Mary Hopkin

Mary Hopkin ( May 3, 1950 in Pontardawe, Glamorgan, Wales ) is a British singer. Her biggest success came in 1968 with the title Those Were the Days.

Life

Her musical career started already during school as a folk singer in the folk band Selby Set and Mary. She also sang in the Welsh language. At 17, she was seen during the TV show Opportunity Knocks from the model Twiggy, who turned to Paul McCartney. A little later, was signed Mary Hopkin by the Beatles record label Apple Records. 1968 her international breakthrough with Those Were the Days. In 1969 she had a hit with the song Goodbye that Paul McCartney wrote. The single Temma Harbour was a great success. With Knock Knock Who's There Mary Hopkin brought on 21 March 1970 the United Kingdom the Euro Vision Song Contest second place. A big success was Mary Hopkin in 1976 end up with the single Tell Me Now.

1971 married Hopkin the U.S. producer Tony Visconti; the marriage lasted until 1981. In May 1972, she performed at the Royal Festival Hall in London as support of Ralph McTell on. In late 1972, she released the single Mary Had a Baby. She worked for various bands (eg Thin Lizzy, Steeleye Span) as a background singer. After several TV appearances 1973-1977, she participated at the first British folk-rock concept album The King of Elfland's Daughter, among other things, Alexis Korner, Chris Farlowe and Christopher Lee. In 1976, their second daughter Jessica to the world.

The early 1980s were Mary Hopkins busiest time. After the failure of her marriage she worked at the Christmas Musical Rock Nativity at the Hexagon Theatre in Reading, where she sang the part of the Virgin Mary. During this time she met the record producer Mike Hurst and founded with him and the ELO musician Mike de Albuquerque, the group Sundance. The group released only one single entitled What's love ... on the record label Bronze. However, it was so successful that the band Dr. Hook took them on a UK tour.

In 1984 she worked on a new project, a group called OASIS (not to be confused with the rock group Oasis ). The group consisted of Peter Skellern, Julian Lloyd - Webber, Mitch Dalton, Bill Lovelady and Mary Hopkin. However, after promising beginning, the group broke up, as Lloyd - Webber stepped out for a solo project, and Mary Hopkin became ill during a concert tour in Cardiff and the performances despite thousands already purchased tickets had to be canceled.

1988 Mary Hopkin did along with other Welsh artists and sang under the direction of George Martin the part of Rosie Probert in the musical Under Milk Wood by Dylan Thomas. Other contributors were, inter alia, Anthony Hopkins, Jonathan Pryce, Bonnie Tyler, Tom Jones and Harry Secombe. The musical was performed in the same occupation in 1992 and in the presence of Prince Charles. In late 1989 they released their first album out since 1971. The album was called Spirit and appeared at Trax label. In 1990, she appeared at a charity show in Henley et al with the Deep Purple musicians Jon Lord and Ian Paice on, just had a Beatle George Harrison and his wife. The CD Back to Bach, published in 1992, contained their own texts by Mary Hopkin. In the early 80s she worked with Vangelis, with whom she recorded a piece for the film Blade Runner.

Singles (excerpt)

Albums

  • Y Caneuon Cynnar / The Early Recordings (recorded 1967, released on CD 1996)
  • Postcard (1969 )
  • Earth Song / Ocean Song (1971 )
  • Those were the days ( singles compilation, published in 1995)
  • Spirit (1989 )
  • Valentine (recorded 1972-1980, released 2007)
  • Recollections (recorded 1972-1980, released 2008)
  • Christmas songs ( recorded in 1972 )
  • Now and Then (recorded 1972-1980, released 2009)
  • Painting By Numbers (2013 )
  • Sundance: Sundance (1982, as a band member )
  • Oasis: Oasis (1984, as a band member )

As a guest singer she appeared on albums by Vangelis, Brian Willoughby, RAM Pietsch, Bob Johnson & Pete Knight, Tony Visconti, Strawbs, Crockett, Ralph McTell, Jon & Vangelis, Thin Lizzy, David Bowie, Osibisa, Sparks, Bert Jansch and Dolly Parton.

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