Legendary group to visit city

The Russellville Band Parents Association will host “A Night with the Hoppers,” featuring a group whose name is synonymous with Southern gospel music.

The concert will take place on Friday, June 3, at the Russellville High School Auditorium and will also feature special guest Shannon Knight, known in the area for his music ministry at Calvary Baptist Church. Emcee for the evening will be Jerry Edgil.

The concert will serve as a fundraiser for the RHS band program, but a special love offering will be taken during the concert to be donated to the Franklin County, Alabama Tornado Disaster Relief Fund for tornado victims in Franklin County.

The Hoppers, who began their music career in 1957, have performed fundraising concerts for the RHS band program in the past, and RHS band director Gary McNutt said it’s a group that everyone can enjoy.

“They’re a very good group with some talented singers,” McNutt said. “We thought about postponing the concert in light of everything that has happened, but we decided the community really needed this concert right now.”

The Hoppers are multiple Dove Award nominees, and have been chosen for the Favorite Mixed Group Award on 10 separate occasions.

The group first consisted of founder Claude Hopper; his four brothers Will, Steve, Paul and Monroe; and his future wife, Connie. Connie and Claude’s two sons, Dean and Michael, eventually joined the group full-time as lead vocalist and drummer, and Dean’s wife, Kim, joined as their soprano in the ‘90s.

Shannon Knight has performed with numerous groups throughout his life including Pure Gold and the Bill Gaither Tour.

He is a member of the Daryl Williams Trio of Nashville and currently serves as Associate Pastor/Music Director for the First Baptist Church of Guin.

McNutt expressed his thanks in advance for the community support and to the underwriting sponsor for the event, Family Pharmacy Group.

“We hope everyone will come out to hear these talented singers and support our band program and the tornado victims,” McNutt said.

All seats for the concert are reserved and tickets can be purchased for $20 or $15 at the RHS Band Office, the Franklin Chamber of Commerce and Praise Corner in Haleyville.

For more information, call 256-331-2036 or visit www.russellvilleband.com.