Lightnin' Hopkins

Sam "Lightnin" Hopkins met Blind Lemon Jefferson at a picnic when he was only 8 years old, the rest as they say is history. Hopkins spent countless hours learning from Jefferson and playing by himself, and out of this came a unique style of guitar picking where he quite literally became a one man band on guitar.

I was first introduced to Lightnin' Hopkins in a class while I was a student at West Virginia University, and it was a life changing moment for me because it was at that moment I was introduced to what I like to call,"real" Blues. I had only heard a few blues artists in my lifetime, but Lightnin' was the key to unlocking this whole other musical world, and I haven't looked back since.

Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and many other modern day guitar greats all were influenced by Hopkins' style. He is unlike anything you have ever heard, or probably will ever hear.

Blind Lemon Jefferson - Father of the Texas Blues

In trying to learn more about the blues, I figured it would be best to start with one of its "founding fathers".

Blind Lemon Jefferson was born blind in Texas, and began playing guitar at an early age. His high-pitched voice and unique guitar style made him famous, and while he wasn't as influential in his own times. Many modern bluesman including B.B. King were inspired by Jefferson.

He has been covered countless times, most notably by Bob Dylan and The Counting Crows.

His song "Matchbox Blues" was voted by Rolling Stone Magazine as one of the 500 songs that shaped Rock 'n' Roll.

He also took a young boy, named Sam Hopkins. Under his wing and taught him how to play the guitar, the only person he ever did this for. The boy would later become Lightnin' Hopkins.