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.
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....
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……
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.
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..
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
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.
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...
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
@@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.
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).
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].
@@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!
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.
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.
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.
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....
Fabulous,to hear that,thank you for your story and sharing it with us all,🎶🎸 Andy
You should write children's books , full of bs
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……
I agree , this guy rocks solo badass
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.
ehopkins2 he is my uncle to.
@@jeanpaulhopkins8112 me 3
ehopkins2 I would sure Love to own an old guitar of his... 😊👌
Wow! Your super lucky!
I have no nephews.
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..
No shut sherlock
111 years ago now sweet baby Jesus
every rock and blues guitarist playing today is indebted to Lightnin'
Him and BB
Shit, BB is indebted to Lighting.
Ahead of his time would be a understatement
Hes just the absolute best ever. I swear he almost makes me cry.
Nr.1, absolutely!
Almost??
Lightning and jimmy got me thru adolescence
Gotta go out and get me a Mojo hand❣ Sing it Lightin'!
Saw Lightnin live back in the early sixties.He was superb and captivated his mainly 'pop'audience.
The hardest grooving bluesman ever.
not john lee hooker?
@@gregmccurry5619 John Lee Hooker would be the smoothest.
@@sewagedump smooth definately belongs to bb.
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
Truly a one man band. Monster player
He definitely has those mojo hands... So much sound and emotion out of a single acoustic guitar... The soul of blues
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.
You ain't lying either!!!
2007. I bought one his cd's and it kept me company for many months !!!
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...
Guauuuuu,que músico, el que lleva la magia.. .
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.
Stella Moore wow that’s cool stella
but not thrilled enough to pay him a decent and fair amount of money
Beautiful!😃❤ I love lightnin's voice so awesome!!❤
Stevie Ray Vaughn must have listened to Lightnin a lot!
He sure did mentioned him as inspiration along with a litany of other master every chance he got
RIP SRV. Still miss him. I was to young to appreciate Mr Hopkins but im sure making up for that now.
I finally see the light... I just need an old Gibson ✌️💜 i can dig it he doesn't miss a beat
best acoustic blues performance I've ever saw
I love when his pick flies off at the end of mojo hand. Too much lightnin'
I think it was his teeth lol
+martlgr No
It was his thumb pick.
just points at it... coolest dude ever
MercerSkate it sure did look like his teeth
My first blues hero, first heard him when I was six years old. Thanks mom!
my favorite musician ever. i can't never get bored.
The BEST ,SAM LIGHTING HOPKINS❤❤❤❤❤
Uhh..He is so cool..I mean real funky cool.Such an absolute opportunity to stay up all night and listen and watch Hymns
Rare breed. love the way he played with his whole body.
He was the best. No one compares to lightnin´
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.
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.
Hopkins go hard as fuck he the real H town wish I could have seen him live
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.
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.
Yeah, he seems to be tuned up half a step. I found that out transcribing Take Me Back.
Cath Buck been trying to learn that one
@@cathbuck2870thanks for this
Wrong
That last song Lightnin plays has got sure a nice rhythm to it! I can’t get enough of this music! My generation sucks!!
Cody Moraga
Same
Yeah man... now that's Blues!!! Dead set' playful
Absolutely Fucking awsome!!!!
It takes me back to that era of rock n roll , blues and vintage motorcycles
You can hear just about every single lick and progression that Eric Clapton uses in his Unplugged album in this video
On
P
Never seen a blues master drop his thumb pick! Truly live.
Pure raw talent...
Loved it! He really feels the blues!
They should be educating people with things like this in school. American culture at its finest.
Stunning, what a genius, wonderful artist.
Love this guy! He's one of my absolute favorite old school blues artists, one of the true masters for sure!!👍💖🎸😎
Lightin'' Hopkins was one cool son of a bitch
That was awesome. Love the history. And yes I totally get the bold color and style. The plastered walls are my favorite part.🤓
The guy is beyond. 2007 or 2008 i bought his CD "Lightning Hopkins sings the blues". Destroyed me in the very best way...
This was swag long before that word was coined.
Great guy! Real southern blues
Superbe ! Génial ! Incomparable…
(Judge) You been up before me before boy?
(Po' Lightnin') I dunno Judge, what time d'ya get up?
(Judge) Forty days
The absolute king of the blues game.
6:18 is everything music is about.
what a showman- to bad we lack such talent now a days...
nobody lacks check gary clark jr
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.
there is talent.. just not on display at the grammys
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
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
The art of blues bends... man...great stuff! 🎵🎵🎵🎵
Love his blues 👍👍👍
First time I noticed Lightning's songs seem like they got a little drinking involved. Sounds great. Like always
Like the man himself said, whiskeys the best drink in this world.
@@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.
R. I. P.
SAM🇨🇱🎸🇨🇱
"Lightnin" HOPKINS
I don’t understand how people thumbs down this video 🤷🏻♂️
Absolute legend lightnin
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).
@@nicolen.9642 , not necessarily a bad thing to be a big fish in a small pond, as far as "competition" goes....
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
Ba da doo heydey. Ba da doo hey dey. Bop.
Terrific Blues fm Lightnin'.
The hands dont lie, but them fingers got some stories right there!!!
Plays the crap out of his guitar. Impressive!
Amazing how good he was.
Thanks for posting this. The music just drips off him and I hope some lands on me!
I've never recovered from the first notes I heard Lightning play. If guitars could play themselves they would do this
Thank God I had the best parents for turning me on to all music
Love the little breakout at 2:13 to 2:23.
Then plays a section from baby please don't go. I found that so hilarious but so cool at the same time lol
God damn...the length if those fingers! What a natural.
Happy with lighting man. N beer in my hand.
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].
czcams.com/video/679fq1Jrln0/video.html - here's that session!
@@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!
Dig the break at :52. Every note. Every beat. That's the stuff.
Boogie all night long, oh yea!
Waouh!!!...first rock and roll!..
hahahahaha no idea what the hell he says at the beginning. This dude is the best!
Groovin great rhythm
Good video. Thanks for posting this.
JUST TOO KILLER! LIGHTNING!
Just him and his guitar
This is were they got "Blind Melon Chitlen' from.
The man is an original.
so badass
Good rework of Slim Harpo's 'scratch my back' by the way!
The irrepressible Lightning!!!
How can someone be so wonderful ?
pray and read Quran
Fantastic Player!
WOW!
I'm going to get me a Mojo hand!
Unpainted Souls Yep! I need one! 😂😂😂😓👍
So good!!
Mr hopkin🔥🔥
The tune is called baby scratch my back, my personal favorite of his aswell! cheers mate
1:00 badass
@Le Kapak oh cmon
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.
so good he was some kinda dude
Red hot guitarist and ice cold blues man
awesome
so coool
'And I ain't lying either'
Death is a wicked thing,;for how could He take someone Ike tis from Us?
ONE VERY COOL ASS CAT!!!
The foot is a tapping and the head is rocking along.
He got da thundah in dem hands
That man had too much flavor! Had a style all his own.
Geeezus!
👏👏👏👏👏✨😍💖
I believe I have the same pickup on my Sigma/Martin. D'armond. Mine works great, over 40 years now.
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.