Performance · Other credits

Lightnin' Hopkins

real name Samuel John Hopkins

Centerville, United States

Lightnin' Hopkins is credited on 1,563 releases across 477 albums tracked on Gatefold, active 1952–2026 — the collector-built map of who actually made the music.

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1,563

Credits

477

Albums

Decades active

403

In collections

Biography

source

American country blues singer, songwriter and guitarist.
Born: 15 March 1912, Centerville, Leon County, Texas, USA. - Died: 30 January 1982, Houston, Texas, USA.
In 1920, Hopkins met the legendary Blind Lemon Jefferson at a social function and got a chance to play with him.
His cousin was Texas Alexander. While they were playing together in Houston in 1946, he was discovered by Lola Anne Cullum of Los Angeles' Aladdin Records. Hopkins first recorded with pianist Wilson Smith and the pair were dubbed 'Lightning' & 'Thunder' to add some dynamic to their marketing.
Strong recordings followed from Hopkins, such as his song "Mojo Hand" (1960). He later inspired many artists such as Jimmie Vaughan, Townes Van Zandt and Ron "Pigpen" McKernan.
Often miscredited for writing the 1954 Chuck Willis' song "I Feel So Bad" covered by Little Milton and Elvis Presley among others. He also wrote a song by the same name released in 1947 on Aladdin and in 1962 on Imperial.

Bio from Discogs