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Post by Admin on Mar 14, 2014 19:56:47 GMT -5
Birth: Mar. 15, 1912 Death: Jan. 30, 1982 Musician. Born in Centerville, Texas, he was an acclaimed blues guitarist, singer-songwriter, known for his distinctive style. In the coarse of his career which spanned nearing five decades, it has been estimated he recorded between 800 and 1000 songs such as "T-Model Blues" and "Tim Moore's Farm". He was an influence to artist to include Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, R.E.M, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Eric Clapton and was the subject of the film documentary "The Blues Accordin' to Lightnin Hopkins" (1967). He is number 71 on Rolling Stone Magazine's list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time. He died of esophageal cancer in Houston, Texas, at the age of 69. (bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith)
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Post by Admin on Mar 14, 2014 19:58:50 GMT -5
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Post by Admin on Mar 14, 2014 20:01:31 GMT -5
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Post by AlanB on Mar 15, 2014 1:46:08 GMT -5
To quote from his 1948 Gold Star recording - Goin' Back To Talk To Mama
I was born March 15th, the year was nineteen hundred and twelve Ever since that day, poor Lightnin' ain't been doin' so well.
The song didn't see release until 1971.
Alan Govenar in his Hopkins biography comments:
Little is known about the details of Sam’s early years. Even his birth date is disputed. In his Social Security application, dated January 24, 1940, Sam stated that he was born on March 15, 1912, a date that he reiterated in his song “Going Home Blues (Going Back and Talk to Mama),” as well as in numerous interviews over the course of his life.2 However, the Social Security Death Index lists his birth date as March 15, 1911, and his death certificate says it was March 12, 1912. Adding to the confusion is the fact that the Texas Birth Index recorded the birth of a Sam Hopkins on March 15, 1911, in Hopkins County, which is in northeast Texas, nowhere near Leon County. It’s possible that this was a clerical error, but it may also be a coincidence that another man named Sam Hopkins was born on that day. It’s difficult to say which date is actually correct; no birth certificate has ever been found.
Another blues birth minefiedl.....
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Post by Admin on Mar 15, 2014 5:46:44 GMT -5
Another blues birth minefiedl..... One must understand how rural births were often erroneous prior to the 40's, particularly in the rural southern states. Births were primarily at home with no attending physician, and in many cases without a midwife. Typically a physician or midwife was called but may not arrive until a few days after the actual birth. It would be at that time a notation would be made in the Doctor's records or in a family bible of the birth and the given name. This would be the only record, and as you can see, if it were in the bible, there would be no public record. The only official record would then appear in the next census. My mother was born under these circumstances and her birth date was based on a fact that my Grandmother had icecream the day before she was born. Since ice cream was such a treat, (there was no refrigeration in the rural south - in fact no electricity), ice cream could only be had on special occasions - for example the fourth of July. That seemed to place my Mother's birth on the 5th of July. My Mother's birthdate was then established, however, when she applied for her Social Security in the 60s, the notation in the family bible was that her birth date was actually the 6th of July. The reason for my posting this is to show that even the actual person may not really know their own birthdate. All we can do is pick a date that is agreeable to all parties - in the case of Lightnin' Hopkins - March 15th and assume this is correct.
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Post by Admin on Mar 15, 2014 6:09:51 GMT -5
Sam's brothers John Henry and Joel were also accomplished blues singers. Here's the only video I could find.
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Post by Admin on Mar 15, 2014 6:45:53 GMT -5
The Roots of Lightnin’ Hopkins* was recorded on January 16, 1959 by Samuel Charters who drove to Houston, Texas and slept on his friend Robert ‘Mack’ McCormick’s floor while they tried to find Lightnin’ who’d dropped out of site and away from the recording studio since he cut his last single-song side. Sam found Lightnin’ after a few days of looking and asking around. Actually Lightnin’ found him – “I had an old green Chevrolet coupe that was easy to identify. Mack had to go to work the next morning, but I went on down to Dowling Street, and at the first red light a car pulled up beside mine and Lightnin’ rolled down his window and asked me if I was looking for him.” They picked up an acoustic guitar in a pawnshop, bought some new strings, a bottle of gin and went to Lightnin’s apartment at 803 Hadley Street where Sam held a mic (an Electrovoice 636 microphone and Ampex equipment) while Lightnin’ played and sang. “Of all Lightnin’s recordings, I still find this one, his first long-playing record**, his most exciting.” — Sam Charters from the liner notes. I’d say that makes this one highly recommended LP. (From Mack McCormick - www.twitteringmachines.com/2010/09/lightnin-hopkins/
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Post by Admin on Mar 15, 2014 7:01:02 GMT -5
For us guitar pickers, Alan Govenar, in his book "Lightnin' Hopkins: His Life and Blues" (Chicago Review Press, 2010)
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Post by Admin on Mar 15, 2014 7:19:42 GMT -5
Census Record - 1920
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Post by AlanB on Mar 15, 2014 7:23:04 GMT -5
Sam's brothers John Henry and Joel were also accomplished blues singers. From memory, elsewhere hereabouts there is a review of a Joel Hopkins album together with a link to Stefan Wirz discography of the two brothers output.
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Post by Admin on Mar 15, 2014 7:23:28 GMT -5
While there seems to be some differences in the actual date, most agree to accept this date (March 15, 1912) as the date to be celebrated. I find the census records interesting in that he is recorded as "Mulatto".
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Post by AlanB on Mar 15, 2014 7:49:14 GMT -5
I've found Lightnin' Hopkins - a letter from Sam Charters. Getting tattier and more fragile as each year passes so I've PDF'd it for posterity.
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Post by Admin on Mar 15, 2014 7:52:39 GMT -5
Superb Alan, thanks.
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Post by jmuscara on Mar 15, 2014 8:40:06 GMT -5
Great stuff, guys. The studio that was Gold Star is still around, it's now called SugarHill and has recorded many other acts as well, like Mickey Gilley and Beyonce. Also around is Lighnin's cousin, Milton Hopkins. I don't know how they're related, but Milton was in BB's band for a while. He gigs around Houston and is a terrific guitar player.
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Post by AlanB on Mar 15, 2014 10:39:25 GMT -5
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