Sam John Hopkins (March 15, 1912 โ January 30, 1982), better known as Lightninโ Hopkins, was an American country bluessinger, songwriter, guitarist and occasional pianist, from Houston, Texas. Rolling Stone magazine included Hopkins at number 71on their list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time.Musicologist Robert "Mack" McCormick opined that Hopkins "is the embodiment of the jazz-and-poetry spirit, representing itsancient form in the single creator whose words and music are one act".