Lightnin' Slim

Otis Verries Hicks, known as Lightnin' Slim (March 13, 1913 – July 27, 1974), was an American blues musician who played Louisiana blues and swamp blues. His first recording was "Bad Luck Blues" ("If it wasn't for bad luck, I wouldn't have no luck at all"), released by J. D. "Jay" Miller's Feature Records in 1954. Miller gave him the stage name "Lightnin' Slim". Slim then recorded for Excello Records for twelve years, starting in the mid-1950s, often collaborating with his brother-in-law Slim Harpo and with the harmonica player Lazy Lester.
Slim stopped performing the blues for a time. He was rediscovered by Fred Reif in 1970, in Pontiac, where he was living in a rented room at Slim Harpo's sister's house. Reif soon got him back performing again and a new recording contract with Excello, this time through Bud Howell, then the president of the company. His first engagement was a reunion concert in 1971 at the University of Chicago Folk Festival with Lazy Lester, whom Reif had brought from Baton Rouge in January of that year.
In the 1970s, Slim performed on tours in Europe, in the United Kingdom and at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, for which he was often accompanied by Moses "Whispering" Smith on harmonica. He last toured the UK in 1973, with the American Blues Legends package organised by Big Bear Records.
In July 1974, Slim died of stomach cancer in Detroit, Michigan, aged 61.
==Links to Peel==
Peel was an enthusiastic follower of Lightnin' Slim's works and played many of his songs throughout most of his radio career, especially tracks from his Rooster Blues album released in 1960.
==Shows Played==
;thumb|220x220px1970
*03 October 1970: Lightnin's Troubles (LP - Rooster Blues) Blue Horizon
;1972
*07 July 1972: Goin’ Home
;1981
*05 September 1981: It's Mighty Crazy (LP - Rooster Blues) Excello
;1983
*13 June 1983: Somebody Knockin’
*Peel July August 1983: I'm Tired Waiting Baby
;1989
*31 October 1989: Long Leanie Mama
;1990
*17 January 1990: Too Close Blues
;1992
*03 July 1992: 'Nothing But The Devil (Double LP-The Excello Story)' (Blue Horizon)
*17 July 1992: 'Going Home' (JP: 'Of course, you do understand that the invitation to "blow your harmonica, son" has nothing to do with playing harmonicas at all, but an invitation to unbridled sexual activity: this is what the experts would probably tell you.')
*19 July 1992 (BFBS): Nothing But The Devil
;1993
*03 July 1993: 'Tomcat Blues (7 inch)' (Excello)
*10 July 1993 (BFBS): Tomcat Blues (7") Excello
;1994
*05 March 1994: ‘It’s Mighty Crazy (CD - Rooster Blues / Bell Ringer) (Ace)
*12 March 1994: The Hoodoo Blues (CD - Rooster Blues / Bell Ringer) Excello
*16 April 1994: ‘Rooster Blues (CD - Rooster Blues/Bell Ringer )’ Ace
*23 April 1994 (BFBS): Rooster Blues (CD - Rooster Blues/Bell Ringer) Excello
*30 April 1994: Long Leanie Woman (CD - Rooster Blues / Lightnin' Slim's Bell Ringer) Ace
*06 May 1994: ‘G I Slim (CD - Rooster Blues/Bell Ringer )’ Ace
*07 May 1994 (BFBS): Long Leanie Mama (double CD - Rooster Blues / Bell Ringer)
*14 May 1994 (BFBS): GI Slim (double CD - Rooster Blues / Bell Ringe ) Ace
*28 May 1994: ‘It's Mighty Crazy (CD – Rooster Blues / Bell Ringer )’ Ace
;1995
*26 May 1995: Bad Luck (CD - It's Mighty Crazy) Ace
*03 June 1995 (BFBS): 'Bad Luck (CD-It's Mighty Crazy)' (Ace)
;1996
*19 May 1996: Long Leanie Mama (album - Rooster Blues) Excello
*26 May 1996: ‘Blues At Night (CD – Nothin' But The Devil )’ Ace 
*01 June 1996 (BFBS): 'Blues At Night'
*08 June 1996: Feelin' Awful Blue (album - Nothin' But The Devil) Ace
*22 June 1996 (with Lazy Lester): Lightnin's Troubles (album - Nothin' But The Devil) Ace
*29 June 1996 (BFBS): 'Lightnin's Troubles (CD-Nothin' But The Devil)' (Ace)
*03 August 1996: Too Close Blues
*03 August 1996 (BFBS): 'Too Close Blues (CD-Nothin' But The Devil)' (Ace)
*05 August 1996 (BBC World Service): I Just Don't Know (7") Excello
*24 August 1996: I Gonna Leave (album - Nuthin' But The Devil) Ace
*01 September 1996: Long Leanie Mama (CD - Nothing But The Devil) Ace
;1997
*27 February 1997: I'm Grown (v/a CD - Deep Harmonica Blues) Ace
*23 April 1997: Long Leanie Mama
;2004
*12 October 2004: It's Mighty Crazy (LP - Rooster Blues) Blue Horizon
*05 November 2004 (BBC World Service): 'It's Mighty Crazy (Compilation LP-Songs The Cramps Taught Us Volume 3)' (Cato)
==External Links==
*Wikipedia
*Discogs
Category:Artists