Lightnin' Hopkins-Free Form Patterns (1968)

Lightnin' Hopkins was one of the greatest bluesmen in history and, at the same time, one of the most influential figures on many rock and blues guitarists. During his career, which spanned from 1940 to the 1980s, he recorded more albums than any other blues guitarist, and he was one of the first inductees into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1980. His distinctive fingerstyle (a technique that involves playing the guitar by plucking the strings directly with the fingertips or nails, as opposed to using a traditional pick) earned him a place among the 100 greatest guitarists of all time. Born in 1912 in Texas, Hopkins began by immersing himself in the rural blues of the American South, teaching himself and gradually evolving towards country blues and electric blues. His first recordings were with jazz pianist Wilson Smith, and he later collaborated with other prominent musicians such as L.C. Williams. His performances throughout the Midwest earned him a large following among African American audiences and blues fans. During the 1950s and 60s, Hopkins recorded a seemingly endless series of albums and singles for major labels such as Gold Star, Folkways, Bluesville, Prestige, Charly, Vanguard, and Polydor. Throughout the 1960s and 70s, he released several albums a year, touring extensively at folk and blues festivals around the world. One of his most popular albums is "Free Form Patterns", on which he was backed by the rhythm section of the psychedelic band 13th Floor Elevators, an album that garnered widespread acclaim as one of the finest expressions of authentic blues. Hopkins died of esophageal cancer in Houston on January 30, 1982, at the age of 69, and several of his guitars are on display in museums in Cleveland and Washington, D.C.