Thunder & Lightnin’
Jimi Hendrix. Duane Allman. B.B. King. Eric Clapton. Robert Johnson. When you google “who are the best guitarists of all time,” inevitably, a singular list will populate. It’s published by Rolling Stone Magazine. The aforementioned make up their interpretation of the 5 best, though the list far exceeds these names. In fact, when Rolling Stone does a list, they do it up big. There are 95 other noted musicians. Some are given. Who among us could successfully argue Hendrix from the #1 spot? And, while Whipping Post may be Duane Allman’s magnum opus, I would argue his most masterful work is the song Jessica, simply because it makes me want to roll the top down and apply a generous layer of Bonne Bell strawberry “lipsmacker” gloss without benefit of lyrics at all. But, today, we find ourselves smack dab in the month of February, noted for championing black history. I’d like to take that a step further into Texas black history. If we’re rolling the top down, actually, we may as well drive on out to Centerville, TX. We may as well run the red lights of the Rolling Stone list all the way toward the end. That’s where we’ll find Lightnin’ Hopkins, the 71st best guitarist of all time.
