...I'd like to turn you on to the music that I love. This is a picture of Sam "Lightnin'" Hopkins, perhaps the greatest bluesman ever to come out of Houston Texas. He began his career by playing the bars & juke joints of the 3rd, 4th & 5th Wards here in Houston during the 1920s, and, although he toured and recorded throughout 1940s and early 50s, he wasn't truly discovered internationally until 1959, when he was 47 years old. He continued to record and play all over the world during the 1960s and 1970s. Hopkins passed away in 1982. He was a master of the country blues, just one man, his guitar and his voice taking on the entire world. I wish I could have seen him. The history of Texas Blues music is a storied one. From Lightnin' Hopkins and T-Bone Walker, through Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Albert Collins, and Bobby "Blue" Bland, to Johnny Winter and Jimmie and Stevie Ray Vaughan and Marcia Ball, the state of Texas (as well as the city of Houston) has produced some of the greatest blues musicians in the history of the genre. It is, to me, just one of the many things that makes living in Houston or in the state of Texas special. This is a unique legacy that should be celebrated rather than forgotten with the passage of time. I urge you to check it out. Support your local blues scene. Find some artists that you like and buy their CDs. Like John Lee Hooker (and my signature) said..."The Blues is a Healer". What that means is that if your feeling down and depressed, put on some blues music, and watch the groove heal your soul, put a jump in your step, and make things righteous again. You'll be glad you did. The following are a couple of web resources to help you discover Texas blues: www.texasbluesmusic.com - Texas blues music home page http://www.neosoft.com/~hbs/ - Houston Blues Society home page (includes an extensive calendar of local shows). I've been into all sorts of music in my life, from the Beatles and Stones to CCR, Little Feat & the Sex Pistols, but I always keep coming back to the Texas blues, because it warms my heart and satisfies my soul. It speaks to me like no other music ever has or probably ever will. Thanks for letting me share with you the music I will love until the day I die! ------------------ "Blues is a Healer" --John Lee Hooker
Excellent 1000th post. Interesting info. Congrats! rH ------------------ *** THIS SPACE FOR LEASE ***
Sweet info and congrats on 1k. ------------------ Ceo of the Walt Williams fan club. Web site coming soon atheistalliance.org
I also keep returning to the Blues. When I lived in Houston, I wasn't really into blues music, but I was lucky enough to catch SRV several times. Since then I have really gotten into blues music. It touches the soul like no other music can. ------------------ When we tire of well-worn ways, we seek for new. This restless craving in the souls of men spurs them to climb, and to seek the mountain view. -- Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Damn, Tex, you beat me to 1000. I'll be there soon, but now I have to equal this fine post of yours. Congrats. ------------------ Behad Sergeant at Arms of the Clutch BBS
Life is strange. RMT, The wife and I were over at some friends house last Saturday night playing cards. Dave, my friend (who is from South Dakota) put on a Lightin Hopkins CD and the both of us just went off taking about the blues, Texas blues to be exact. We got so into our conversation that we forgot about our card game. Needless to say the wives were sort of perturbed. They just sat there and stared at us like we were from another planet! LOL! Congrats on 1000! ------------------ 'Deeds, not words, shall speak me.'
