Guitar Lightnin’ Lee
BluesA native of New Orleans, LeRoy Williams — aka Guitar Lightnin’ Lee — played rhythm and blues with the exuberance of a man half his age. And he did it with a band of men who were half his age.
An Exuberant Example of New Orleans Rock and Blues
When he was in his 60s, Guitar Lightnin’ Lee, a multitalented rhythm and blues purist, defied all rational logic by assembling a band with a bunch of rock and rollers half his age. In 1997, Lightnin’ found a young drummer, Paul Artigues. They played together for years working on their sound. With the addition of slideman Ted Mathews and bassist Marvin Hirsch, they formed the Thunder Band, and began recording and performing.
Lightnin’s talent, lyrics, powerful voice, and boisterous personality matched perfectly with his backup band. They played a raucous, supercharged style of New Orleans rock and roll and blues. The band filled the music with a youthful exuberance, and you couldn’t just credit the younger members of the band for that — Lightnin’ was the most buoyant of all.
Lee radiated the spirit of New Orleans music, and he came by it honestly. Raised in the Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans, Lightnin’ had music all around him. After learning from New Orleans blues great Boogie Bill Webb, Lightnin’ went to Chicago to search out his inspiration, the electric blues pioneer Jimmy Reed. When Reed wasn’t throwing Lightnin’ out of his house or telling him to go back to New Orleans, he was showing Lightnin’ his style of Delta blues via electrified Chicago.
After moving back to New Orleans, Lightnin’ played with and around such New Orleans legends as Earl King, Fats Domino, Ernie K-Doe, Little Freddie King, and scores of other brilliant New Orleans musicians. Lightnin’s ears were wide open to the sound around him and he soaked it up like a sponge. For years he listened, learned and honed his playing and songwriting skills in the best company.
With a little assistance from Music Maker, Lighnin’ was able to win a bout with cancer in 2019, and he continued gigging with the same exuberance that has always marked his music until his passing in 2025.
Guitar Lightnin’ Lee Was born Leroy Williams on August 23, 1942. He passed away on November 7, 2025.
Top photo by Greg Roth.
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