Sam Lightnin’ Hopkins
Born Sam John Hopkins in Centerville, Texas. Hopkins’ childhood was immersed in the sounds of the blues. He developed a deeper appreciation to the blues music at the age of 8. It was when he met Blind Lemon Jefferson at a church picnic in Buffalo, Texas.
That day, Hopkins deeply felt that the blues was “in him,” a moment of revelation that led him to begin learning from his older, though somewhat distant, cousin—country blues singer Alger “Texas” Alexander. Hopkins also had another cousin, Texas electric blues guitarist Frankie Lee Sims, with whom he would later collaborate and record. During this formative period, Hopkins began informally accompanying the legendary Blind Lemon Jefferson on guitar at church gatherings. Jefferson, known for rarely allowing anyone to play alongside him, made an exception for the young Hopkins, who absorbed a wealth of musical knowledge and was profoundly influenced by Jefferson’s unique style. Over the years, Hopkins went on to become Houston’s poet-in-residence for 35 years and recorded more albums than any other bluesman in history, leaving an indelible mark on American music.
Hopkins died of esophageal cancer in Houston January 30, 1982, at the age of 69. His New York Times obituary named him as “one of the great country blues and perhaps the greatest single influence on rock guitar players.”
Hopkins’ guitar playing style was born from spending many hours playing informally without a backing band. His distinctive fingerstyle playing often included playing, in effect, bass, rhythm, lead, percussion, and vocals, all 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.
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