Lightnin' Hopkins
American singer-songwriter, pianist, and guitarist (1912–1982) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other people named Sam Hopkins, see Samuel Hopkins.
For the R.E.M. song, see Document (album).
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]
Quick Facts Background information, Birth name ...
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Background information | |
Birth name | Sam John Hopkins |
Born | (1912-03-15)March 15, 1912 Centerville, Texas, U.S. |
Died | January 30, 1982(1982-01-30) (aged 69) Houston, Texas, U.S. |
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Years active | 1946–1982 |
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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".