Marines.Together We Served

Wednesday, September 30, 2015

The Hoppers

             Well, our fair town of Ripon is in for a wonderful treat! The internationally acclaimed Southern Gospel singing group, The Hoppers, will be performing in Ripon on Tuesday evening, October 27th, at the Ripon Christian High School Performing Arts Center. The evening will begin at 7:00.

I don’t know about you, but I have always loved Southern Gospel music. It is the kind of music that gets you smiling, and wanting to tap your toes. Even before I accepted Christ as my Savior, I enjoyed groups like The Hoppers. In particular I would listen to The Statesmen Quartet, The Imperials, J.D. Sumner & The Stamps, and a host of other groups which typically featured a really high tenor and a really low tenor. In fact, J.D. Sumner had the lowest bass voice in Gospel music. He literally went off the piano keyboard! He wrote a song which was intended to feature his ability to sing ridiculously low notes. The song was entitled, “Walk That Lonesome Road.”

There’s another Southern Gospel group that performs a concert in Ripon every January. The Liberty Quartet is out of Nampa, Idaho and begins their concert tour with us every year. The concert is held at the Immanuel Church on 4th & Orange. In 2016 it will be on Friday, January 8th, 7:00 PM. Don’t miss it!

So, now we have The Hoppers coming to town, and I can assure you this will be a SRO performance. One of the reasons for this is there are no tickets to buy, and no seats assigned. During the evening performance there will be a Love Offering taken to help support this terrific group.

The following paragraph is taken from The Hoppers web site. “Multi-award winning family group The Hoppers have been singing to global audiences for over 55 years with appearances ranging from presidential religious inaugural ceremonies and New York’s Carnegie Hall to singing conventions and church platforms. They have performed throughout the United States as well as in Israel, Europe and Africa. Their unique blend of harmonies and song choices have created a legacy of musical excellence embraced by leading pastors and event organizers. Known as America’s Favorite Family of Gospel Music, they are favorites on the Gaither Homecoming videos and tours, and their recordings frequently land at the top of the BILLBOARD sales charts and The Singing News radio charts.”

Kim Hopper, (nee Greene) is married to Dean Hopper, but before she joined up in singing with The Hoppers she sang for ten years with her own family, The Greenes. I remember watching her perform! The energy and enthusiasm she exhibited then, and still exhibits, is infectious.

Claude & Connie Hopper formed the group in 1957 in North Carolina where they still reside. Connie is a cancer survivor and shares her experience in fighting the disease. She has also been inducted into the Southern Gospel Hall of Fame. Claude grew up on a farm. Even today as a successful singer and song writer traveling the world over, when the opportunity presents itself, he still likes to get his hands in some farmer’s dirt. You probably are wondering how I would know this about him. Well it just so happens that I know the farmer in Ripon who is friends with The Hoppers, which is the reason they are bringing their talent to us.

Come and hear these folks sing about Jesus. They’ll be sharing their testimonies of faith which will challenge you to walk closer with the Lord. You will come away from this concert blessed beyond your imagining, so make sure you come early enough to get seats.

Again, the date for this concert is Tuesday, October 27 starting at 7:00 PM. It will be held in the Performing Arts Center at Ripon Christian High School. Yes, it’s a school night, but the concert will end at 9:00. Bring the whole family!

I’ll be there. Will you?

1 comment:

Jules said...

Cannot find the price for tickets