Around 1962 I was in a club on Grant street in San Francisco where Mose Allison was playing. During the break. this guy with chrome sidewall shades walked out. He had a towel around his neck like the valets that used to work in the rest rooms. Then he picked up a guitar and played the blues like I had never heard before. Lightning Sam Hopkins was his name.
@gilconidaambat59174 жыл бұрын
Then he picked up a guitar and even after more then half a century its in the brain with every detail. Magic. It happened to me in 1965 in comblain belgium, where i have seen in a few hours musicians unknown to me. nina simone and coltrane. Life changing....
@andywjackson1135 Жыл бұрын
Fabulous,to hear that,thank you for your story and sharing it with us all,🎶🎸 Andy
@RW-kd4gx5 ай бұрын
You should write children's books , full of bs
@rdmkeytohwy3 жыл бұрын
The first song here, ‘Mojo Hand’, is a blues masterclass in how to groove with an acoustic and deliver vocals in a really unique style that was pure Lightnin.’ Dare I say it, if you don’t like this, you probably don’t like blues. This man was pure genius and was better on his own than with a band in my opinion. This is so great……
@Raulo707 Жыл бұрын
I agree , this guy rocks solo badass
@ehopkins210 жыл бұрын
I met when I was a little boy at my Aunt Flora's home in Mississippi he played for us and we danced til we couldn't stand anymore. I love you Uncle Lightnin' and will always remember your wise words.
@jeanpaulhopkins81126 жыл бұрын
ehopkins2 he is my uncle to.
@zatoichimasseur67675 жыл бұрын
@@jeanpaulhopkins8112 me 3
@jimroushing75344 жыл бұрын
ehopkins2 I would sure Love to own an old guitar of his... 😊👌
@bluestogreen16934 жыл бұрын
Wow! Your super lucky!
@naranjamunicipal80474 жыл бұрын
I have no nephews.
@davidg.99323 жыл бұрын
109 years ago Samuel John "Lightnin'" Hopkins was born on this day.. March 15, 1912. The day blues was born.. We respect all the blues greats but Lightnin' was one of a kind..
@dontgoout1434 Жыл бұрын
No shut sherlock
@Ashleyramirezlv Жыл бұрын
111 years ago now sweet baby Jesus
@JoRei9537 жыл бұрын
every rock and blues guitarist playing today is indebted to Lightnin'
@msaintpc2 жыл бұрын
Him and BB
@shaserv3 ай бұрын
Shit, BB is indebted to Lighting.
@NoRosesForMe12 жыл бұрын
Hes just the absolute best ever. I swear he almost makes me cry.
@robertozanconi13604 жыл бұрын
Nr.1, absolutely!
@lukedrnittis76143 жыл бұрын
Almost??
@kellimahoney91192 жыл бұрын
Lightning and jimmy got me thru adolescence
@davidstanton1261 Жыл бұрын
Gotta go out and get me a Mojo hand❣ Sing it Lightin'!
@brettbrandstatt85897 жыл бұрын
The hardest grooving bluesman ever.
@gregmccurry56197 жыл бұрын
not john lee hooker?
@sewagedump5 жыл бұрын
@@gregmccurry5619 John Lee Hooker would be the smoothest.
@itsallaroundyou70853 жыл бұрын
@@sewagedump smooth definately belongs to bb.
@theherbpuffer3 жыл бұрын
If boogie was the word then definitely JLH but Lightnin has that sophisticated boogie. As far as groovy goes that ones up in the air. I'd say Lightnin personally but I'm biased lol
@kviz1111 Жыл бұрын
Ahead of his time would be a understatement
@Yeahthatsright7175 жыл бұрын
Stevie Ray Vaughn must have listened to Lightnin a lot!
@Morningstar8183 жыл бұрын
He sure did mentioned him as inspiration along with a litany of other master every chance he got
@markkennard8616 ай бұрын
RIP SRV. Still miss him. I was to young to appreciate Mr Hopkins but im sure making up for that now.
