Thursday, December 19, 2013

ActorsE Chat Interviews Legendary Singer and Actress Linda Hopkins

ActorsE Chat Interviews Legendary Singer and Actress Linda Hopkins

Immediate Release
Info@LiveVideoInc.com
December 19, 2013
Hollywood, California
By: Melissa English

Kurt Kelly is delighted to sit down with the beautiful and talented Linda Hopkins today on ActorsE Chat.  They will discuss her past in the industry as well as some of the most amazing experiences working with talents in the industry.  Linda has been a part of the American music scene for many years and in an indomitable talent with her range and her style.

Although actually born on December 14th, 1924 as Melinda Helen Matthews in New Orleans, today, we celebrate, honor & pay homage to one of the handful remaining few living legendary ladies of stage; MISS LINDA HOPKINS! Discovered @ 11 years old by the great Mahalia Jackson herself, for those of you who were not there for the festivities in L.A. this weekend, I thought you might enjoy seeing some of the nights photos to soak in the joy for yourselves, while also reliving some of the priceless indelible moments of this amazing woman's multimedia performance career as the high energy, trailblazing force of nature that she was and is.


Before Minnie Riperton... before Mariah... before Ariana Grande... and all of the coloratura sopranos du jour who the world marveled at their hitting notes that only dogs, whales & dolphins could truly hear, interpret & appreciate; LINDA HOPKINS' 4 octave vocal virtuosity had her singing notes from the basement to the attic with unbridled power, precision, poise, passion & a poignancy that we rarely hear in vocalists of ANY error.  And add to that the fact that besides being proficient on the piano, she could also sing whatever she so chose to sing in ANY genre that suited her, Blues, Gospel, R&B, Jazz, Pop, Cabaret, Broadway, Rock, Soul, Opera & she even did a Disco record (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9maaOrVsIVw - "IT'S IN YOUR BLOOD"); and you have the makings of the true meaning of the word Diva.



It makes me both laugh and cringe today when I hear certain performers (and we know whom they are) say how they "have to lip sync in concert because it's just impossible to sing & dance @ the same time"... LMAO... ugh, apparently old school veterans like Linda Hopkins, Tina Turner, Chita Rivera, Vivian Reed, James Brown, Lola Falana, Diana Ross, Ernestine Jackson, Mary Wilson, Patti LaBelle, Bette Midler, Peggi Blu, Scherrie Payne, Freda Payne, Wanda Dee, Debbie Allen, Full Force, Prince, Josephine Baker, Lena Horne, Michael Jackson, Eartha Kitt, Cab Calloway, Sammy Davis, Jr. & countless others didn't get that memo.  For as you can clearly see in all of her uptempo number footage, Ms. Hopkins could cut a rug with the best of them, well into her 70's and NOT miss a single note; bringing with her the undeniable reminding factor that she comes from an era where most of our performers had to do it all; Act, Dance, Musician, Comedy & Sing... & she most certainly could.



Now celebrating 65 years in show business, this Tony & Drama Desk Award winning singer, who was also Johnny Carson's favorite singer, as she holds the distinction of having appeared on THE TONIGHT SHOW more than any other vocalist (over 200 appearances) in the show's history; is someone that has garnered all of our collective love, respect, irreverence & best wishes the old fashioned way... she earned it!

For More on Linda Check out:

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0394223/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1

Linda will be interviewed by Kurt Kelly "The Voice of Experience" and one of the most sought after interviewers in the industry.  Known for his technique and his style, he gets to the heart of any interview!






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