Linda Hopkins

Linda Hopkins

Linda Hopkins (born Melinda Helen Matthews; December 14, 1924 – April 10, 2017) was a Tony Award-winning American actress and blues and gospel singer. She recorded classic, traditional, and urban blues, and performed R&B 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. Mark's Baptist Church. Lil Helen opened the children's fundraising program with a rendition of Jackson's gospel hit, "God Shall Wipe Your Tears Away". Jackson was reportedly so impressed by Helen's 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 Oakland/Richmond 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 R&B chart. She also recorded "I Found Love" and "There's Nothing Like Love" with him on Brunswick in early 1962. She attended Stella Adler's 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 Carter's 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 Star-Spangled Women for McGovern–Shriver, bringing 19,000 people to their feet. Hopkins starred in Me and Bessie, a one-woman show paying homage to blues singer Bessie Smith, conceived and written by Hopkins and Will Holt. The world premiere was in Washington, D.C., 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 CC-BY-SA 3.0.

  • Title: Linda Hopkins
  • Popularity: 1.661
  • Known For: Acting
  • Birthday: 1924-12-14
  • Place of Birth: New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
  • Homepage:
  • Also Known As:
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Linda Hopkins Movies

  • 1974
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    The Education of Sonny Carson

    The Education of Sonny Carson

    4.9 1974 HD

    A 1974 film based on the best-selling autobiography of Sonny Carson who joined a gang and committed petty crime before being sent to prison. After...

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  • 1982
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    Honkytonk Man

    Honkytonk Man

    6.371 1982 HD

    During the Great Depression, a young boy leaves his family's Oklahoma farm to travel with his country musician uncle who is trying out for the Grand...

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  • 1994
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    Leprechaun 2

    Leprechaun 2

    5.565 1994 HD

    A thousand years ago, the Leprechaun left a bloody trail when he ripped through the countryside in search of his stolen gold. Now he's back in the...

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  • 2006
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    Cries in the Dark

    Cries in the Dark

    6.5 2006 HD

    Detective Carrie Macklin and her little sister Elle had always been the closest of friends. But when Elle goes missing after a run-in with a...

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  • 1991
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    The Colored Museum

    The Colored Museum

    1 1991 HD

    Ten satirical sketches written by George C. Wolfe use drama, comedy and music to examine black stereotypes and express the need for African-Americans...

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  • 1993
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    Black and Blue: A Musical Revue

    Black and Blue: A Musical Revue

    1 1993 HD

    The famous rhythm and blues revue featuring such standards as the title song, "After You've Gone" and "In a Sentimental Mood," to name just a few,...

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  • 1956
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    Rockin' the Blues

    Rockin' the Blues

    1 1956 HD

    DJ Hal Jackson is the all-rhyming onstage host of this all-black musical.

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  • 1993
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    Umbria Jazz Story

    Umbria Jazz Story

    1 1993 HD

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  • 1981
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    Purlie

    Purlie

    7 1981 HD

    Based on Davis' 1961 play Purlie Victorious (which was later translated into the 1963 film Gone Are the Days! and which included all of the original...

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  • 2005
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    Broadway's Lost Treasures III: The Best of The Tony Awards

    Broadway's Lost Treasures III: The Best of The Tony Awards

    7.2 2005 HD

    Broadway royalty and Tony-winners Tommy Tune, Carol Channing, Robert Goulet, and Harvey Fierstein are your hosts for this third compilation of great...

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  • 1985
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    Go Tell It on the Mountain

    Go Tell It on the Mountain

    5 1985 HD

    This film adaptation of James Baldwin's celebrated novel tells the journey of a family from the rural South to "big city" Harlem seeking both...

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  • 2003
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    Piano Blues

    Piano Blues

    6.5 2003 HD

    Director — and piano player — Clint Eastwood explores his life-long passion for piano blues, using a treasure trove of rare historical...

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  • 1976
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    Mitzi... Roarin' in the 20s

    Mitzi... Roarin' in the 20s

    1 1976 HD

    Mitzi Gaynor welcomes her guests Carl Reiner (Dick Van Dyke Show), Ken Berry (Mayberry R.F.D.) and Tony-winner Linda Hopkins to an hour, blending...

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  • 2023
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    Cool Cat vs Dirty Dog 'The Virus Wars'

    Cool Cat vs Dirty Dog 'The Virus Wars'

    7 2023 HD

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  • 1962
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    The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

    The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

    7.37 1962 HD

    The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson is a talk show hosted by Johnny Carson under The Tonight Show franchise from 1962 to 1992. It originally...

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  • 1956
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    Tony Awards

    Tony Awards

    5 1956 HD

    The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The...

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  • 1979
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    Roots: The Next Generations

    Roots: The Next Generations

    7.3 1979 HD

    Roots: The Next Generations is a television miniseries, introduced in 1979, continuing, from 1882 to the 1960s, the fictionalized story of the family...

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  • 1982
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    Champs-Elysées

    Champs-Elysées

    6.2 1982 HD

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  • 1971
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    Great Performances

    Great Performances

    5.2 1971 HD

    The best in the performing arts from across America and around the world including a diverse programming portfolio of classical music, opera, popular...

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