Hop Wilson

Hop Wilson
Birth name Harding Wilson
Also known as Hop Wilson, Poppa Hop
Born (1921-04-27)April 27, 1921
Grapeland, Texas, United States
Died August 27, 1975(1975-08-27) (aged 54)
Houston, Texas, United States
Genres Texas blues
Occupation(s) Guitarist, singer
Instruments Steel guitar, harmonica
Years active 1950s–1975
Labels Ivory, Goldband

Harding "Hop" Wilson[1] (April 27, 1921 – August 27, 1975)[2] was an American Texas blues steel guitar player.[3] Wilson gained the nickname "Hop" as a devolution of "Harp" due to his constant playing of a harmonica as a child.[4] His low sounding playing gave several of his tracks, even "Merry Christmas Darling", a morose, disillusioned feel.[1]

Early life

Wilson was born in Grapeland, Texas, United States,[5] in 1921, learning to play guitar and harmonica at an early age.[4] Acquiring his first steel guitar sometime between the age of 12 and 18,[4][6] Wilson performed at various Houston clubs.[5] After serving in the United States Army, Wilson decided to pursue a musical career.[4]

Music career

Wilson began his career performing with Ivory Lee Semien in the 1950s, recording tracks in 1957 for Goldband Records in Lake Charles, Louisiana.[4] In 1960, Wilson signed with Ivory Records in Houston.[6] Wilson led recording sessions, but despised touring, and only played locally until his death in Houston in 1975.

Influence

While Wilson's recording career has been characterized as "slight",[5] he did have an influence on a variety of musicians, including Ron Wood of The Rolling Stones, who stated in 1994 "There's another guitar player called Hop Wilson. I got songs that I wrote like "Black Limousine" from him, those kinds of licks".[7]

References

  1. 1 2 Russell, Tony (1997). The Blues: From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray. Dubai: Carlton Books Limited. p. 190. ISBN 1-85868-255-X.
  2. ↑ Eagle, Bob; LeBlanc, Eric S. (2013). Blues - A Regional Experience. Santa Barbara: Praeger Publishers. p. 314. ISBN 978-0313344237.
  3. ↑ Du Noyer, Paul (2003). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Music (1st ed.). Fulham, London: Flame Tree Publishing. p. 181. ISBN 1-904041-96-5.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Goldband Records. "Goldband Artist Hop Wilson". Retrieved 2009-12-02.
  5. 1 2 3 Gregory, Hugh (2003). Roadhouse blues: Stevie Ray Vaughan and Texas R&B. Backbeat Books. pp. 32–33. ISBN 978-0-87930-747-9. Retrieved 2009-12-02.
  6. 1 2 Ace Records. "Hop Wilson & His Buddies". Retrieved 2009-12-02.
  7. ↑ Ian Gordon McPherson (2000). "THE SALT OF THE EARTH 1950s-60s Deep South electric blues". Retrieved 2009-12-02.
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