Floyd “Lightning” Chance
Musician · 1925–2005 · Como, Mississippi
Best known for
Bass
Floyd Taylor “Lightnin'” Chance was one of the core bassists of the Nashville A-Team — a Mississippi-born Grand Ole Opry staff musician who played stand-up bass on thousands of country, bluegrass, and pop recordings from the early 1950s through the late 1960s, including Hank Williams's final session and hits by the Everly Brothers, Patsy Cline, and Conway Twitty.
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- Born in Como, Mississippi. Learned guitar, clarinet, saxophone, and tuba as a schoolboy before settling on upright bass. Nicknamed “Lightnin'” for his speed on the football field.
- Received musical training during World War II serving in the U.S. Navy's Fourth Fleet Band.
- After discharge, moved to Memphis, Tennessee. First recording sessions were at the Sun Records studio under Sam Phillips.
- Joined the Grand Ole Opry staff band in the early 1950s. Played stand-up bass on Hank Williams's final September 1952 session that produced three #1 hits including “Your Cheatin' Heart,” “Take These Chains from My Heart,” and “Kaw-Liga.”
- Played on countless country and pop hits as a member of the Nashville A-Team: Everly Brothers' “Bye Bye Love” and “Bird Dog,” Conway Twitty's “It's Only Make Believe,” Faron Young's “Hello Walls,” Johnny Tillotson's “Poetry in Motion” and “It Keeps Right On A-Hurtin'.”
- Also recorded with bluegrass artists including the Louvin Brothers, the Osborne Brothers, and Jimmy Martin.
- Instrumental in developing the Nashville Number System — adapted a vocal chart notation so studio instrumentalists who did not read music could follow along with key changes and chord progressions. The system remains in standard use on Music Row today.
- Performed with Grand Ole Opry stars including Marty Robbins, Patsy Cline, Roy Acuff, Cowboy Copas, and Willie Nelson through the 1950s and 1960s. Photographed with Patsy Cline at the Ryman in 1961.
- Signature technique: used a brush between his fingers to hit the bass drumhead percussively while plucking bass notes with his index finger — a custom technique he developed himself.
- Recorded a comedy album, Don't That Blow Your Hat in the Creek.
- Retired from music in 1988. Died in Hernando, Mississippi on April 11, 2005 at age 79. Buried in Love Cemetery, DeSoto County, Mississippi.
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Jim & JessePlayed on recordings with Jim & Jesse
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The Osborne BrothersPlayed on recordings with The Osborne Brothers
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Jimmy Martin and the Sunny Mountain BoysPlayed on recordings with Jimmy Martin and the Sunny Mountain Boys
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The Stanley BrothersPlayed on recordings with The Stanley Brothers
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Peter RowanPlayed on recordings with Peter Rowan
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Wilma Lee and Stoney CooperPlayed on recording with Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper
