Linda Hopkins

Trivia

• In October 2005, Ms. Hopkins received a star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame.
• Wild Women Blues, conceived by Linda Hopkins and produced by Mel Howard, premiered in Berlin in 1997. In 1998 Linda Hopkins celebrated 50 years in show business.
• In 1985 Black And Blue, written by Claudio Segovia and Hector Orezzoli, premiered in Paris at The Théâtre Musical Paris. The musical revue opened on Broadway in 1989 and ran for 829 performances. Linda received a Tony nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Musical.
• In 1960 Hopkins first toured Europe in the production 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 ranking 21 on the R & B List.
• She recorded for the Crystalette, Forecast, Federal and Atco labels and often appeared at The Apollo Theatre in Harlem.
• In 1952 Linda toured Hawaii and Japan for two years which included a stint with Louis Armstrong at The Brown Derby in Honolulu.
• In 1951 Linda Hopkins began performing at Slim Jenkin's Night Club in the Oakland/Richmond area of Northern California where she met Johnny Otis and Little Esther Phillips whom she credits with creating her stage name, Linda Hopkins.
• Hopkins left New Orleans in the 1950s to become one of the greatest blues and gospel singers of our time.
• Lil Helen opened the children's fundraising program with a rendition of Ms. Jackson's current gospel hit, God Shall Wipe Your Tears Away. Ms. Jackson was so impressed by Lil Helen's determination and talent that she arranged for Lil Helen to join The Southern Harp Spiritual Singers in 1936. Hopkins remained with the group for a decade.
• She was discovered at age eleven by Mahalia Jackson when she persuaded Ms. Jackson to perform at a fundraiser at her home church, St. Mark's Baptist Church.