Lightnin' Wells

Lightnin' Wells is an American Piedmont blues multi-instrumentalist and singer. He is a proficient musician and regularly plays various instruments in concert including the guitar, mandolin, harmonica, ukulele and banjo. At times he has performed as a one-man band. His style encompasses elements of the blues, country, gospel, old-time, bluegrass and folk. Mark Coltrain stated in Living Blues that, "You won't find a more versatile musician around – able to move deftly between country blues, old-time banjo, and novelty tunes with a single pluck. Lightnin' Wells changes the past..."

He joined his first band, the Unknowns, at the age of thirteen, where he played the harmonica in an ensemble performing British Invasion inspired music. By the late 1960s, Wells had learned to play the guitar and initially tried to follow the work of artists in the folk revival movement, leading him to Bob Dylan chronologically backwards to Woody Guthrie, then Sonny Terry and Lead Belly. The first authentic Piedmont blues record he heard was a 78 recording of "Lookin' For My Woman," by Blind Boy Fuller. By this time Wells was blending Piedmont and country blues utilizing a mixture of acoustic and resonator guitars, ukulele and harmonica. Wells had joined Music Maker in 1996, and in 2002 released his next album on that label.

Shake 'Em on Down (2008) gave Wells further opportunity to revisit some songs of the 1920s and produce an authentic sounding album. His journey has left him with hundreds of old pieces in his musical mind, and he discovered the work of Floyd Council to add to his repertoire. Wells was not tempted to pen his own material, despite having a university degree in English. Moulin Blues Festival (1996), the Bull Durham Blues Festival (1990, 1993, 1995, 1998, and 2000), Festival for the Eno, (1981 onwards), among many others.

In 2008, Wells recorded Jump Little Children: Old Songs For Young Folks, a collection of children's music. He is a regular faculty member at the Augusta Heritage Center, Port Townsend Acoustic Blues Festival and Swannanoa Gathering. Wells is a North Carolina Arts Council and American Traditions National Roster (through the Southern Arts Federation), touring artist. In 2016, Wells performed at Muddy Creek Music Hall in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. In July 2015, Wells was on the same bill as Ironing Board Sam and Boo Hanks at a concert in the Sarah P. Duke Gardens, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina.

His album, O Lightnin', Where Art Thou? (2017), was issued by the Germany-based Blind Lemon Records.

Filming for a documentary about Lightnin' Wells life's work of preserving (by performing) Piedmont blues and obscure, almost forgotten pre World War II music was begun in 2025, with release expected in early 2026.

Production work Big Boy Henry, "Mr. President" / "I Don't Need No Heater" 45 (Audio Arts),1983 Big Boy Henry, "Mr. Ball Your Warehouse Is Burning Down" EP (Audio Arts), 1985 Algia Mae Hinton, Piedmont Blues Traditions, EP (Audio Arts), 1986 Co-produced and performed on Big Boy Henry, Poor Man's Blues (New Moon 9508), 1995 Algia Mae Hinton, Honey Babe: Blues, Folk Tunes and Gospel from North Carolina (Hin-Tone 82929), 1996

Discography Year Title Record label 1995 Bull Frog Blues New Moon Records 1998 Ragtime MillionaireNew Moon Records 2002 Ragged But RightMusic Maker 2008 Shake 'Em on DownCD Baby 2008 Jump Little Children: Old Songs For Young FolksCD Baby 2017 O Lightnin', Where Art Thou?Blind Lemon Records 2025 Foolin' Around (Lightnin' Wells and his Uke) Self-published