guitar added rhythmic accompaniment. Many of his songs were in the talking blues style, but he was a powerful and confident singer. Many of his songs are filled with double entendres, and he was known for his humorous introductions to songs.
body of his guitar added rhythmic accompaniment. Many of his songs were in the talking blues style, but he was a powerful and confident singer. Many of his songs are filled with double entendres, and he was known for his humorous introductions to songs.
In 1959, the blues researcher Mack McCormick contacted
Hopkins, hoping to bring him to the attention of a broader musical audience
engaged in the folk revival. McCormack presented Hopkins to integrated
audiences first in Houston and then in California. He made his debut at
Carnegie Hall on October 14, 1960, alongside Joan Baez and Pete Seeger,
performing the spiritual "Mary Don't You Weep". In 1960, he signed
with Tradition Records. The recordings which followed included his song "Mojo
Hand" in 1960.
Hopkins died of oesophageal cancer in Houston on January
30, 1982, at the age of 69. His obituary in the New York Times described him as
"one of the great country blues singers and perhaps the greatest single
influence on rock guitar players."
(Edited mainly from Wikipedia)
7 comments:
For “Lightnin’ Hopkins - Thinkin’ and Worryin’
– The Aladdin Singles 1947-1952” go here:
https://pixeldrain.com/u/ZDuXkPX3
1947
1. KATIE MAE BLUES
2. THAT MEAN OLD TWISTER
3. I FEEL SO BAD
4. ROCKY MOUNTAIN BLUES
5. FAST MAIL RAMBLER
6. THINKIN' AND WORRYIN'
7. SHORT-HAIRED WOMAN
8. BIG MAMA JUMP
9. SUGAR MAMA
10. PICTURE ON THE WALL
1948
11. DOWN HOME BABY
12. LET ME PLAY WITH YOUR POODLE
1949
13. NIGHTMARE BLUES
14. WOMAN, WOMAN
15. MORNING BLUES
16. HAVE TO LET YOU GO
1950
17. BABY CHILD
18. CHANGING WEATHER BLUES
19. SHOTGUN BLUES
20. ROLLING BLUES
1951
21. HONEY HONEY BLUES
22. MOONRISE BLUES
23. MISS ME BLUES
24. ABILENE
1952
25. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO WORRY MY LIFE ANYMORE
26. DADDY WILL BE HOME ONE DAY
Lightnin' Hopkins was one of the greatest and most popular authentic blues artists. These 26 titles comprise the first 13 singles released by Lightnin' Hopkins between 1947 and 1952. They weren't his first recordings but they were the first released under his own name.Although he did record with other musicians and even with full bands it's these acoustic classics that best illustrate his art and they are some of the most endearing blues tracks ever recorded.
Includes the popular songs 'Katie Mae Blues', 'Big Mama Jump' and his biggest chart hit 'Shotgun Blues'.
A true genius of the genre this Lightnin' Hopkins release by Jasmine is a must have for blues and R&B fans.
(Jasmine notes)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For “The Very Best of Lightnin 'Hopkins (1999)” go here:
https://www.upload.ee/files/11271299/Lightnin__Hopkins_-_Very_Best.rar.html
1 - Mojo Hand
2 - Santa Fe Blues
3 - Lightnin 'Jump
4 - Short Haired Woman
5 - Coffee For Mama
6 - Rainy Day Blues
7 - Sometimes She Will
8 - Late in the Evening
9 - The Foot Race Is On
10 - Glory Be
11 - That Gambling Life
12 - Gonna Pull A Party
13 - Shotgun
14 - Shine On Moon
15 - Lightnin 'Strikes One More Time
16 - Back Door Friend
17 - Pneumonia Blues
18 - Katie Mae
19 - Let Me Play With Your Poodle
20 - West Texas Blues
Thanks to Brutus @ osbrutostambemouvem blog for original post.
A very big thanks to The Blues That Jazz for the selected discography below:
Lightnin' Hopkins - Blues Train (1951 recordings) (1991)
http://www.mediafire.com/file/8dxcsyxoakb550o/LghtnnHpkns-BT91.zip/file
Lightnin’ Hopkins – Lightnin’ And The Blues (1954 recordings) (2001)
https://yadi.sk/d/6z8QjwKc4euf8
Lightnin' Hopkins - The Roots Of Lightnin' Hopkins (1959)
https://yadi.sk/d/p-RIpsQH4efZ4
Lightnin' Hopkins – Lightnin' (The Blues Of Lightnin' Hopkins) (1960)
https://yadi.sk/d/ygRSMZr5lSGk3w
Lightnin Hopkins – Autobiography In Blues (1960)
https://yadi.sk/d/Z6h33HZR4diXG
Lightnin' Hopkins - Nothing But The Blues (1962)
https://yadi.sk/d/W_V2oivsdjLHr
Lightnin’ Hopkins – Talkin’ Some Sense (1968)
https://yadi.sk/d/2KXbup6l4eYE2
Lightnin’ Hopkins – The Texas Blues Man (1969)
https://yadi.sk/d/O4nESyhv4el1U
Lightnin' Hopkins - Lightnin' (1969)
https://yadi.sk/d/GO-RiWUowWYpN
Lightnin’ Hopkins – The Great Electric Show and Dance (1970)
https://yadi.sk/d/p6LL2_qPDHcXA
Lightnin' Hopkins - Blues Is My Business (1971)
https://yadi.sk/d/fYWaS1fy4dnlE
Lightnin' Hopkins - Double Blues (1973 recordings) (1989)
http://www.mediafire.com/file/0c35ip5aw18t28c/LhnHks-DB89.zip/file
Lightnin Hopkins - Soul Blues (1991)
http://www.mediafire.com/file/zsd8ju3njxzddt6/LHk-SB91.zip/file
Lightnin' Hopkins - Sittin' In With (1992)
http://www.mediafire.com/file/aqcyc9j9rr5f43h/LhnHks-SIW92.zip/file
Lightnin' Hopkins - Texas Blues - The Blues Collection Vol.31
https://yadi.sk/d/dTZXQcGQ4dhOq
thanks a lot
;)
just in time to play me some Lightnin' at christmas.. thank you!
...by the way, is it possible to re-up The Aladdin singles again? The link appears to be dead.
Hello Gary, Here's a new link for The Alladin Singles
http://www.mediafire.com/file/rpicazr9srprizy/LHTAWTAS4752.rar/file
Regards, Bob
So much Lightnin'! Thank you so much!
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