Lightnin' Hopkins

For other people named Sam Hopkins, see Samuel Hopkins.
For the R.E.M. song, see Document (album).
Lightnin' Hopkins
Background information
Birth nameSam John Hopkins
Born(1912-03-15)March 15, 1912
Centerville, Texas, U.S.
DiedJanuary 30, 1982(1982-01-30) (aged 69)
Houston, Texas, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Musician
  • songwriter
Instruments
Years active1946–1982
Labels

Samuel John "Lightnin'" Hopkins (March 15, 1912 – January 30, 1982)[1] was an American country blues singer, songwriter, guitarist and occasional pianist from Centerville, Texas. In 2010, Rolling Stone magazine ranked him No. 71 on its list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time.[2]

The musicologist Robert "Mack" McCormick opined that Hopkins is "the embodiment of the jazz-and-poetry spirit, representing its ancient form in the single creator whose words and music are one act".[3] He influenced Townes Van Zandt, Hank Williams, Jr., and a generation of blues musicians like Stevie Ray Vaughan, whose Grammy winning song "Rude Mood" was directly inspired by the Texan's song "Hopkins' Sky Hop".

  1. ^ Eagle, Bob; LeBlanc, Eric S. (2013). Blues: A Regional Experience. Santa Barbara, California: Praeger. p. 294. ISBN 978-0313344237.
  2. ^ "Lightnin' Hopkins | Rolling Stone Music | Lists". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2010-08-09.
  3. ^ Russell, Tony (1997). The Blues: From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray. Dubai: Carlton Books. p. 64. ISBN 1-85868-255-X.