18 Facts About Lightnin' Wells

Lightnin' Wells is an American Piedmont blues multi-instrumentalist and singer.

Lightnin' Wells is a proficient musician and regularly plays various instruments in concert including the guitar, mandolin, harmonica, ukulele and banjo.

Lightnin' Wells's style encompasses elements of the blues, country, gospel, old-time, bluegrass and folk.

Michael Lightnin' Wells was born in West Virginia, United States, and largely raised in North Carolina, where he has spent most of his life.

Lightnin' Wells's family relocated to Goldsboro, North Carolina in 1962, and there Wells discovered and gained a life-long interest in Piedmont blues and old-time music.

Lightnin' Wells joined his first band, the Unknowns, at the age of thirteen, where he played the harmonica in an ensemble performing British Invasion inspired music.

Lightnin' Wells started performing professionally in the Chapel Hill area in the early 1970s.

In 1995, Lightnin' Wells made his own debut solo recording, Bull Frog Blues, which was followed by Ragtime Millionaire ; both released on New Moon Records.

Lightnin' Wells had joined Music Maker in 1996, and in 2002 released his next album on that label.

Lightnin' Wells began his ten-year spell on the board of directors at the Music Maker Relief Foundation.

Lightnin' Wells's 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.

Lightnin' Wells was not tempted to pen his own material, despite having a university degree in English.

In 2005, Lightnin' Wells traveled to Boone, North Carolina for the first Black Banjo Gathering where he accompanied Algia Mae Hinton.

In 2008, Lightnin' Wells recorded Jump Little Children: Old Songs For Young Folks, a collection of children's music.

Lightnin' Wells is a North Carolina Arts Council and American Traditions National Roster, touring artist.

In 2016, Lightnin' 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.

Lightnin' Wells played all of the instruments used on the collection.