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Rocky Hill learned to play the Blues by studying and playing with some of the greatest Blues masters of all times, including Jimmy Reed, Big Mama Thornton and Lightnin’ Hopkins. Rocky played bass for Lightnin’ in the early 1970s. In this clip, Rocky discusses some of the duties he had as a member of Lightnin’s band.
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WINDOWS MEDIA
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As bass player for both Johnny Winter and Stevie Ray Vaughan, Tommy has experienced and played his share of the blues. During the 1970s Tommy had the opportunity to see Lightnin’ play and how Lightnin’ treated his bass players. In this clip, Tommy shares how he saw Lightnin’ interact with bass players on stage.
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Although Gary Clark Jr. has only been playing the guitar for a little more than eight years, he is quickly climbing the ranks of guitar players. At the March 2004 Austin Music Awards, Gary was voted Austin’s Best Blues Musician.
Lightnin’ Hopkins was known for his ability to spontaneously create a song about whatever had happened to him that day. Gary, having been influenced by Lightnin’, was asked to create a song on the spot. In this clip, Gary sings about his car ride to the interview.
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A native of Michigan, Grego moved to Austin after college to become part of the Texas Blues scene. After discovering that he was, in his words, “a marginal Blues guitar player,“ yet still wanting to be a part of the Blues, he began painting old Blues artists. Grego first heard Lightnin’ on the complete Aladdin box set. In this clip, Grego discusses painting his favorite subject.
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WINDOWS MEDIA
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Wrecks Bell is the owner of the Old Quarter Acoustic Café in Galveston, Texas. In the 1970s, Wrecks took over bass player duties for Rocky Hill in Lightnin’s band. Wrecks played with Lightnin’ for over ten years and was chosen by Lightnin’ to accompany him at Carnegie Hall in 1979. In this clip, Wrecks discusses being backstage at Carnegie Hall.
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WINDOWS MEDIA
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Roger Wood, Ph.D., is the author of Down In Houston: Bayou City Blues. Roger teaches writing and literature at Houston Community College. In this clip, Roger discusses the “Po’ Lightnin’” persona that Lightnin’ sings about in his songs.
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WINDOWS MEDIA
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Guitar virtuoso and teacher, Ernie is an important link in the unbroken chain of blues and gospel artists. He has played with blues greats such as Son House, Mance Lipscomb, Fred McDowell, Jim Brewer, Rev. Gary Davis and many others. In this clip, Ernie discusses one of the techniques Lightnin used in composing his signature sound. Ernie also discusses just how cool Lightnin’ was.
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WINDOWS MEDIA
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WINDOWS MEDIA
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In these two clips, the Gillette Brothers, owners of the Camp Street Café in Crockett, Texas, discuss how while getting Lightnin’s statue built, they discovered the influence that Lightnin’ had on guitar players, and how early in his career, Lightnin would earn money on Camp Street to the dismay of juke joint owners on the block.
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WINDOWS MEDIA
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