Free Monday Night Concert at Simpson Creek Baptist Church Features The Hoppers
By Julie Perine on November 04, 2015 via Connect-Bridgeport.com
America’s Favorite Family of Gospel Music, The Hoppers will appear Monday night at Simpson Creek Baptist Church.
Formed in 1957, the group currently consists of Claude and Connie Hopper, son Mike, sons Mike and Dean and daughters-in-law Kim and Karlye. Through the years, the group’s top southern gospel hits have included “Here I Am,” “Milk and Honey, “Mention My Name,” “Heavenly Sunrise,” “Shoutin’ Time” and “Jerusalem.” The Hoppers are regulars on the Gaither Homecoming tour and have won many Southern Gospel Music awards.
Simpson Creek Baptist Church hosted The Hoppers several years ago and is pleased to bring the group back, said Terry Jones of the music committee.
“They are a very good group and are voted year after year as the favorite family in southern gospel,” he said. “And if you like soprano singing, they have the No. 1 soprano. The last time they sang here, we had just had new windows installed and I was afraid she was going to blow them out. (Kim Greene Hopper) is just so phenomenal.”
Church member Bud Burnett said he became personally acquainted with The Hoppers about 35 years ago when the group featured Claude Hopper and his three brothers.
“There used to be a southern gospel sing at Watermelon Park in Berryville, Va. back in the 1970s. We'd take the camper down there and they would bring in professional groups to sing. We’d camp and let the kids do whatever they wanted to do and then everyone would gather for gospel singing. I got to know Claude, who was a farmer from North Carolina. I kept in contact with the family over the years.”
The reason for The Hoppers’ success in the southern gospel industry is simple, Burnett said.
“Their music is the gospel story. These people live what they sing,” he said. “It’s their integrity that makes them so popular.”
Burnett said he believes the group’s longtime commitment to its ministry and the non-wavering message of Jesus Christ is why the family has been so blessed.
“And they continue to get better and better,” he said.
There is no charge to attend Monday evening’s concert. Doors open at 6 p.m. with The Master’s Blend of Simpson Creek Baptist Church singing at 6:30 p.m. That group consists of Jones, Roger Ross, Steve Cromwell, Dr. James Bryant, John Strovers and Randy Scott. Typically, Becky Wilson serves as pianist, but Nancy Cleghorn, church organist, will be filling in Monday night.
“She’s been practicing with us for the last couple of weeks,” Jones said.
A large portion of The Master’s Blend repertoire is Gaither vocal band music. Its four-part harmony fits perfectly, Jones said.
“Monday night, we’ll also be doing a lot of old songs from Hovie Lister which is an old big-time name in gospel music,” he said. “We like this old music because it tells a story and we obviously try to influence people’s decisions on life.”
The Hoppers will take the stage at approximately 7 p.m. A free will offering will be taken, Jones said.
Simpson Creek Baptist Church hosts free concerts on a regular basis. Some of the featured performers are traditional southern gospel vocalists and some are contemporary Christian artists. In August, the church welcomed Jason Gray and this coming May, Triumphant Quartet will once again be featured.
“Triumphant is a standard. We’ve had them every year for about 12 years now,” Jones said.
The concerts are an important part of the church’s ministry and is very well-received, he said.
Learn more about The Hoppers HERE.
Simpson Creek Baptist Church is located at 231 West Philadelphia Avenue, Bridgeport.
