Hoppers question

[Jr.]

Someone approached me this morning and said they heard that the Hoppers were
disbanding due to Claude and Connie retiring.
Anybody hear the same or is this just another one of those nasty rumors?

[TommyDale]

Post by Jr.
Someone approached me this morning and said they heard that the Hoppers were
disbanding due to Claude and Connie retiring.
Anybody hear the same or is this just another one of those nasty rumors?

I have heard this as well.

[David Bruce Murray]

Post by TommyDale

Post by Jr.
Someone approached me this morning and said they heard that the Hoppers were
disbanding due to Claude and Connie retiring.
Anybody hear the same or is this just another one of those nasty rumors?

I have heard this as well.

I haven't heard this yet, but will keep my ear to the ground. I would hope
Mike, Dean and Kim would carry on rather than disbanding...even if Connie
and Claude do retire.

[TommyDale]

I spoke with someone very close (a relative) and health is the issue.
It was still undetermined at that time as to what might happen to the
group, but the hope is there that the youngsters would continue by
merely replacing Claude and Connie.

[David Bruce Murray]

Post by TommyDale
I spoke with someone very close (a relative) and health is the issue.
It was still undetermined at that time as to what might happen to the
group, but the hope is there that the youngsters would continue by
merely replacing Claude and Connie.

Thanks for clarifying that, Tommy. The group is special to a lot of fans who
would love to see the remaining members carry on rather than disband. As for
Mike, Dean, and Kim, it's pretty much all they've ever done for a
living...though I know they could probably come off the road and do studio
work in the case of Mike and Dean or possibly reduce their traveling
expenses considerably by doing solo or duet work in the case of Kim and/or
Dean...which I hate to say, may be more profitiable from a financial point
of view, because it wouldn't require a bus.

When you think about it though, they'd really only have to hire an alto to
continue with the same sound, since Dean and Kim are the two whose vocals
define the group's sound. Mike can sing bass.

Anyway, that's all just speculation/wishful thinking. I guess we'll soon
know more.

[James Moore]

Post by David Bruce Murray

Post by TommyDale
I spoke with someone very close (a relative) and health is the issue.
It was still undetermined at that time as to what might happen to the
group, but the hope is there that the youngsters would continue by
merely replacing Claude and Connie.

Thanks for clarifying that, Tommy. The group is special to a lot of fans who
would love to see the remaining members carry on rather than disband. As for
Mike, Dean, and Kim, it's pretty much all they've ever done for a
living...though I know they could probably come off the road and do studio
work in the case of Mike and Dean or possibly reduce their traveling
expenses considerably by doing solo or duet work in the case of Kim and/or
Dean...which I hate to say, may be more profitiable from a financial point
of view, because it wouldn't require a bus.
When you think about it though, they'd really only have to hire an alto to
continue with the same sound, since Dean and Kim are the two whose vocals
define the group's sound. Mike can sing bass.
Anyway, that's all just speculation/wishful thinking. I guess we'll soon
know more.
--
David Bruce Murray is still "Making hay while the sun shines"
CD Reviews/BLOG: www.musicscribe.com/blog.html
("I know a pagan piano riff when I hear it." - Dr. Bobby Clark)

If Connie and Claude do come off the road, Connie, who is a longtime
member,
of the group(when they were known as The Hopper Bros. and Connie) would
be greatly missed, as would Claude. As David said they would need an
alto,
and for the bass vocalist- would Shannon Childress be available? And we
all know Mike Hopper is a terrific drummer.

James

[Greg Taylor]

One sad part is that Claude was, and still is, a great lead vocalist who
had been relegated to bass (at least in billing) since Dean and Kim
stepped in. Back in the Hopper Brothers and Connie days he brought on
an aspiring young pianist named Roger Talley and then took a chance on
his little brother, Kirk. I assume Claude will remain on the NQC board.

Post by James Moore

Post by David Bruce Murray

Post by TommyDale
I spoke with someone very close (a relative) and health is the issue.
It was still undetermined at that time as to what might happen to the
group, but the hope is there that the youngsters would continue by
merely replacing Claude and Connie.

