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Samuel John Hopkins was born in 1912 to a poor sharecropping family in Centerville, Texas. He immersed himself in the blues at an early age, having met Blind Lemon Jefferson at a church picnic not long after having struck out on his own. In 1946, Hopkins was "discovered" by Aladdin Records' talent scout Lola Anne Cullum, who convinced him to travel to Los Angeles from Houston. There, he cut sides both as a solo artist and as part of a duo with pianist Wilson Smith. It was during his stint at Aladdin that he acquired his nickname, while his partner was dubbed "Thunder." Shortly thereafter, Hopkins returned to Houston, his home base for the balance of his life. He was a world-class song improviser and performer, but it was as a guitarist that Hopkins had the most impact. Jimmie Vaughan once said that without Hopkins, there would be no Jimi Hendrix, and in fact Hendrix's record collection boasted more Hopkins LPs than any artist other than Bob Dylan. A 2010 Rolling Stone survey of the hundred best and most influential guitarists in rock history placed Hopkins at 71, right between Joni Mitchell and Eddie Van Halen. The legendary blues guitarist performed at Los Angeles' famed Ash Grove venue on many occasions over the club's decade-and-a-half existence. Ten of the songs on this set are compiled from two separate performances at the club, and none of the performances on the album have previously been available commercially. Tracks 1-14 consists of acoustic tracks with song introductions from a set recorded on November 29, 1970. Tracks 15-16 are acoustic performances from September 22, 1965. The disc is rounded out with four electric tracks with his band from Palo Alto's In Your Ear club recorded on August 18, 1971. While most of the tunes are originals, the set lists include some distinctive cover versions of the R&B classics "What I'd Say" and "Hi-Heel Sneakers," along with some folk/gospel nuggets, "Don't The Moon Look Pretty" and "How Long Has It Been."

Media

Track Listing

Sales Points

• Live performances never previously available
• Inducted into the Texas Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2022
• Inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame in 1980
• Also available on limited-edition translucent blue vinyl
• Ranks in Rolling Stone's Top 100 Greatest Guitarists Of All-Time
• Major guitar influence on Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Jimmie Vaughn and others

Press Quotes

Robert 'Mack' McCormick '(he was) the embodiment of the jazz-and-poetry spirit, representing its ancient form in the single creator whose words and music are one act'.

     —Robert 'Mack' McCormick, Musicologist

'...one of the great country blues singers and perhaps the greatest single influence on rock guitar players'.

     —New York Times

• 'What distinguished Hopkins as a blues artist was the spontaneity of his performance and the unabashed power of his personality,'

     —Alan Govenor, Biographer