Biography of Lightnin' Hopkins

In the history of great Texas blues singers, Lightnin' Hopkins is the yardstick by which all others are measured. From his start as a "guide boy" for Blind Lemon Jefferson to his final days on the concert stages of the world, he certainly lasted longer and recorded more prolifically than anyone else. With over a hundred albums to his credit and several hundred single recordings for virtually every label known to mankind, Hopkin's easygoing style worked well in every conceivable setting. From his early solo work, guitar/piano duets, small rhythm sections, even to a brief fling as a coffeehouse performer during the '60s folk music boom, Hopkins remained uniquely his own man. His lyrical themes had strong roots in the Texas songster tradition, some reaching back to slavery days, while his guitar stylings were seamless and fluid, combining lead and rhythm passages simultaneously. Typecast as primarily an acoustic artist, Hopkins with a Fender Stratocaster and a cranked-up amp could be every bit as potent as any Chicago bluesman ever thought of being. Virtually any recording by Lightnin' Hopkins, regardless of time or setting, is a welcome addition to any blues collection. ~ Cub Koda