As a child, I can remember the first time, on television, I heard this Blues and Gospel diva sing. She sang a blend of blues and gospel. There's something about her, something in her eyes that appeared happy, blessed and strong. There's a strength she has within that she shares in a song.

 

Years later, I treated my grandmother, to two theater tickets, to see the Broadway play, "Bessie And Me". I didn't realize that we had front row seats. It was a perfect evening with my grandmother and Ms. Hopkins performance was excellent!! I also purchased the soundtrack of the play which was enjoyed by my Nana and me.

As many of you may know, I love to write about the celebrities, the legends that our youth driven society may not have ever known or have forgotten. I remember you, Ms. Linda Hopkins. Lets go back to where it all began, Ms. Linda Hopkins birth name is Melinda Helen Matthews. She was born on December 14, 1924 in New Orleans, Louisiana to her parents, her father, Fred Matthews Sr., who was a preacher and her mother, Helen Smith.

Gospel great, Ms. Mahalia Jackson, discovered Linda when she was only 11 years old. This encounter started her career. Blues legend, Ms. Bessie Smith, Ms. Hopkins saw perform "Empty Bed Blues" in 1936. Ms. Hopkins understood the blues to well, as in 1947, her boyfriend married another woman, causing the diva to run away to California to live with her brother. This is really when her career started to take off. According to her bio on CDBaby.com/Linda Hopkins: Ms. Hopkins said, "I never dreamed I'd be in show business," she says wide-eyed, in a voice high-pitched with rural animation. "I auditioned during the Sunday evening cocktail hour with Willie Diamond & The Dominos' '60 Minute Man' - the only secular song I knew. I got a standing ovation. I didn't know anything else...so I sang it again! That Monday, Slim called me for the job and I had to learn five more songs by Friday!" This was January 6, 1950.

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