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Soledad Prison” by John Lee Hooker, with whom Lightnin’ recorded on May 16 and 17, 1972, for an album that was not released until 1993 on a CD called It’s a Sin to Be Rich (Gitanes 517 514-2). The CD was a mishmash of recordings that included not only Lightnin’ and John Lee Hooker, but Jesse Ed Davis on guitar; Luther Tucker, guitar; Mel Brown, guitar/piano/organ; Charlie Grimes, guitar; David Cohen, guitar; Clifford Coulter, piano/melodica; Michael White, violin; Joe Frank Corolla, bass; and Lonnie Castille, drums.

9. The Last Decade

1. Mack McCormick, liner notes to Robert Shaw, Texas Barrelhouse Piano, Almanac LP 10, 1966.

2. Leadbitter, liner notes to Lightnin’ Hopkins: King of Dowling Street, Liberty/UA Records [UK] 83254.

3. David Benson, interview by Alan Govenar, November 7, 2008.

4. Ibid.

5. Ibid., January 30, 2002.

6. Joe Kessler, interview by Alan Govenar, September 3, 2009.

7. Benson, January 30, 2002.

8. Ibid.

9. Ibid., November 7, 2008.

10. Ibid., January 30, 2002.

11. Kessler, September 3, 2009.

12. Sam Charters, March 13, 2008.

13. “Lightnin’ Hopkins,” Vol. 12 of Legacy of the Blues, GNP Crescendo. 1992.

14. Benson, January 30, 2002.

15. Robert Palmer, “Jazz: Master,” New York Times, May 15, 1977.

16. Over the years, Lanny Steele and his SumArts organization hosted hundreds of blues and jazz artists, from John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters, Koko Taylor, Big Mama Thornton, and Albert King to Milt Larkin, Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson, Alex Moore, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, Albert Collins, Johnny Copeland, and Texas Johnny Brown. For more information, see Jim Sherman, “Goodbye to Lanny Steele,” Houston Press, November 3, 1994 and “Houston Celebrates Juneteenth with Parade of Black Progress,” in Chronicle-Telegram [Elyria, OH], June 19, 1977, p. A-10.

17. Benson, January 30, 2002.

18. Ibid.

19. The Rising Sun Collection, Vol. 9, featuring Lightnin’ Hopkins, vocal/electric guitar, Phillip Bowler, bass; and Walter Perkins, drums, Just a Memory CD 009-2, released in 1996.

20. Benson, November 7, 2008.

21. Ibid.

22. Ibid.

23. Ibid.

24. Ibid.

25. Ibid.

26. Norbert Hess, “Europe,” Living Blues 36 (January/February 1978); and Norbert Hess, interview by Alan Govenar, May 14, 2009.

27. Benson, January 30, 2002 and November 7, 2008.

28. Ibid., November 7, 2008.

29. Ibid., January 30, 2002.

30. Ibid., November 7, 2008.

31. Timothy J. O’Brien. “Lightnin’ Hopkins: Houston Bluesman, 1912–1960,” MA thesis, University of Houston, 2006, p. 88.

32. Michael Hall, “Let There be Lightnin’,” Texas Monthly, June 2007.

33. Benson, November 7, 2008.

34. Ibid., January 30, 2002.

35. Mark Pollock interview by Alan Govenar, October 14, 2008.

36. Anson Funderburgh interview by Alan Govenar, October 15, 2008.

37. Ibid.

38. Ibid.

39. Ibid.

40. Doyle Bramhall, interview by Alan Govenar, October 14, 2008.

41. Ibid.

42. Funderburgh, October 15, 2008.

43. Bramhall, October 14, 2008.

44. Funderburgh, October 15, 2008.

45. Bramhall, October 14, 2008.

46. Tim Schuller, “Lightnin’ Hopkins at the Granada Theater, Dallas, Texas” Living Blues (November/December 1977).

47. Tim Schuller, “Lightnin’ Hopkins at the Granada Theater, Dallas, Texas” Living Blues (November/December 1977).

48. Benson, November 7, 2008.

49. Ibid.

50. Ibid., January 30, 2002.

51. Ibid., November 7, 2008.

52. Ibid.

53. Ibid.

54. Ibid.

55. Michael Hall, “Let There Be Lightnin’,” Texas Monthly (June 2007).

56. Anton J. Mikofsky, interview by Alan Govenar, August 28, 2008.

57. Mikofsky, August 28, 2008.

58. Ibid.

59. Ibid.

60. Benson, November 7, 2008.

61. Ibid.

62. Kessler, September 3, 2009. For more information, see Lightnin’ Hopkins: Rare Performances, 1969–1979, Vestapol Videos 13022.

63. Steve Ditzell, interview by Alan Govenar, April 17, 2009.

64. Ibid.

65. Robert Palmer, “Lightnin’ Hopkins at 68: Still Singing Those Blues,” New York Times, October 31, 1980.

66. Steve Cushing, interview by Alan Govenar, December 14, 2008.

67. Ibid.

68. Ibid.

69. Lightnin’s last recordings were not released until 1983 on Forever—Last