Black Bull Blues Bio: Lightnin' Hopkins

Lightnin’Hopkins is one of the best guitar bluesman of all time. Because of that this first Black Bull Blues Bio is all about the texas bluesman Lightnin’ Hopkins. Sam Hopkins born in March 15, 1912 Centerville, Texas  started his carreer in the 1920s when he met Blind Lemon Jefferson. 

Early Lignthnin' Hopkins

His career stretched from the 1920s till his death in 1982. Some cool old recording of Lightnin´ Hopkins are collected on the album Early Recordings, released in 1975. Songs like ´Blue Bird Blues´,  ´Mad With You´, ´Automobile blues´ and ´Seems Funny Baby´, give you a good impression of his style.

The thing about Texas blues, for what I´ve read is that is lyrically more direct, harder than other more commercially bluessongs, subscribing the hard life better than other blues musicians. 

Death Bells 

Sound like I'm hearing moaning, death bell ringing all in my head Sound like I can hear moaning, death bell ringing all in my head Yeah I know that I was gonna leave on a chariot but I didn't know, what kind of chariot gonna take me away from here

I want you to remember every living people, every living people bound to die I want you to remember every living people, every living people bound to die Yeah you know when that chariot come at you, they'll break running, try to hide

You all know my mama told me, you know my papa told me too You know my mama told me, oh papa told me too He said you know one day son, that chariot, oh Lord, coming after you

Yeah you know the life I'm living, I've been living it for a many year You know the life I'm living, I've been living it for a many year I know the chariot was coming for me but I didn't know, what kind of chariot gonna take me away from here

.......  More information to be come ........

New posts coming: Black Bull Blues Bio's

I'm writing some interesting blues bio's of the greats and all the other black Bulls I like. I started with Sonny Boy Williamson II, Lightning Hopkins and Sonny Terry. When they are ready you will be able to read, watch and listen interesting stuff about these guys life and music.

Keep watching the Black Bull Blues Blog because in a week or two it's going to happen. For now please watch a great song from Sonny and Lightnin' - Last Night Blues - Take A Trip With Me

Great blues songs - Luther ''Guitar Junior'' Johnson - Walkin' with you baby

Black Bull Blues series (1)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5IOou6qN1o&feature=youtube_gdata_player

'Etta James - Hoochie Coochie Gal - Blues' bekijken op YouTube

Messin' with the kid

Tonight I listened to a show Messin' With The Blues, it's a performance of Junior Wells, Buddy Guy and the great Muddy Waters, live at the Montrieux festival in Switzerland. There are only songs with great lyrics in that show. This song 'Messin' With The Kid' is one of my favorite. The art of repeating, and changing the sequince of words, I love that. Even without the music, just by saying the lyrics you get the blues feeling, the rhythm and the groove. The groove and the rhythm, like that.

You know the kid's no child, and I don't play
I says what I mean and I mean what I say
Oh yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah,
oh look at what you did
You can call it what you want to,
I call it messin' with the kid

Here is the show I'm talking about, watch it if you like. Later on Muddy an Buddy perform. And at one point Buddy tells the people they "get a better thrill out of playing here than at home." At that point I feel like this:

Just ten years ago People what I would do
No one would ever know
Just ten years ago
People how I would live my life
No one would ever know
The things that I think I would do
Ooo, no one will never know

Later on it ends with: Yeah, play the blues

By the way it was a world class line up: Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, Bill Wyman, Pinetop Perkins, Terry Taylor, Dallas Taylor

Picture: Sardognunu

99 Years of Muddy Waters

Today Muddy Waters would become 99 years. Born in Issaquena County, Mississippi, United States Muddy was one of, or maybe the best bluesman that ever lived.

This video is a great example of how respected Muddy was. Dr. John, Johnny Winter, Koko Taylor and more fantastic artists show you how it is to play with Muddy Waters.

He once said when he was talking about the harp player of the J. Geils band: "If that cat eats pussy like he blows his harmonica, he sho' is a motherfucker." Since I've read that quote, everytime I see a harmonica player I say the words: "If that cat eats..." and I think of the great Muddy Waters.

'Hard Again'was the first Muddy Waters record I bought and it is still the best record I have. I found it on Youtube: Here it is!

I'll Be Around