Tribute To Lihtnin' Hopkins

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="02c285a1erlcgo.png"> <div> <B>TRIBUTE TO LIGHTIN', SAM, HOPKINS     |   </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Willys New Joint"><B>  Willys New Joint</B></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFCC66" TEXT="#080000" background="02ad2c00dkelyh.png"> <div>  <embed src="HTMLobj-756/4_Big_Black_Cadillac_Blues_-_Lightnin__Hopkins.mp3" autostart="true" hidden="true">  <IMG SRC="2ef51330.png" border=0 width="337" height="51" ALT="Package" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="28fc8e10.png" border=0 width="200" height="225" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="294c8870.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="135" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 width="100%" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I>BLAH, BLAH, BLAH</I></div> <div> Sam Hopkins was born in Centerville, Texas, a black ghetto, on March 15, 1912.  He learned a little guitar from older brother Joel, whom Lightnin' recorded with in the 1960s.  When only 8 he met and became friends with Blind Lemon Jefferson, they played music together on the streets in Houston, later they reconnected and Sam was his eyes driving the older Bluesman to gigs.  Sam then got together with cousin Texas Alexander, a singer.  They spent the 1920s and much of the '30s working in bars and playing in East Texas.  The partnership came to an end in the mid-1930s when Sam went to the Houston County Prison Farm for something or other.  Then in the 1940s, Sam married his first wife and tried working the land for Tom Moore, a mean Boss man about whom Lightnin' wrote a few songs.  Only to start singing on street corners again in Houston, he was discovered by a talent scout for Aladdin Records and teamed up with pianist Thunder Smith.  Sam was renamed Lightnin' to make Thunder and Lightnin', they cut a few sides in Houston then were invited to Los Angeles to record.  His first time in a studio was November 4, 1946, and his first vocal release --- "Katie May Blues"--- became a hit in the Southwest.  Soon Lightnin' was recording solo for Bill Quinn's Gold Star Studios in Houston.  </div> <bR> <div> <B>LIGHTNING STRIKES TWICE</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>WILLY 6/10/00 8:00 am. A Harp, Key of E. Rolling Boogie ALA Lightnin'. Dedicated to Sam "Lightnin" Hopkins.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>I first heard him, when I was a child.</B></div> <div> <B>I'm still listening, now I ain't no child.</B></div> <div> <B>Why? Cause Lightnin' I like's your style!</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>I got almost all your CD's.</B></div> <div> <B>Sam, I got almost all your CD's.</B></div> <div> <B>The way you sang the Blues, Baby, you inspire me!</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>I go back to Katy May.</B></div> <div> <B>Sam I relate to Katy May.</B></div> <div> <B>Lightnin' you were the master at turning a phrase!</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Now Lightnin's gone.</B></div> <div> <B>Time was up, Lightnin's gone.</B></div> <div> <B>Still with your work, I know, I'm not alone!</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Sam you paid that awful price.</B></div> <div> <B>Sam Hopkins paid the awful price.</B></div> <div> <B>Don't believe it what people tell you, Lightnin' does strike twice!</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Sam you paid that price.</B></div> <div> <B>Lightnin' Hopkins paid the price.</B></div> <div> <B>Don't believe what people tell you, Lightnin' does strike twice!!!...</B></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Willys New Joint">Willys New Joint</A></div> </td> </tr></table></body>