HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

Claude Hopkins

Birth of Jazz: Claude Hopkins

Claude Hopkins

Born in Alexandria, Virginia, on 24 August, 1903, pianist, Claude Hopkins (aka Hop Hopkins), is said to have not left home until age 21. Even so he is documented by Tom Lord to have made a couple of unissued recordings for Columbia in New York City in 1922 with blues singer, Sara Martin: 'I Loved You Once but You Stayed Away Too Long' and 'Tain't Nobody's Business If I Do'.

Hopkins' first professional employment is generally given per leaving home to join the band of Wilbur Sweatman 1924. The major boost in his early career occurred in 1925 when he became director of 'The Review Negre', touring Europe with Josephine Baker and Sidney Bechet. Upon returning to the United States in 1927 he traveled the vaudeville circuit and performed piano on recordings with Ma Rainey in Chicago in August of that year: 'Misery Blues' w 'Dead Drunk Blues' toward Paramount 12508 and 'Slow Driving Moan' toward Paramount 12526.

'Misery Blues' Claude Hopkins (piano) w Ma Rainey

Hopkins' 1st recording to see issue

C Aug 1927 in Chicago Matrix 4707-1 Paramount 12508

Cornet: Shirley Clay Trombone: Albert Wynn or Kid Ory

Composition: Ma Rainey

'Dead Drunk Blues' Claude Hopkins (piano) w Ma Rainey

Hopkins' 2nd recording to see issue

C Aug 1927 in Chicago Matrix 4708-2 Paramount 12508

Trombone: Albert Wynn or Kid Ory

Composition: Ma Rainey

'Slow Driving Moan' Claude Hopkins (piano) w Ma Rainey

Hopkins' 3rd recording to see issue

C Aug 1927 in Chicago Matrix 4709-1 Paramount 12526

Trombone: Albert Wynn or Kid Ory

Composition: Ma Rainey

Hopkins documented tracks with Clarence Williams in September 1928: 'Walk That Broad' and 'Have You Ever Felt That Way?'. In 1932 he formed his own orchestra with which he first recorded on 24 May: 'I Would Do Anything for You' and 'Mad Moments' released on Columbia 2665-D. 'Mush Mouth' and 'How'm I Doin'?' saw issue on Columbia 2674-D.

'I Would Do Anything for You' Claude Hopkins (piano) and His Orchestra

Hopkins' 1st name recording

24 May 1932 in NYC Matrix 152199-1 Columbia 2665-D

Trumpet: Albert Snaer / Sylvester Lewis / Ovie Alston (vocal)

Trombone: Fernando Arbello Clarinet sax: Edmond Hall

Alto sax: Gene Johnson Tenor sax: Bobby Sands

Banjo / guitar: Walter Jones Tuba: Henry Turner Drums: Pete Jacobs

Composition: Alex Hill / Claude Hopkins

'Mad Moments' Claude Hopkins (piano) and His Orchestra

Hopkins' 2nd name recording

24 May 1932 in NYC Matrix 152200-1 Columbia 2665-D

Trumpet: Albert Snaer / Sylvester Lewis / Ovie Alston

Trombone: Fernando Arbello Clarinet / sax: Edmond Hall

Alto sax: Gene Johnson Tenor sax: Bobby Sands

Banjo / guitar: Walter Jones Tuba: Henry Turner Drums: Pete Jacobs

Composition: Claude Hopkins Arrangement: Hopkins

'Mush Mouth' Claude Hopkins (piano) and His Orchestra

Hopkins' 3rd name recording

24 May 1932 in NYC Matrix 152201-1 Columbia 2674-D

Trumpet: Albert Snaer / Sylvester Lewis / Ovie Alston

Trombone: Fernando Arbello Clarinet / sax: Edmond Hall

Alto sax: Gene Johnson Tenor sax: Bobby Sands

Banjo / guitar: Walter Jones Tuba: Henry Turner Drums: Pete Jacobs

Composition / arrangement: Jimmy Mundy

In addition to touring with his band Hopkins held residencies at the Savoy in Harlem, the Roseland in Manhattan and the Cotton Club in Harlem. He and his band were featured in the Vitaphone film short, 'Barbershop Blues', in 1933, that including a performance by tap dancers, the Four Step Brothers. The Four Step Brothers began their act in 1925 as the Three Step Brothers who were Maceo Anderson, Al Williams, Red Walker. They became the Four Step Brothers when Sherman Robinson joined in 1927. Tap dancing is indigenous to the United States though derives from step dancing, notably in Ireland. It was 1900 when the Whitman Sisters began to take their tap dancing on tour, performing on the Black Vaudeville circuit for the T.O.B.A. (Theatre Owners Booking Association). It was with the Whitman Sisters that famous Bojangles (Bill Robinson) got his start. The Buck and Bubbles team began their act in 1919. Come the Nicholas Brothers in Philadelphia in 1926 before moving on to Harlem. Harlem was hot with tap dancing, performed regularly at the Cotton Club. The music in 'Barbershop Blues' below can be found on 'Black Bands On Film 1928-1935' per Harlequin HQ2038 (see Recordings below).

