Lightnin' Hopkins

[Mr. Jelly]

Every so often an artist jumps out of my homemade mix tapes (CDs) and I think nobody can touch that. Lightnin' definitely is one of them. It's one thing to remember them and another to hear them. He's like an acoustic Led Zeppelin or something.

[Rodger Knox]

Back when I was a kid, my father was a route salesman. He sold and delivered condiments and snacks to stores and restaurants. I frequently went with him on Fridays during the summer, and there was this tavern (locally known as a "beer joint") on his Friday route. On the porch of this old tavern there was usually an old black man playing a guitar.

That was the first time I heard Lightnin Hopkins.

[Kerbie]

One of my favorites!

[Mr. Jelly]

Originally Posted by Rodger Knox

That was the first time I heard Lightnin Hopkins.

Now that is cool!

[Mark L]

One of my favorite Lightnin’ lines, I believe from Cadillac Blues:
“Rubber on wheels, is faster, than rubber on heels”.

Saw him a bunch in the Austin/ Houston axis, late 60’s and onward. Hard to say he’s underrated, but, he’s underrated.

A true triple, or quadruple threat. Singer, player, writer/performer.

Fantastic!

[Narsil]

Lightnin' is definitely underrated.

He is about as pure and simple a blues guitarist as it gets. Nothing too overly technical, but OOZING with soul and feeling.

He's the reason I first said to myself, " Oh, I HAVE to try this guitar-playing-thing ! "

If you like blues, you owe it to yourself to listen to Mojo Hand. I DARE you to not have your foot tapping along by the end.

[Craviola]

That man influenced my fingerpicking style. Lightnin' is tops.

[Kerbie]

Just to give us some to listen to...



And, "Hurricane Beulah" and "Baby, Scratch My Back"

[zombywoof]

There was nobody else like him. From the 1960s on if anybody asked me if there was somebody else I would like to sound like, the answer is always the same - Lighning Hopkins.

[DukeX]

Good stuff! I'm a fan.