Lightnin' Slim

Otis Vernon Hicks, known as Lightnin' Slim, was a Louisiana blues guitarist whose raw, heavily echoed recordings for Excello Records defined the swamp blues sound alongside Slim Harpo and Lazy Lester. Produced by Jay Miller in Crowley, Louisiana, his recordings featured a distinctive, murky sonic quality and a slow, grinding guitar style that was more Delta-influenced than the smoother Baton Rouge approach. His recordings 'Rooster Blues,' 'Bad Luck Blues,' and 'It's Mighty Crazy' were regional hits and influenced the British blues scene, the Rolling Stones covered his material. He remained active on the Louisiana blues circuit until his death in 1974.