
Nicky Hopkins - Pianists, Family and Family
Nicky Hopkins's Personal Details
Nicky Hopkins was a renowned English pianist and session keyboardist
Information | Detail |
---|---|
Birthday | February 24, 1944 |
Died on | September 6, 1994 |
Nationality | British |
Famous | Scientologists, Musicians, Organist, Pianists |
Spouses | Linda, Moira Buchannan |
Known as | Nicholas Hopkins, Hopkins, Nicky, Nicholas Christian Hopkins |
Universities |
|
Birth Place | Perivale, Middlesex, England |
Religion | Scientology |
Gender | Male |
Father | Alfred Hopkins |
Mother | Freda Hopkins |
Sun Sign | Pisces |
Born in | Perivale, Middlesex, England |
Famous as | Pianist & Organist |
Died at Age | 50 |
// Famous Pianists
Andy Biersack
Learn about Andy Biersack, the famous American rock singer and pianist; his birthday, what he did before fame, his family life, fun trivia facts and more.
Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington was an American jazz composer and performer who is among one of the greatest names in the history of jazz. This biography profiles his childhood, life, music career, achievements and timeline.
Sergei Prokofiev
Sergei Sergeyevich Prokofiev was a Russian composer, pianist and conductor. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family life, achievements and other facts about his life.
Nicky Hopkins's photo
Who is Nicky Hopkins?
Nicky Hopkins was a renowned English pianist and session keyboardist who performed and recorded on several remarkable American and British music albums including some classics for around three decades. He remained the most significant and busiest session artist in the history of rock music leaving his mark on umpteen number of classic and popular albums. Not many can boast of such a wide range of credits like his with a discography that comprises of the who’s who of pop and rock genre of that era. The bands he worked with include the ‘Beatles’, Led Zappelin, the ‘Rolling Stones’, the ‘Kinks’, the ‘Who’, ‘The Easybeats’ and the ‘Quicksilver Messenger Service’. He also worked with many artists like Cat Stevens, Jackie Lomax, John Winston Ono Lennon, Rod Stewart and George Harrison among others. Some of the notable albums that include his contributions are ‘Between the Buttons’, ‘Tattoo You’ and ‘Exile on Main St. with the ‘Rolling Stones’; ‘The Kink Kontroversy’ and ‘Face to Face’ with the ‘Kinks’; and ‘Just for Love’ and ‘What About Me’ with the ‘Quicksilver Messenger Service’. His solo albums include ‘The Tin Man Was a Dreamer’ and ‘No More Changes’. He made several efforts at his solo records but could never succeed in scoring a hit and mostly remained in the shadow of his superstar music companions and colleagues.
// Famous Organist
Cesar Franck
Cesar Franck was a very influential composer, pianist and an inspiring teacher who authored memorable musical works. Know all about his childhood, life and timeline in this biography.
Camille Saint-Saëns
Camille Saint-Saens was the French composer and organist who wrote the opera ‘Samson et Dalila’. This biography of Camille Saint-Saens provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.
Johann Pachelbel
Johann Pachelbel was a famous Baroque composer and organist. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family life, achievements and other facts related to his life.
Childhood & Early Life
He was born on February 24, 1944 in Perivale, Middlesex, in a middle class family to Alfred Hopkins and Freda Hopkins. His father was an accountant and a strict disciplinarian.
Hopkins studied at the ‘Wembley County Grammar School’ which is at present a part of ‘Alperton Community School’.
From three years of age he displayed a talent for music and since then started playing the piano. As a child, he developed a habit of collecting, a pursuit he carried on for life.
Though initially he took lessons from a local piano teacher, later he earned a scholarship to the renowned ‘Royal Academy of Music’ in London.
He suffered from ill health from an early age and was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in his youth. His poor health and ongoing surgeries almost prevented him from touring and hence he endeavoured as a studio musician.
Career
In 1960 he left school before to completing his academics to join the ‘Screaming Lord Sutch and the Savages’ as a pianist. The group toured occasionally and after a stint of two years, all the backing members of the group including Hopkins, Carlo Little, Bernie Watson and Ricky Fenson were picked up by Cyril Davies, the famous harmonica player who left the ‘Blues Incorporated’ in October 1962, and formed the ‘Cyril Davies R&B All Stars’.
On February 27, 1963, he contributed as a pianist on the first recorded single of the band and Davies’ most admired composition, ‘Country Line Special.
However in May 1963, Hopkins’ ill health resulted in his forced departure from the band. He underwent a series of surgeries that were life-threatening and had to remain bed-ridden for around 19 months.
Following Davies’ death on January 7, 1964, due to endocarditis, the ‘Cyril Davies R&B All Stars’ disbanded.
