Lightnin Opkins

Samuel John Hopkins was born in 1912 to a poor sharecropping family in Centerville, Texas. He immersed himself in the blues at an early age, having met Blind Lemon Jefferson at a church picnic not long after having struck out on his own. In 1946, Hopkins was discovered by Aladdin Records' talent scout Lola Anne Cullum, who convinced him to travel to Los Angeles from Houston. There, he cut sides both as a solo artist and as part of a duo with pianist Wilson Smith. It was during his stint at Aladdin that he acquired his nickname, while his partner was dubbed Thunder. Shortly thereafter, Hopkins returned to Houston, his home base for the balance of his life.

THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “By the time he took the stage for the mostly solo acoustic selections on this release, Samuel John “Lightnin’” Hopkins (1912-1982) was already well established in the blues world. Born to a poor sharecropping family in Centerville, Texas, he left home at the age of eight, carrying a guitar his brother had given him.

Samuel John Hopkins was born in 1912 to a poor sharecropping family in Centerville, Texas. He immersed himself in the blues at an early age, having met Blind Lemon Jefferson at a church picnic not long after having struck out on his own. In 1946, Hopkins was discovered by Aladdin Records' talent scout Lola Anne Cullum, who convinced him to travel to Los Angeles from Houston. There, he cut sides both as a solo artist and as part of a duo with pianist Wilson Smith. It was during his stint at Aladdin that he acquired his nickname, while his partner was dubbed Thunder. Shortly thereafter, Hopkins returned to Houston, his home base for the balance of his life.

Lightning Hopkins Sings the Blues, also released as Original Folk Blues, is a 12-inch LP album by blues musician Lightnin' Hopkins collecting tracks recorded between 1947 and 1951 that were originally released as 10-inch 78rpm records on the RPM label.

Lightnin' in New York is an album by the blues musician Lightnin' Hopkins, recorded in 1960 and released on the Candid label the following year.

Lightnin' and the Blues is a 12-inch LP album by blues musician Lightnin' Hopkins, collecting twelve tracks recorded in 1954 that were originally released in 1960 as 7-inch singles on the Herald Records label.

Lightnin' Hopkins is widely considered one of the great popular architects of the blues style that came be known as "country blues" and which proved to be huge influence on the future development of Rock 'n' Roll.

Lightnin' and the Blues is a 12-inch LP album by blues musician Lightnin' Hopkins, collecting twelve tracks recorded in 1954 that were originally released in 1960 as 7-inch singles on the Herald Records label.