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SAM Lightnin HOPKINS
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In 1946 a talent scout engineered an opportunity for Hopkins, but not Alexander, to record with the Aladdin label. Hopkins was teamed up with pianist Wilson ‘Thunder’ Smith and was, almost inevitably, renamed Lightnin'. He had his first session in November 1946, which produced "Katie Mae Blues" After two sessions the label decided that Hopkins was better as a solo artist and, keeping his new nickname, he recorded further sessions recording more than forty sides in all for Aladdin. He went on to record prolifically for a range of labels that included Imperial and Gold Star until the mid 1950’s when changing music tastes resulted in little demand for his type of rural blues. He settled down in Houston and played the bars and juke joints until the folk-blues revival of the early 1960’s brought him back to prominence. He then enjoyed almost unrivalled success on the College and folk/blues festival circuit, recording again, appearing on television and touring Europe. He played at Carnegie Hall with Pete Seeger and Joan Baez, performed at the Newport Folk Festival, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and headlined with rock bands like Jefferson Airplane and Grateful Dead. However he never lost the habits of a wandering Texas songster and he would only perform, whether it be live or on record, if the cash was up front first. Sam ‘Lightnin’ Hopkins, one of the great country blues artists, died aged 69 in January 1982 after a period of illness following surgery. |