Musician. Son of Alfred E. and Freda Laursen Hopkins, born during a German air raid in a suburb of London. Began playing piano at the age of three. His poor health from a very early age was eventually diagnosed as Crohn's disease. His frail health led him to concentrate on working as a session musician instead of joining a band. He did sessions with The Kinks, The Who, Cat Stevens, Dusty Springfield, The Yardbirds, Badfinger, Strawbs, Ella Fitzgerald, Marc Bolan, The Beatles, The Move, Donovan, Steve Miller Band, Joe Cocker, George Harrison, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Ringo Starr, Peter Frampton, Gene Clark, David Bowie, Meat Loaf, Joe Walsh, Art Garfunkel, Graham Parker, Spinal Tap and many, many others. He played on every studio album of The Rolling Stones from 1967 (Between The Buttons) until 1976 (Black and Blue). He toured with the Stones several times, including their infamous 1972 American tour. He was a member of the Jeff Beck Group, Quicksilver Messenger Service (QMS), the short-lived Sweet Thursday, and played with Jefferson Airplane at Woodstock in 1969. The music critic Dave Marsh said, "Nicky Hopkins was THE most important rock n' roll session musician - ever." Musician Nils Lofgren (Grin/The E Street Band/Crazy Horse) said, "Nicky wrote the book on rock n' roll piano." Hopkins lived in Mill Valley, California, for several years before moving to Nashville, Tennessee. He died in Nashville at the early age of 50 from complications related to a lifelong illness. A memorial service was held at the Radnor Lake State Natural Area just outside of Nashville, where his ashes were scattered.
Musician. Son of Alfred E. and Freda Laursen Hopkins, born during a German air raid in a suburb of London. Began playing piano at the age of three. His poor health from a very early age was eventually diagnosed as Crohn's disease. His frail health led him to concentrate on working as a session musician instead of joining a band. He did sessions with The Kinks, The Who, Cat Stevens, Dusty Springfield, The Yardbirds, Badfinger, Strawbs, Ella Fitzgerald, Marc Bolan, The Beatles, The Move, Donovan, Steve Miller Band, Joe Cocker, George Harrison, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Ringo Starr, Peter Frampton, Gene Clark, David Bowie, Meat Loaf, Joe Walsh, Art Garfunkel, Graham Parker, Spinal Tap and many, many others. He played on every studio album of The Rolling Stones from 1967 (Between The Buttons) until 1976 (Black and Blue). He toured with the Stones several times, including their infamous 1972 American tour. He was a member of the Jeff Beck Group, Quicksilver Messenger Service (QMS), the short-lived Sweet Thursday, and played with Jefferson Airplane at Woodstock in 1969. The music critic Dave Marsh said, "Nicky Hopkins was THE most important rock n' roll session musician - ever." Musician Nils Lofgren (Grin/The E Street Band/Crazy Horse) said, "Nicky wrote the book on rock n' roll piano." Hopkins lived in Mill Valley, California, for several years before moving to Nashville, Tennessee. He died in Nashville at the early age of 50 from complications related to a lifelong illness. A memorial service was held at the Radnor Lake State Natural Area just outside of Nashville, where his ashes were scattered.
Bio by: Scott Lee
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