Today is the birthday of Lightnin’ Hopkins. There was, or is, no deeper bluesman. An inspired and unique guitarist, a mesmerizing singer, a master showman with off-the-charts charisma. and a born troubadour who sang brilliantly about whatever was happening to him in that instant.
The first time I saw him was many years ago in NYC. He was opening for Muddy Waters. Lightnin’ was backed by a game bass player who skillfully followed Hopkins’ free-form chord changes. Lightnin’ was dressed to the nines in a gorgeous, dark-blue pinstripe suit, alligator shoes, and shades. His marcelled hair shone blue in the stage lights. Lightnin’ was totally on fire that night. From the first note he had the audience hypnotized. After about forty-five minutes he launched his set into the stratosphere with one of his patented, monster boogie grooves in E. It was insane. When he finished the crowd leaped to their feet and applauded thunderously. Lightnin’ walked off the stage and a timorous hippie emcee walked up to the microphone and tried to get the crowd’s attention. After about five solid minutes the ovation began to subside, and the emcee gave out with some pathetic statement along the lines of “Wasn’t Lightnin’ great? We’d love to have him play longer, but we only have the hall until midnight (?) and we have to get the great Muddy Waters out here.”
Just as the disappointed, muttering crowd began to finally quiet and sit back down, Lightnin’, the cagey old veteran, poked his head out from behind the stage curtain and waved at the crowd. The poor emcee never saw this; Hopkins was behind him. All the ponytailed master of ceremonies knew was that for some unknown reason the audience had suddenly vaulted upright again and was screaming hoarsely for Lightnin’. He had no choice but to bring Hopkins out again, and Lightnin’ made the most of it, playing twenty more incendiary minutes. Muddy seemed to enjoy it as much if not more as we did. He invited Lightnin’ onstage during his set and the two blues legends sang a beautiful version of “Rocky Mountain Blues” together. Giants walked the earth in those days.