Lightnin' Hopkins Rare Performances 1960-1979

Texas has given the world generations of extraordinary blues singer-guitarists, of whom none made a deeper impression than Sam "Lightnin'" Hopkins (1912-1982). The stunning impact of his charismatic performances comes fully to lie in this DVD tracing Lightnin's career subsequent to his rediscovery in 1959.

In 1960 German filmmaker Dietrich Wawzyn captured Lightnin' on his Houston home turf, and the clips here of him performing on the street and in a Houston bar are rare glimpses into his milieu (and the earliest known footage of Hopkins). Seven years later, a relaxed Lightnin' delivered engaging folk-blues performances for Seattle folklorists, five of which appear here. In 1970 he painted a masterful and entertaining musical self-portrait in eight songs from the Los Angeles PBS show Boboquivari. Finally, Lightnin's "lion in winter" appearance on Austin City Limits in 1979 shows a still-powerful country bluesman disproving the old dog/new tricks adage with a Stratocaster and wah-wah pedal!

Running Time 70 minutes

DVD is region 0, playable worldwide