'Barbershop Blues' Claude Hopkins (piano) and His Orchestra Film Short

Vitaphone reel 1551 recorded 13 Jan 1933 in NYC Released 30 Sep 1933

Trumpet: Albert Snaer / Sylvester Lewis / Ovie Alston

Trombone: Fernando Arbell / Fred Norman Clarinet / sax: Edmond Hall

Alto sax: Gene Johnson Tenor: Bobby Sands

Banjo / guitar: Walter Jones Bass: Henry Turner Drums: Pete Jacobs

Vocals: Ovie Alston / Orlando Roberson

Film direction: Joseph Henabery

It was either autumn of 1934 [Discogs] or latter 1935 [Lord] when Hopkins and his band recorded titles resulting in the later release of 'The Golden Swing Years: 1935' by Polydor in the UK in 1968. This is the same as 'Harlem 1935' issued in France on Musidisc in 1975 and 'Harlem 1934' issued by Swing Classics in Sweden in 1977. 'Sweet Horn' below went down with other tracks in October of 1935 to see later issue on 'Singin In the Rain' in 1975.

'Sweet Horn' Claude Hopkins (piano) and His Cotton Club Orchestra

18 Oct 1935 in NYC Jazz Archives JA-27

Trumpet: Albert Snaer / Sylvester Lewis / Ovie Alston (vocal)

Trombone: Fernando Arbell / Henry Wells Clarinet / sax: Edmond Hall / Hilton Jefferson

Alto sax: Gene Johnson Tenor sax: Bobby Sands

Guitar: Walter Jones Bass: Henry Turner Drums: Pete Jacobs

The filming and recording of 'By Request' probably preceded 'Sweet Horn' above, as it was released only a month later in November of 1935. 'By Request' features tap dancers, Tip, Tap and Toe which original members were Sammy Green, Teddy Frazier and Raymond Winfield. The music in 'By Request' below can be found on 'Black Bands On Film 1928-1935' per Harlequin HQ2038 (see Recordings below).

'By Request' Claude Hopkins (piano) and His Orchestra Film Short

Vitaphone reel 1880 released 9 Nov 1935

'Chasin' the Blues Away' featuring Ovie Alston

'California, Here I Come' featuring Hopkins

'To Call You My Own' featuring Orlando Roberson

Medley of 'Shine' and 'About a Quarter to Nine' featuring Tip, Tap and Toes

'Chinatown, My Chinatown' featuring Hopkins

Film direction: Roy Mack

'Sunday' Claude Hopkins (piano) and His Orchestra

2 Feb 1937 Matrix 61567-A Decca 1153

Trumpet: Shirley Clay / Jabbo Smith / Lincoln Mills

Trombone: Floyd Brady / Fred Norman / Vic Dickenson

Alto sax: Gene Johnson / Chauncey Haughton / Ben Smith Tenor sax: Bobby Sands

Guitar: Walter Jones Bass: Abe Bolar Drums: Pete Jacobs

Vocal: Beverly White as Baby White

Composition: Benny Krueger / Chester Cahn / Jule Stein / Ned Miller

'Yacht Club Swing' Claude Hopkins (piano) and His Orchestra

4 March 1940 Matrix AM604 Ammor 116

Trumpet: Albert Snaer / Russell Jones / Herman Autrey

Trombone: Ray Hogan / Norman Greene / Bernard Archer

Clarinet: Benny Waters Alto sax: Howard Johnson / Norman Thornton

Tenor sax: Bobby Sands / Benny Waters

Guitar: Walter Jones Bass: Elmer James Drums: Walter Johnson

Composition: Fats Waller / J. C. Johnson / Herman Autrey

In 1940 Hopkins broke up his band to begin arranging for CBS for several years, afterward filling out his career as a sideman with various groups. He backed Ella Fitzgerald on radio in October of 1944 and February 1945. He later formed his All Stars with which he backed Juanita Hall singing titles by Bessie Smith in 1958 toward 'The Original Bloody Mary Sings the Blues' issued that year or 'Juanita Hall Sings the Blues' released in Australia in 1964. Hopkins' All Stars consisted of Coleman Hawkins, Buster Bailey, Doc Cheatham, George Duvivier and Jimmy Crawford. Bailey played clarinet again on Hopkins' release of 'Music of the Early Jazz Dances' the same year. Filling Hopkins' band on that were Lyle Smith, Charlie Shavers, Henry Red Allen, Tyree Glenn, Vic Dickenson, Milt Hinton, Panama Francis and Julia Steel at vocals.

