Biography
3 May 1950, Pontardawe, Glamorganshire, Wales. Hopkin’s career began while she was still a schoolgirl. Briefly a member of a local folk rock band, she completed several Welsh-language releases before securing a slot on the televised talent show, Opportunity Knocks. Fashion model Twiggy was so impressed by Hopkin’s performance she recommended the singer to Paul McCartney as a prospective signing for the newly formed Apple label. ‘Those Were The Days’, based on an old Russian folk song with lyrics by Gene Raskin (b. 1909, New York City, New York, USA, d. 12 June 2004, New York City, New York, USA) of the Limelighters, was selected as the artist’s national debut and this haunting, melancholic recording, produced by McCartney, topped both the UK and US charts in 1968. Her follow-up single, ‘Goodbye’, reached number 2 the following year, but despite its excellent versions of Donovan’s ‘Happiness Runs’ and ‘Lord Of...
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