SPECIAL EVENTS

The Lightnin’ Hopkins Marker Fund is pleased to announce November 13, 2010, will be the date of the dedication ceremony for the official Texas Historical Marker honoring Sam “Lightnin’” Hopkins. The ceremony, beginning at 10:00 a.m., will take place on property owned by Project Row Houses at Dowling and Francis Streets in Houston’s Historic Third Ward.

"I am very excited about this," said Eric Davis who headed the effort to get the marker. "Without the dedication of, not only Houston's blues community," continued Davis, "but individuals throughout the United States and England, this project would have taken much longer to accomplish. I also have to thank Julie Johnson of Live Nation and Linda Shearer at Project Row Houses for their very generous support in making the dedication ceremony one that will honor Mr. Hopkins and bring the community together for a celebration."

Davis also revealed that following the unveiling of the marker, Diunna Greenleaf and Blue Mercy, Milton Hopkins (a relative of Mr. Hopkins), and Texas Johnny Brown (a former musical colleague of Mr. Hopkins), three of Houston’s most important Blues groups will play short sets of music. “It is very important that the music is represented that day while we honor one of the greatest musicians to come out of Houston; one that has had a local, national, and international impact on the Blues community as a whole. This would not have been possible without the overwhelmingly generous support of the House of Blues and Live Nation and Project Row Houses.”

Brian Distefano, Marketing Manager for House of Blues Houston said, “House of Blues and Live Nation are honored to be part of this project. Lightnin' Hopkins represented the very best of Houston's blues music scene, and we're thrilled to see this cultural icon get the respect he deserves. Whether it's through art or music, we'll keep doing everything we can to keep his memory and carry on his legacy.”

With support from the International House of Blues Foundation (IHOBF), children from the Project Row Houses’ After-School Program will be contributing to the dedication through the creation of a large-scale artwork that will serve as a visual backdrop for the ceremony and musical performances. To prepare for the creation of this artwork, the children took part in an IHOBF Visual Arts Workshop at the House of Blues and, under the direction of their group leader, they have been using IHOBF’s Blues School House Classroom Guide to learn about the history and cultural impact of blues music. Following the dedication ceremony, the artwork will be installed at Dupree Park at Project Row Houses. The IHOBF is a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing the arts to schools and communities through programs that promote cultural understanding and encourage creative expression.

Davis began this project after visiting Hopkins’ grave at Forest Park – Lawndale Cemetery in Houston. “I found it hard to believe,” said Davis, “that a small, simple foot stone was all there was to honor someone that had such a large and important cultural impact.” While standing there Davis began to wonder about where other musicians may be buried. “Where are they?” queries Davis. “How are they being remembered? I think it’s a shame that we have let such important contributions to the cultural fabric of Houston, Texas, and beyond, go to the wayside.”

To that end, Davis’ next project is purchase a foot stone for Wilson “Thunder” Smith, the pianist that accompanied Hopkins on his earliest recordings, who is buried in a known, but unmarked grave in what is now called Calvary Hill Cemetery in north Houston. “Hopkins and Smith were brought to Los Angeles as a duo,” said Davis, “and it was then that Hopkins was given the nickname ‘Lightnin’; they were to be known as “Thunder and Lightnin’,” but it became clear early on that Hopkins was the true star.” Wilson is known to have recorded a few more records, but eventually gave up music. He was killed in a brawl in 1963. Davis is purchasing the foot stone because, as he says, “Without “Thunder” we may not have had Lightnin’.”

For more information please contact Davis at redavis59@gmail.com.

Image: Lightnin’ Hopkins 1959, Andrew Hanson; courtesy of the Estate of Andrew Hanson.