Clyde Hopkins

1921- 3 june 2017 (Memphis USA) Clyde Hopkins was born in 1921, probably somewhere in the area surrounding Tunica, MS. His mother ran a juke joint in Tunica called "Big Baby's" where sharecroppers loved to come dine on her home cooking and watch blues artists perform. Clyde remembered artists such as Sonny Boy Williamson II, and Willie Love performing in his mother's club. Clyde learned how to play piano at the age of six, and started performing as an artist at the age of twelve in the regional joints. He later spent part of his childhood with his grandparents in Memphis, playing in clubs there in the 1930's. His mother opened up franchises of "Big Baby's" in Memphis in the same period. Knowing that music couldn't be his only means of making a living, he studied to be a welder, a mechanic, and an auto body repairman. He also had a stint running a club of his own called the "El Morocco" He led a band at one time up to nine musicians. He wasn't a prolific recording artist, however. He cut one 45 for the tiny Black Gold label in 1966. (He later jokingly called the label "Notown"). It wasn't until the 2000's when he finally cut three full-length CD's. Known for several decades as an avid live performer, he has a brass star on the Memphis Music Walk of Fame on Beale Street.