Keith Hopwood | |
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.jpg) Hopwood in 1968 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | 26 October 1946 (1946-10-26) (age 79)[1] Davyhulme, Manchester, England |
| Genres | Pop,rock |
| Occupations |
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| Instruments |
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| Years active | 1961–present |
| Labels | RCA |
Keith Hopwood (born 26 October 1946) is an English pop and rock musician, singer-songwriter, composer, businessman and record producer, who served as the rhythm guitarist and backing vocals for the 1960spop band,Herman's Hermits. Hopwood also served as a keyboardist, singer and guitarist for the post-Peter Noone outfit, Sour Mash, whichrecorded an unreleased album,A Whale of a Tale forRCA.
Born on 26 October 1946 at Park Hospital,Davyhulme area ofTrafford, he attendedUrmston Grammar School.[2]
Hopwood joinedHerman's Hermits as the original rhythm guitarist in 1963. The Hermits frontmanPeter Noone credits Keith with coming up with the idea of recording "Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter" as an afterthought, when Herman's Hermits were short of material for their first album. Noone's heavily accented delivery, together with Hopwood's muted rhythm guitar work, propelled the track to number one on the USBillboard Hot 100chart.
During the 1960s, Herman’s Hermits would continue to garner more hits includingI'm Henry the VIII, I Am, Silhouettes,Can't You Hear My Heartbeat, andMy Sentimental Friend. Hopwood left Herman’s Hermits in 1972. Always a composer, he wrote and co-wrote numerous songs recorded by Herman's Hermits, and other bands such asBrinsley Schwarz.
Hopwood sang the theme song to the 1973-1974Cosgrove Hall children's stop-motion seriesSally And Jake.
Ralph McTell recorded thetheme tune toCosgrove Hall Films's adaptation ofThe Wind in the Willows written by Hopwood and Malcolm Rowe, and this was released as a single in 1984, after the series was aired onITV. Hopwood also co-wrote the music for Cosgrove Hall's adaptations ofTerry Pratchett'sSoul Music and "Wyrd Sisters" with Phil Bush. Soundtrack albums were released in 1997.
Hopwood and Rowe co-wrote and produced the music to the 1989film adaptation of Roald Dahl'sThe BFG. As well as scoring other Cosgrove Hall shows such asCreepy Crawlies &Alias the Jester with Malcolm Rowe,Foxbusters,Andy Pandy,Discworld, with Phil Bush, andPreston Pig andAlbie.
In 2004, he composed the music for the remake ofPingu for HIT Entertainment, and in 2005, he replacedPaul K. Joyce as composer onBob the Builder composing all music for the show and all related releases until production ceased in 2011.
In 2013, he formed a music rights company, CHF Music, withCosgrove Hall Fitzpatrick Entertainment, the newly launched company run by Brian Cosgrove and Simon Hall, to look after all the music content for their new shows. In 2017, Hopwood started working on the seriesDaisy & Ollie starringJason Manford. There are currently 130 episodes produced.
In 1968, Keith Hopwood andDerek Leckenby founded Pluto Music, a company that composesmusical scores for commercials, films, and animation. Leckenby died in 1994, but Hopwood continues operating the company. Pluto Studios has been very successful, providing services to many top acts includingThe Clash. Hopwood has proved himself a fine soundtrack composer, working mostly on animated television series including the hugely successful "Bob the Builder." Hopwood also published and promoted the singer-songwriter,Helen Watson. He has also helped create many tracks for his granddaughter, Izzy Hopwood, who has had great musical talent from a young age. In 2025, Pluto expanded to producing records and video for independent musicians.
In 2021 he wrote his first solo album "Never Too Late", co-produced by his son Dan.[3] Containing eleven original songs this was released 1 February 2022 and has been followed by two more releases in the "Freedom Calls" project - Chapter I and Chapter II, with Chapter III following in 2025.[4] In 2024, Hopwood released his memoir "A Hermit's Tale" - featuring stories and photography from his life in Herman's Hermits and the years that followed.[5]
On 21 January 1968 Keith Hopwood married Penny Pagni, in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. They were married for 17 years and they had three children: Daxalen "Dax" (born on 5 July 1968), Joel (born in 1976) and Zhian (born in 1978).
In 1989, Hopwood married Maria Verdellis. They had a son, Daniel (born in 1991) who is also a record producer and composer.[6]
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