(Photo by Jan Persson/Redferns)

Song of the Day: Lightnin’ Hopkins “Mojo Hand”

With all the rain in Texas last week, I thought I’d check out some Texas Blues. Texas has a long history of blues with artists Blind Lemon Jefferson, T-Bone Walker and Lightnin’ Hopkins being the most famous. My dad was a huge Lightnin’ (Sam John Hopkins) fan so I picked this clip of him playing his 1960 hit “Mojo Hand.”

Hopkins was born in Centerville, TX in 1912, but made his way down to Houston where he started his career and where he was very active in the 40s and 50s. According to wikipedia, “It has been estimated that he recorded between eight hundred and a thousand songs in his career”.

The early 60’s folk/blues revival got Hopkins out of Texas and to festivals and venues around the country. Hopkins’ guitar playing was a big influence on rock guitarists and Hopkins even recorded an album with Austin’s psych band the 13th Floor Elevators. His guitar playing has an incredible feel. Watch and listen…