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"Lightnin' did everything the way you'd think a real blues player would do…" The story of Lightnin' Hopkins: Sage, scoundrel and natural-born storyteller
Wyoming, the Equality State, is known for its stunning natural beauty, from the towering peaks of the Rocky Mountains to the rolling plains of the High Plains. But the state is also home to a rich and diverse musical tradition, with a number of talented singers and musicians hailing from its wide-open spaces. In this
Escape the January blues: According to Best at Travel, Brits search for the perfect escape
Texas bluesman Lightnin’ Hopkins (1912-1982) played, sang and lived by his own rules. When a sideman once asked him what key they were playing in, he proclaimed, “the key of Lightnin’ Hopkins!” A protégé of Blind Lemon Jefferson at age 8, he hit the road at a young age, playing juke joints and picnics throughout the South. A stint on a chain gang left some scars, but never slowed him down as he blazed a trail through the blues with his raw, inimitable guitar playing and voice. Like many Black bluesmen, he was “rediscovered” by British rockers and white college kids in the 1960s. ...