Lightnin' Hopkins

Sam John Hopkins, known as Lightnin' Hopkins, was one of the most prolific recording artists in blues history and the last great exponent of the solo country blues tradition in Texas. Born in Leon County, he encountered Blind Lemon Jefferson at a country dance as a child, and the experience shaped his musical direction permanently. He began recording in 1946 for Aladdin Records and went on to record for more than 20 labels over the next three decades, often selling songs outright for cash with no regard for exclusive contracts. His playing style was deeply personal and improvisatory: he rarely played a song the same way twice, and his between-verse spoken commentaries were legendary for their wit and spontaneity. Rediscovered by the folk revival in the early 1960s, Hopkins became a fixture of the coffee house and festival circuit while maintaining his base in Houston's Third Ward. He is estimated to have recorded over 1,000 songs.