Born inNatchez,Mississippi, Lightfootrecordedseveral sessions in his late twenties – forPeacock Recordsin 1949 (which were never issued),Sultan Recordsin 1950,Aladdin Recordsin 1952, andImperial Recordsin 1954. After finalsinglesforSavoy Recordsin 1955 andExcello Recordsin 1956, Lightfoot quit recording, still an obscure Southern bluesharmonicaplayer.

As interest grew in ruralDelta bluesin the 1960s, Lightfoot's name became more well-known and, in 1969,record producerSteve LaVerewent to Lightfoot's home town of Natchez, and asked him to record again. The result was the albumNatchez Trace, released onVault Recordsin 1969, which brought Lightfoot briefly to the forefront of theblues revival.Rural Blues Vol. 2followed onLiberty Recordslater that same year.

However, his comeback was cut short by his death in late 1971 ofrespiratory failure.

The recordings were reissued in 1995 asGoin' Back to the Natchez Trace, with six additional tracks and recorded monologue.

Lightfoot has a Blues Trail Marker placed in Natchez, Mississippi, granted by the Mississippi Blues Foundation.