@dellidelli817019 күн бұрын
i said the same thing
@devonmoors10 жыл бұрын
Saw Lightnin live back in the early sixties.He was superb and captivated his mainly 'pop'audience.
@hammer98564 жыл бұрын
He definitely has those mojo hands... So much sound and emotion out of a single acoustic guitar... The soul of blues
@jeffrey624410 жыл бұрын
I saw most of these guys in the sixties, even had breakfast at 2 a.m. with Sonny and Brownie, and now they're all gone, of all the blasted unfairness of the universe. Their works live on, though, and that has to suffice.
@ripme66164 жыл бұрын
You ain't lying either!!!
@MercerSkate9 жыл бұрын
I love when his pick flies off at the end of mojo hand. Too much lightnin'
@martlgr9 жыл бұрын
I think it was his teeth lol
@user-us4nr6gv7f9 жыл бұрын
+martlgr No It was his thumb pick.
@cwyattlewis8 жыл бұрын
just points at it... coolest dude ever
@jamesperry54844 жыл бұрын
MercerSkate it sure did look like his teeth
@stellamoore24945 жыл бұрын
In 1965 a bunch of us got Lighting to play at the JCC in Houston. We had to chip in for a bottle of Gin and go pick him up.He was great and we were thrilled to hear him play.
@jamesperry54844 жыл бұрын
Stella Moore wow that’s cool stella
@doodlkatz4 жыл бұрын
but not thrilled enough to pay him a decent and fair amount of money
@omairsh83 жыл бұрын
Truly a one man band. Monster player
@imaseeker10010 жыл бұрын
mojo hand is tuned up to 'f''. maybe he didn't have a capo. eff'n fantastic. you cayn't learn you blues like this. its gotta be in your bones. what a national treasure.
@DonDeering8 жыл бұрын
If it's in your bones, you still have to learn it, just comes faster and better. Thing is, if you think it's in you, you gotta study and develop it. You have to recognize it and understand what it is.
@cathbuck28706 жыл бұрын
Yeah, he seems to be tuned up half a step. I found that out transcribing Take Me Back.
@johnr88204 жыл бұрын
Cath Buck been trying to learn that one
@MidnightStorm49902 жыл бұрын
@@cathbuck2870thanks for this
@dontgoout1434 Жыл бұрын
Wrong
@aldito75863 жыл бұрын
2007. I bought one his cd's and it kept me company for many months !!!
@lesrinehartlr9 жыл бұрын
I had the memorable pleasure of seeing him in 77 ,he was the greatest bluesman to ever come out of Texas and as a fellow Texan I'm honored to say it...
@Owlyross5 жыл бұрын
You can hear just about every single lick and progression that Eric Clapton uses in his Unplugged album in this video
@johnmartin26833 жыл бұрын
On P
@allkindsagirls61173 жыл бұрын
Rare breed. love the way he played with his whole body.
@CelticSaint3 жыл бұрын
He was the best. No one compares to lightnin´
@johnr88204 жыл бұрын
They should be educating people with things like this in school. American culture at its finest.
@epicoutdoorracin20109 жыл бұрын
That last song Lightnin plays has got sure a nice rhythm to it! I can’t get enough of this music! My generation sucks!!
@1zzonked6 жыл бұрын
Cody Moraga Same
@ripme66164 жыл бұрын
Yeah man... now that's Blues!!! Dead set' playful
@burner18333 жыл бұрын
Beautiful!😃❤ I love lightnin's voice so awesome!!❤
@joejoeiceman42011 жыл бұрын
Hopkins go hard as fuck he the real H town wish I could have seen him live
@flylippfantom8425 Жыл бұрын
I finally see the light... I just need an old Gibson ✌️💜 i can dig it he doesn't miss a beat
@elmeromeromeromero20444 жыл бұрын
Guauuuuu,que músico, el que lleva la magia.. .
@BKsblues9 жыл бұрын
what a showman- to bad we lack such talent now a days...
@michealjovanie71438 жыл бұрын
nobody lacks check gary clark jr
@Jerry112015 жыл бұрын
yeah, if you can't find good music in 2019, the fault isn't of the artist, who have been churning out music in a far more frequent and as broad as a spectrum than ever before, but of the listener who is too pretentious and lazy to do some digging of this current age. DO NOT just look at the mainstream.
@joegreaser4 жыл бұрын
there is talent.. just not on display at the grammys
@SiggyMe10 жыл бұрын
Oh this just made my afternoon. To think my guitar teacher when I was young wanted me to meet these guys and I turned him down because I was too shy, dang! I really missed out..........all these blues players used to play after hour clubs where it was just for musicians wanting to gig with each other.
@msaintpc2 жыл бұрын
SiggyMe, me and a bail bondsman named Tommy Tucker owned an after hours club named 'Dupree's in L.A. in the 1960s. Jimmy Smith, Jack McDuff, Earl Van Dyke and Mose Allison often came through to jam with the locals. The chess player Bobby Fischer often came through too when he was in town. He played a cold blooded Hammond organ and always had the best weed we ever smoked. Those were some good days back then.
@acslaterlol8 жыл бұрын
Lightin'' Hopkins was one cool son of a bitch
@pentagramparsons5 жыл бұрын
My first blues hero, first heard him when I was six years old. Thanks mom!
@detagalloway47102 жыл бұрын
Uhh..He is so cool..I mean real funky cool.Such an absolute opportunity to stay up all night and listen and watch Hymns
@slimbohernandez28274 жыл бұрын
my favorite musician ever. i can't never get bored.
@leswagstaff49088 жыл бұрын
Pure raw talent...
@collj863 жыл бұрын
My uncle knew hopkins my uncle was known as the big king snake aka mr. shiznit He played a 12 string strung with pig intestines. He played real ole kentucky black ball blues Played alot in a major too
@partywhip11 жыл бұрын
Never seen a blues master drop his thumb pick! Truly live.
@paharithrottle41104 жыл бұрын
Absolutely Fucking awsome!!!! It takes me back to that era of rock n roll , blues and vintage motorcycles
@alicevolk12624 жыл бұрын
(Judge) You been up before me before boy? (Po' Lightnin') I dunno Judge, what time d'ya get up? (Judge) Forty days
@Tueros8 жыл бұрын
Loved it! He really feels the blues!
@robchrisj4 жыл бұрын
Stunning, what a genius, wonderful artist.
@vol.95433 жыл бұрын
That was awesome. Love the history. And yes I totally get the bold color and style. The plastered walls are my favorite part.🤓
@jarrodanstine60745 жыл бұрын
The hands dont lie, but them fingers got some stories right there!!!
@theherbpuffer3 жыл бұрын
This was swag long before that word was coined.
@aldito75864 жыл бұрын
The guy is beyond. 2007 or 2008 i bought his CD "Lightning Hopkins sings the blues". Destroyed me in the very best way...
@pietrocannas71597 ай бұрын
The BEST ,SAM LIGHTING HOPKINS❤❤❤❤❤
@LM-lv1hh4 жыл бұрын
First time I noticed Lightning's songs seem like they got a little drinking involved. Sounds great. Like always
@QuangThichDuc3 жыл бұрын
Like the man himself said, whiskeys the best drink in this world.
@snorrevonflake2 жыл бұрын
@@QuangThichDuc Unfortunately on half of his later recordings he sounds as if he was so drunk that he could barely remember his own licks and struggles to keep the beat - few recordings with that energy and spot on like seen here.
@taurtue5 жыл бұрын
The absolute king of the blues game.
@Callsigntitan4 ай бұрын
best acoustic blues performance I've ever saw
@marcelvankins16 жыл бұрын
Great guy! Real southern blues
@audiophileman70474 жыл бұрын
Love this guy! He's one of my absolute favorite old school blues artists, one of the true masters for sure!!👍💖🎸😎
@barnabex4 жыл бұрын
Superbe ! Génial ! Incomparable…
@wolvros60405 жыл бұрын
I don’t understand how people thumbs down this video 🤷🏻♂️ Absolute legend lightnin
@nicolen.96425 жыл бұрын
R-KEEGAN-H The blues needs a revival. In 2019 the music has kinda lost its mojo precisely...😖 I play simple blues and I'm pretty isolated over here (France).