'Low Gravy' Claude Hopkins (piano) Quartet backing Rena Collins

Sometime 1945 in NYC Rainbow 10035

Composition: Hopkins / Joe Thomas

'Baby Won't You Please Come Home' Claude Hopkins (piano) and His All Stars

Sometime 1958 in NYC On the album 'The Original Bloody Mary Sings the Blues' 1958

Trumpet: Doc Cheatham Clarinet: Buster Bailey Tenor sax: Coleman Hawkins

Bass: George Duvivier Drums: Jimmy Crawford

Composition: Charles Warfield / Clarence Williams 1919

Lord has Hopkins' 'Golden Era of Dixieland Jazz' going down on 23 October 1958, citing liner notes to Gala GLP 347 which Discogs has recorded in 1957. He made records with the quartets of Bailey and Dickenson in 1959. Backing various others in 1960, Hopkins supported 'Blues by Lonnie Johnson' that March. On March 25 Hopkins recorded the album, 'Yes Indeed!', with his All Stars consisting of Buddy Tate, Emmett Berry, Wendell Marshall and Osie Johnson. Come 'Let's Jam' in 1961 and 'Swing Time' in 1963.

'Yes Indeed!' Claude Hopkins (piano) and His All Stars

25 March 1960 in NYC Album issued on Swingville SVLP2009

Trumpet: Emmett Berry Tenor sax: Buddy Tate

Bass: Wendell Marshall Drums: Osie Johnson

'I Cried for You' Claude Hopkins (piano)

22 May 1963 in NYC From the album 'Swing Time' issued on Swingville SVLP2041

Trumpet: Bobby Johnson Trombone: Vic Dickenson Tenor sax: Budd Johnson

Bass: Wendell Marshall Drums: Ferdinand Everett

Composition: Gus Arnheim / Arthur Freed / Abe Lyman

Hopkins were later strung along piano solos in the early seventies titled 'Soliloquy' (Sackville) and 'Crazy Fingers' (Chiaroscuro). On 17 July of 1974 he was in Valaurisis, France, to lay out 'Safari Stomp' with his trio filled by Arvell Shaw at bass and Papa Jo Jones on drums. That was originally released as 'Black & Blue' on the Black & Blue label [All Music].

'Them There Eyes' Claude Hopkins (piano)

17 July 1974 in Vallauris, France Matrix: 74-228

From the album 'Safari Stomp' issued on Black & Blue 33.086

Bass: Arvell Shawl Drums: Papa Jo Jones

Composition: Maceo Pinkard / Doris Tauber / William Tracey 1930

'I Never Knew I Could Love' Claude Hopkins (piano) w the Nice All Stars

19 July 1974 in Vallarius, France

From the album 'Nice All Stars' See Belter LJ (B) 012 as of 1978

Trumpet: Wallace Davenport Trombone: Vic Dickenson

Tenor sax: Buddy Tate Bass: Arvell Shawl Drums: Cozy Cole

Composition: Tom Pitts / Ray Egan / Roy K. Marsh

Lord traces Hopkins' sessions as a leader to as late as the Manassas Jazz Fest on 8 December 1974 issued on 'Sophisticated Swing' Fat Cat's Jazz FCJ 197. On 29 March of 1975 Hopkins joined the Dixieland Rhythm Kings on 'Squeeze Me' and 'After You've Gone', those issued that year on 'Jazz of the Connecticut Traditional Jazz Club 11'. He remained busy in New York City until his death in NYC on 19 February 1984. Others with whom he recorded include Wild Bill Davison in 1969 and early seventies.

Sources & References for Claude Hopkins:

All About Jazz

Christopher Popa (Big Band Library)

VF History (notes)

Wikipedia

Scott Yanow (All Music)

Associates Musical:

Four Step Brothers / tap dancing troupe:

IMDb Library of Congress Wikipedia

Tip, Tap and Toe / tap dancing troupe:

Library of Congress Tap Dancing Resources Wikipedia

Film / Television: IMDb