Thanks for clarifying that, Tommy. The group is special to a lot of fans who
would love to see the remaining members carry on rather than disband. As for
Mike, Dean, and Kim, it's pretty much all they've ever done for a
living...though I know they could probably come off the road and do studio
work in the case of Mike and Dean or possibly reduce their traveling
expenses considerably by doing solo or duet work in the case of Kim and/or
Dean...which I hate to say, may be more profitiable from a financial point
of view, because it wouldn't require a bus.
When you think about it though, they'd really only have to hire an alto to
continue with the same sound, since Dean and Kim are the two whose vocals
define the group's sound. Mike can sing bass.
Anyway, that's all just speculation/wishful thinking. I guess we'll soon
know more.
--
David Bruce Murray is still "Making hay while the sun shines"
CD Reviews/BLOG: www.musicscribe.com/blog.html
("I know a pagan piano riff when I hear it." - Dr. Bobby Clark)

If Connie and Claude do come off the road, Connie, who is a longtime
member,
of the group(when they were known as The Hopper Bros. and Connie) would
be greatly missed, as would Claude. As David said they would need an
alto,
and for the bass vocalist- would Shannon Childress be available? And we
all know Mike Hopper is a terrific drummer.
James

[c***@hotmail.com]

Here's some HOPPER news: http://www.sglive365.com/365news.html

[D Martin]

Would make perfect sense. Check out what has become of the Rex Nelon
Singers. Now it disbanded. The new version is now called The Nelons.
Check Kelly and the group out at www.thenelons.com

Danny

Post by Jr.
Someone approached me this morning and said they heard that the Hoppers
were disbanding due to Claude and Connie retiring.
Anybody hear the same or is this just another one of those nasty rumors?

[David Ching]

Post by D Martin
Would make perfect sense. Check out what has become of the Rex Nelon
Singers. Now it disbanded. The new version is now called The Nelons.
Check Kelly and the group out at www.thenelons.com

Just for the record, The Nelons were called that even when Rex was alive. I
agree that it is rather sad that the current iteration of The Nelons have
drastically cut their schedule and are a trio.

-- David

[David Bruce Murray]

Post by David Ching
Just for the record, The Nelons were called that even when Rex was alive.
I agree that it is rather sad that the current iteration of The Nelons
have drastically cut their schedule and are a trio.

Right, and as far as I know, the only time the Nelons were seriously
considering "disbanding" was in the early 1990s after Karen Peck, Kelly and
Jerry Thompson had left the group. Within a two or three year period, they
basically lost every singer that had defined the sound of the group and Rex
was getting up in years at this point. He discovered Charlotte Penhollow and
an alto whose name escapes me, so he decided to carry on. A year or two
later, Kelly and Jerry were back in the group.

There was never a time when they "disbanded" the Rex Nelon Singers. It was
merely a name change, and the name change certainly did not cause the group
to suffer. In fact, the same four vocalists (Rex, Kelly, Jerry, and Karen
Peck) were all there when they started shortening their name on their album
covers. You can follow the progression of the group if you go to their
website and look at their discography. In 1983, they released _We Shall
Behold The King_ as the Rex Nelon Singers. In 1985, the same four vocalists
are there for _In One Accord_ as The Nelons...same record label, too, though
they released some table projects of their own in between, those were the
two major releases for that time period.
http://www.thenelons.com/

[p***@gmail.com]

Post by Jr.
Someone approached me this morning and said they heard that the Hoppers were
disbanding due to Claude and Connie retiring.
Anybody hear the same or is this just another one of those nasty rumors?

Just read same...but as sad as it is to think that both are retiring...with Kim and Dean, Mike, and Kim/Dean's lovely daughter w/ a lovely also voice could continue.....Mike needed on drums - he's excellent - makes a little bit of an issue since I have him singing bass....oh well, a dilemna,especially in hoping they do continue to minister!!!! Jay Morris