@goodun29744 жыл бұрын
@@nicolen.9642 , not necessarily a bad thing to be a big fish in a small pond, as far as "competition" goes....
@Harp_and_Guitar_Moving_Forward9 ай бұрын
Ba da da da hey da do. Ba da da hey da doo. Hey da doo hey da doo hey da doo hey dey bada heyda bop
@Harp_and_Guitar_Moving_Forward9 ай бұрын
Ba da doo heydey. Ba da doo hey dey. Bop.
@kennywebb79327 жыл бұрын
Thank God I had the best parents for turning me on to all music
@efraingraciano1611 Жыл бұрын
Elvis i saw your house in menphis 3 blocks ahead of greyhound busdepot one star in mexico in guadalajara and acapulco working films and love songs english and spanish very intelligent and voice my star
@jeffg32911 жыл бұрын
hahahahaha no idea what the hell he says at the beginning. This dude is the best!
@nicolen.96424 жыл бұрын
The art of blues bends... man...great stuff! 🎵🎵🎵🎵
@Tacopusher3 жыл бұрын
6:18 is everything music is about.
@goodun29744 жыл бұрын
I actually remember seeing Lightnin' playing on TV in the early 70s, on the Midnight Special show, I think it was; he played great but he was very unhappy with the bass player backing him up. If looks could kill that bassist would have been stone dead on the floor! [ edit: performance on Austin City Limits tv show].
@robsham4 жыл бұрын
kzbin.info/www/bejne/bGicl6Rnf9efpJI - here's that session!
@goodun29744 жыл бұрын
@@robsham , yeah, I came across it myself a couple weeks ago, it was on the Austin City Limits TV show, not Midnight Special. Thanks for the link, doubtless many others here will enjoy it!
@juanferreira5931 Жыл бұрын
Plays the crap out of his guitar. Impressive!
@scottleft36724 жыл бұрын
This is were they got "Blind Melon Chitlen' from.
@Herve195511 жыл бұрын
How can someone be so wonderful ?
@rorosaeed27314 жыл бұрын
pray and read Quran
@harringtonbenton3344 жыл бұрын
Fantastic Player!
@msaintpc2 жыл бұрын
Amazing how good he was.
@cliffordpaul76433 ай бұрын
I've never recovered from the first notes I heard Lightning play. If guitars could play themselves they would do this
@goodun60815 жыл бұрын
Love the little breakout at 2:13 to 2:23.
@MidnightStorm49902 жыл бұрын
Then plays a section from baby please don't go. I found that so hilarious but so cool at the same time lol
@snorrevonflake2 жыл бұрын
I am curious when exactly and what inspired him to start with that shuffle rhythm most see as his signature sound now - not a lick of that on any of his earlier recordings 40s/50s and that was already 20 years into his career.
@damianbowyer62584 жыл бұрын
Terrific Blues fm Lightnin'.
@RichardSmithrsmithing9 жыл бұрын
Dig the break at :52. Every note. Every beat. That's the stuff.
@AnthonyMonaghan5 жыл бұрын
God damn...the length if those fingers! What a natural.
@clivenimmo31554 жыл бұрын
Happy with lighting man. N beer in my hand.
@yiannilol12 жыл бұрын
The tune is called baby scratch my back, my personal favorite of his aswell! cheers mate
@carlbowden4712Ай бұрын
So excellent!!!
@t4texastom5878 ай бұрын
R. I. P. SAM🇨🇱🎸🇨🇱 "Lightnin" HOPKINS
@zohrabensalem68154 жыл бұрын
Waouh!!!...first rock and roll!..
@marcelvankins16 жыл бұрын
Just him and his guitar
@peterholliday61264 жыл бұрын
Groovin great rhythm
@tonyparatore888 Жыл бұрын
Love his blues 👍👍👍
@ChavezRey13 жыл бұрын
Thanks for posting this. The music just drips off him and I hope some lands on me!
