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Sam Hopkins LbNA #53328 (ARCHIVED)

Owner:Silver Eagle Supporter Verified
Plant date:May 1, 2010
Location:
City:Houston
County:Harris
State:Texas
Boxes:1
Found by: Nomad
Last found:Jan 22, 2011
Status:FFFFaaaaa
Last edited:Feb 8, 2018
*** Part of my TX Musicians Series ***
Terrain Difficulty: Easy (flat, 100 yards RT)
Status: retired (12/11/13)


Sam "Lightnin" Hopkins was a Texas country blues-man of the highest caliber whose career began in the 1920s and stretched all the way into the 1980s. Born in Centerville, Texas, Hopkins' childhood was immersed in the sounds of the blues and he developed a deeper appreciation at the age of 8 when he met Blind Lemon Jefferson at a church picnic in Buffalo, Texas. In 1946, While singing on Dowling St. in Houston's Third Ward (which would become his home base) he was discovered by Lola Anne Cullum from Aladdin Records. She convinced Hopkins to travel to L.A. where he accompanied pianist Wilson Smith. An Aladdin Records executive decided the pair needed more dynamism in their names and dubbed Hopkins "Lightnin'" and Wilson "Thunder". It has been estimated that he recorded between 800 and 1000 songs during his career and earned a reputation as one of the most compelling blues performers. He died of esophageal cancer in Houston in 1982 at the age of 69 and is buried in Forest Park Cemetery.

Directions:
From I45 go north on N. Wayside for about .8 mile to Lawndale. Turn right and go .5 mile to Forest Park Cemetery on the right. Drive through entrance arch and go left around circle to section 23 (Lone View). Continue straight, keeping section 23 on your left, then bend left until you get almost to a cul-de-sac. Park by the Zuchowski tombstone.

Clues:
From the road, walk southwest for 17 steps, going past the right side of the Zuchowski tombstone. Go a few steps to the right to the grave of Lightnin Hopkins. Now go west at 275 degrees for 80 steps to 2 evergreen bushes next to the Race tombstone. The microbox is within the trunk of the nearest bush under sticks and leaves. Please replace as described and be discreet.