As his weak health prevented him from touring much, he primarily worked as a session musician and soon became one of the most sought after and busiest pianists of London during that time.
His talent as an ace pianist led him to contribute in many hit recordings of that period, which included a wide range of English bands like Led Zeppelin, the ‘Rolling Stones’, the ‘Kinks’, the ‘Pretty Things’ and the ‘Easybeats’ among others. He also extensively worked with English record producer Andrew Loog and American record producer Shel Talmy.
His real breakthrough came when he accepted the invitation of Shel Talmy and recorded four studio albums with the ‘Kinks’. These are ‘The Kink Kontroversy’ (1965), ‘Face to Face’ (1966), ‘Something Else by the Kinks’ (1967) and ‘The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society’ (1968).
His first single, Mr. Big and first solo album ‘The Revolutionary Piano Of Nicky Hopkins’ were recorded and released in 1966. His second and third solo albums were ‘The Tin Man Was a Dreamer’ (1973) and ‘No More Changes’ (1975) respectively. The fourth one ‘Long Journey Home’, however, remained unreleased.
He joined the ‘Jeff Beck Group’ in 1967 and contributed on two of their albums namely ‘Truth’ and ‘Beck-Ola’. The same year he worked for the ‘Rolling stones’ for their album ‘Their Satanic Majesties Request’ and single ‘We Love You’ marking an association that saw release of some of the finest classic albums of the band.
His wide array of works also included playing and recording for many bands from San Francisco like the ‘New Riders of the Purple Sage’, the ‘Jefferson Airplane’ and the ‘Steve Miller Band’.
From 1969 to 1971 he remained a member of the American psychedelic rock band, ‘Quicksilver Messenger Service’ and contributed to albums like ‘Shady Grove’ (1969), ‘Just for Love’ (1970) and ‘What About Me’ (1970).
In 1969, three members of the ‘Rolling Stones’ namely Mick jagger, Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts along with Hopkins and Ry Cooder recorded an album titled ‘Jamming with Edward!’ which was later released in 1972. The cover art of the album too had his contribution.
During the early 1970s, he added another credit to his profile by working on many albums of renowned American singer-songwriter Harry Nilsson including ‘Son of Schmilsson’ and ‘Nilsson Schmilsson’.
He performed live on stage for some of the concerts of the ‘Rolling Stones’, which included Good-Bye Britain Tour in 1971, North American Tour in 1972 and Winter Tour of Australia and New Zealand in 1973 but failed to participate in the Europe tour of the band in 1973 because of poor health. Again from August 5 to December 31 in 1975 he toured with the ‘Jerry Garcia Band’.
Three soundtrack albums of Hopkins namely ‘Namiki Family’, ‘The Fugitive’ and ‘Patio’ were released in Japan from 1992 to 1993.
Major Works
Since 1967 through 1981, he played on the studio albums of the ‘Rolling Stones’. Some of the notable ones are ‘Between the Buttons’ (1967), ‘Beggars Banquet’ (1968), ‘Exile on Main St.’ (1972), ‘Emotional Rescue (1980) and ‘Tattoo You’ (1981). Songs such as ‘She's a Rainbow’ (1967), ‘Sympathy for the Devil’ (1968), ‘Sway’ (1971), ‘Angie’ (1973) and ‘Waiting on a Friend’ (1981) included significant piano parts contributed by Hopkins.
He played electric piano for Beatles’ song ‘Revolution’ in 1968. It marked a rare occasion when this famous English rock band inducted him, a non-member for a recording. By this time his reputation as a session keyboardist had grown internationally. After the break-up of the band in 1970, he worked separately with each of the four members namely George Harrison, John Lennon, Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney and contributed to albums like ‘Ringo’, ‘Flowers in the Dirt’, ‘Living in the Material World’ and ‘Imagine’.
Personal Life & Legacy
His first wife was Linda whom he divorced in 1986.
Later he married Moira Buchannan with whom he led the rest of his life.
On September 6, 1994, Hopkins died an untimely death in Nashville, Tennessee, from complications presumably related to his lifelong illness from Crohn's disease.
// Famous Scientologists
Laura Prepon
Laura Prepon is an American actress best known for her portrayal of Donna Pinciotti in the sitcom ‘That ‘70s Show’. This biography profiles her childhood, life, acting career, achievements and timeline.
Neil Gaiman
Neil Gaiman is an English writer of novels, short stories, children’s books and other literature. This biography provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.
Michele Miscavige
Michele Miscavige is best known as the First Lady of Scientology for her marriage to Church of Scientology leader, David Miscavige. Check out this biography to know about her childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about her life.
Nicky Hopkins biography timelines
- // 24th Feb 1944He was born on February 24, 1944 in Perivale, Middlesex, in a middle class family to Alfred Hopkins and Freda Hopkins. His father was an accountant and a strict disciplinarian.
