Linda Hopkins

Linda Hopkins born Melinda Helen Matthews December 14 1924 April 10 2017 was a Tony Awardwinning American actress and blues and gospel singer She recorded classic traditional and urban blues and performed RB and soul jazz and show tunes Hopkins was born in New Orleans Louisiana United States the second child of the Reverend Fred Matthews Sr and Hazel Smith Hopkins grew up in the section of New Orleans known by the locals as Zion City She went to school in Gert Town which bordered the Xavier University of Louisiana Known as Lil Helen Matthews as a child she was discovered at the age of eleven by Mahalia Jackson when she persuaded Jackson to perform at a fundraiser at her home church St Marks Baptist Church Lil Helen opened the childrens fundraising program with a rendition of Jacksons gospel hit God Shall Wipe Your Tears Away Jackson was reportedly so impressed by Helens determination and talent that she arranged for the young girl to join the Southern Harp Spiritual Singers in 1936 Hopkins remained with the group for a decade She first saw Bessie Smith perform Empty Bed Blues at The New Orleans Palace Theatre in 1936 Hopkins greatly admired Smith and later won critical plaudits for her rendition of Smith in the 1959 theatrical presentation Jazz Train Matthews left New Orleans in the 1950s and in 1951 began performing at Slim Jenkins Night Club in the OaklandRichmond area There she met Johnny Otis and Little Esther Phillips who created her stage name Linda Hopkins In 1952 Hopkins toured Hawaii and Japan for two years which included a stint with Louis Armstrong at The Brown Derby in Honolulu She recorded for the Savoy Crystalette Forecast Federal and Atco labels and often appeared at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem In 1960 Hopkins first toured Europe in the Broadway Express the restaged production of Jazz Train She recorded Shake a Hand with Jackie Wilson on the Brunswick label which is her sole hit single reaching 21 on the US Billboard RB chart She also recorded I Found Love and Theres Nothing Like Love with him on Brunswick in early 1962 She attended Stella Adlers Acting School in New York City During the 1970s Hopkins performed in the Broadway musical Purlie and with Sammy Davis Jr for nine months In addition she performed at President Jimmy Carters 1977 inaugural ball In 1972 she was awarded a Tony and Drama Desk Award for her performance in Inner City She sang Do You Believe at the political event StarSpangled Women for McGovernShriver bringing 19000 people to their feet Hopkins starred in Me and Bessie a onewoman show paying homage to blues singer Bessie Smith conceived and written by Hopkins and Will Holt The world premiere was in Washington DC in 1974 After a run in Los Angeles it transferred to the Ambassador Theatre on Broadway The critically acclaimed show ran for thirteen months and 453 performances and Hopkins was nominated for the Drama Desk Award for Unique Theatrical Experience Source Article Linda Hopkins from Wikipedia in English licensed under CCBYSA 30