Lightning Hopkins Archives - The Arhoolie Foundation

Chris Strachwitz Interviewed by Roy Trumbull on KBRG

Chris Strachwitz has been many things – songcatcher, music publisher, author, filmmaker, but he is first and foremost a Record Man. Take a listen to a newly unearthed interview with Chris in 1964 as he describes capturing the indelible songs on those early Arhoolie records, upcoming releases, and what it takes to start a record company.

Own a Rare Photo Print from the Arhoolie Foundation Collection

For the first time, the Arhoolie Foundation is offering signed photographs from the Chris Strachwitz Archive. During the fifty-five years Chris ran his Arhoolie label, and...

Deep Dives: Blues On Tour

Dry dusty roads, dark end streets, and rowdy juke joints are where you hear the blues. It was his love of down home blues that inspired Chris Strachwitz...

Chris Strachwitz Remembers Lightning Hopkins

“So we went over there and there he was just ferociously playing on his electric guitar and singing really powerful stuff, it was just really, really amazing. And shortly after we had come in, he just segued during his singing by pointing his hand at me and singing ‘Whoa, this man come all the way from California just to hear poor Lightning sing…'”

Chris Strachwitz Interview: Collecting 78rpm Records

Chris Strachwitz started in the music business as a passionate 78 record collector. Hear him tell the story on how he started Arhoolie Records with the funds earned by wheeling and dealing in old 78rpm records.

Arhoolie Records Catalogs Publications

Arhoolie Records Catalogs and Publications The Arhoolie Foundation stems from the work of founder Chris Strachwitz and his seminal independent record label Arhoolie Records. In 1960,...

Chris Strachwitz Photos

Chris Strachwitz Photos Chris Strachwitz, founder of both Arhoolie Records and the Arhoolie Foundation, has been documenting vernacular music since the 1950’s. An avid photographer, he...

Chris Strachwitz 1960 Blues Article

In 1960 Chris Strachwitz was running a small mail order record service and newsletter called the International Blues Record Club (IBRC). In the summer of 1960...

Lightning Hopkins & the Zydeco Uprising

In 1962 Chris Strachwitz was writing a blues column for Jazz Report magazine. Here is part one of three articles about his travels in the south,...

Chris Strachwitz Collection: Vintage Concert Posters

Vintage Concert Posters During his years collecting and recording music Arhoolie Records and Arhoolie Foundation founder Chris Strachwitz acquired many posters for shows of vernacular music....

Artist: Lightning Hopkins