- // 1960 To Oct 1962In 1960 he left school before to completing his academics to join the ‘Screaming Lord Sutch and the Savages’ as a pianist. The group toured occasionally and after a stint of two years, all the backing members of the group including Hopkins, Carlo Little, Bernie Watson and Ricky Fenson were picked up by Cyril Davies, the famous harmonica player who left the ‘Blues Incorporated’ in October 1962, and formed the ‘Cyril Davies R&B All Stars’.
- // 27th Feb 1963On February 27, 1963, he contributed as a pianist on the first recorded single of the band and Davies’ most admired composition, ‘Country Line Special.
- // May 1963However in May 1963, Hopkins’ ill health resulted in his forced departure from the band. He underwent a series of surgeries that were life-threatening and had to remain bed-ridden for around 19 months.
- // 7th Jan 1964Following Davies’ death on January 7, 1964, due to endocarditis, the ‘Cyril Davies R&B All Stars’ disbanded.
- // 1967He joined the ‘Jeff Beck Group’ in 1967 and contributed on two of their albums namely ‘Truth’ and ‘Beck-Ola’. The same year he worked for the ‘Rolling stones’ for their album ‘Their Satanic Majesties Request’ and single ‘We Love You’ marking an association that saw release of some of the finest classic albums of the band.
- // 1968 To 1970He played electric piano for Beatles’ song ‘Revolution’ in 1968. It marked a rare occasion when this famous English rock band inducted him, a non-member for a recording. By this time his reputation as a session keyboardist had grown internationally. After the break-up of the band in 1970, he worked separately with each of the four members namely George Harrison, John Lennon, Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney and contributed to albums like ‘Ringo’, ‘Flowers in the Dirt’, ‘Living in the Material World’ and ‘Imagine’.
- // 1969 To 1972In 1969, three members of the ‘Rolling Stones’ namely Mick jagger, Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts along with Hopkins and Ry Cooder recorded an album titled ‘Jamming with Edward!’ which was later released in 1972. The cover art of the album too had his contribution.
- // 1986His first wife was Linda whom he divorced in 1986.
- // 1992 To 1993Three soundtrack albums of Hopkins namely ‘Namiki Family’, ‘The Fugitive’ and ‘Patio’ were released in Japan from 1992 to 1993.
- // 6th Sep 1994On September 6, 1994, Hopkins died an untimely death in Nashville, Tennessee, from complications presumably related to his lifelong illness from Crohn's disease.
// Famous Musicians
Muddy Waters
Muddy Waters was a blues musician referred to as the 'father of modern Chicago blues.' Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about him.
Travis Bacon
Travis Bacon is an American musician and actor, better known as the son of veteran actors Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick. Find more about his family, birthday, etc.
Andrew Taggart
Andrew Taggart is an American DJ who gained fame as one half of the famous DJ duo ‘The Chainsmokers,’ alongside Alex Pall. Let’s take a look at his childhood, family, personal life, career, achievements, etc.
Jackson Browne
Jackson Browne is an acclaimed American musician, songwriter and environmental activist. Read this biography to learn more about his childhood, life, works, achievements and timeline.
Matthew Bellamy
Matthew Bellamy, popularly known as Matt Bellamy, is a popular English musician. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about him.
Calum Hood
All about the Australian bassist & social media star, Calum Thomas Hood; his age, birthday, girlfriends, net worth, family, and some fun facts.
Nicky Hopkins's FAQ
What is Nicky Hopkins birthday?
Nicky Hopkins was born at 1944-02-24
When was Nicky Hopkins died?
Nicky Hopkins was died at 1994-09-06
Where was Nicky Hopkins died?
Nicky Hopkins was died in Nashville
Which age was Nicky Hopkins died?
Nicky Hopkins was died at age 50
Where is Nicky Hopkins's birth place?
Nicky Hopkins was born in Perivale, Middlesex, England
What is Nicky Hopkins nationalities?
Nicky Hopkins's nationalities is British
Who is Nicky Hopkins spouses?
Nicky Hopkins's spouses is Linda, Moira Buchannan
What was Nicky Hopkins universities?
Nicky Hopkins studied at Royal Academy of Music
What is Nicky Hopkins's religion?
Nicky Hopkins's religion is Scientology
Who is Nicky Hopkins's father?
Nicky Hopkins's father is Alfred Hopkins
Who is Nicky Hopkins's mother?
Nicky Hopkins's mother is Freda Hopkins
What is Nicky Hopkins's sun sign?
Nicky Hopkins is Pisces
How famous is Nicky Hopkins?
Nicky Hopkins is famouse as Pianist & Organist