Legendary group performing in city
By Staff
Nathan Strickland
Russellville High School auditorium will host “A Night with the Hoppers” which features one of gospels most prestigious groups.
The concert will take place on Feb. 6 at 6 p.m. and will include special guest Shannon Knight with emcee Jerry Edgil.
Knight is known for his music ministry at Calvary Baptist Church in Russellville where he served two years as music minister before returning to his home church, First Baptist of Guin.
RHS band director Gary McNutt said the Hoppers have some of the best vocalists he has ever heard.
The Hoppers were formed in 1957 by founding member and owner, Claude Hopper. The group consisted of Claude, his four brothers Will, Steve, Paul and Monroe and his future wife, Connie. Over the years, the Hopper Brothers and Connie welcomed and then parted with musicians and singers who have gone on to their acclaimed service in Christian music.
Connie and Claude’s two sons, Dean and Michael, and daughter-in-law, Kim, eventually joined the group full-time and are still performing at venues throughout the world.
McNutt said they sold around 180 tickets last year and hopes to do around the same this year.
The Hoppers achieved tremendous success through the first three decades of ministry. The era of the ‘90s began a new leg of their journey and a streak of hit number one songs including: “Milk and Honey”, “Here I Am”, “Anchor to the Power of the Cross” and “Mention My Name.”
The self proclaimed Sothern Gospel’s favorite family group and multiple Dove award nominees also like to perform fan favorites such as “Jerusalem” and “Yaweh.”
The Russellville Band Parents Association will sponsor the event and all proceeds will go toward transportation costs for the Marching Hundred’s trip to Orlando, Fla., in April.
Tickets for the concert are $15, $12 and $10 and are available at the RHS band office, Living Faith Book Store in Muscle Shoals and Praise Corner in Haleyville. For more information, call 331-2036 or log on to www.russellvilleband.com or www.thehoppers.com.