@devonmoors10 жыл бұрын
Good rework of Slim Harpo's 'scratch my back' by the way!
@britteach4 жыл бұрын
The man is an original.
@epgiovannini29045 жыл бұрын
Boogie all night long, oh yea!
@harringtonbenton3344 жыл бұрын
JUST TOO KILLER! LIGHTNING!
@friendofbeaver66365 жыл бұрын
His left hand nails are a lot longer than I keep mine. Doesn't seem to slow "Lightnin'" down.
@seiyakan13803 жыл бұрын
The foot is a tapping and the head is rocking along.
@bulldogmarketing174 жыл бұрын
I believe I have the same pickup on my Sigma/Martin. D'armond. Mine works great, over 40 years now.
@joe-cm9hy4 жыл бұрын
You are correct. THE pickup at the time. A DeArmond. Several models made. I have a total collection of over 30 in several models. Some still in original boxes..never used.
@mississippibluestravellers54406 жыл бұрын
Good video. Thanks for posting this.
@detagalloway47102 жыл бұрын
The irrepressible Lightning!!!
@music-xr4co3 жыл бұрын
WOW!
@TheUnpaintedSouls11 жыл бұрын
I'm going to get me a Mojo hand!
@nicolen.96425 жыл бұрын
Unpainted Souls Yep! I need one! 😂😂😂😓👍
@freedomisntfree20894 жыл бұрын
Red hot guitarist and ice cold blues man
@Colinshreds692 жыл бұрын
so badass
@JediHobbit0075 жыл бұрын
That man had too much flavor! Had a style all his own.
@detagalloway47102 жыл бұрын
Death is a wicked thing,;for how could He take someone Ike tis from Us?
@lucasguitar.46362 жыл бұрын
Mr hopkin🔥🔥
@rollthelosingdice9 жыл бұрын
1:00 badass
@FuzzyDancingBear4 жыл бұрын
@Le Kapak oh cmon
@garyc270910 жыл бұрын
Check out Mance Lipscomb, the other beautiful guitar stylist from the same area of Texas. Must be something in the water.
@carlospardo34845 жыл бұрын
U can see both on Les Blank film "A well spent life"
@nicolen.96425 жыл бұрын
Gary C Thanks for posting. Yep! Mance Lipscomb is unbelievable! Maybe something in the air too...🎵🎵🎵
@goodun29744 жыл бұрын
@@nicolen.9642 theres a video on You Tube of [ Jesse Fuller ] playing guitar and performing with his "Fotdella". See the Golk Seattle channel. (I corrected my earlier mistake, it wasn't Mance Lipscomb).
@nicolen.96424 жыл бұрын
good 'un Thanks 👍🎵🎵🎵
@goodun29744 жыл бұрын
@@nicolen.9642 , I had a senior moment; there're plenty of Mance Lipscomb performances on KZbin, but it's actually Jesse Fuller who performed as a one-man band with the aid of his own invention, the "Fotdella" that he built himself. Check out the "Folk Seattle" channel on YT for a wide selection of blues performers, playing live in a TV studio. Son House, Bukka White, Elizabeth Cotten, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee, Big Joe Williams, Furry Lewis, Sleepy John Estes, Mississippi Fred McDowell, Mance Lipscomb, Jesse Fuller, and many more. Hours of awesome playing!
@howlin3212 жыл бұрын
so good he was some kinda dude
@gilconidaambat59174 жыл бұрын
I just fixed my time machine. I am going back to the 60s to join Lightnin on his trip to louisiana. I have place for a few more LH fanatics. Let me know why you want to join. Beware there is no return ticket.
@goodun29744 жыл бұрын
No return ticket? That might be a feature, not a bug! Of course, I say this as a white man. Lightnin', and any other random black person for that matter, could clue me in on the totally different reality that existed in the South for anyone with dark skin. By the way, there's a movie about time-travel experiments titled "Safety Not Guaranteed". A good movie, and the title certainly fits your premise.