Mary Hopkin

Mary Hopkin (born May 3, 1950) is a British singer.

Related Topics:
May 3 - 1950 - British

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Born in Pontardawe, Wales, she grew up Welsh-speaking and began her musical career as a folk singer. She was "discovered" by Twiggy, and became one of the first artists to record on The Beatles' Apple record label.

Related Topics:
Pontardawe - Wales - Welsh-speaking - Twiggy - The Beatles - Apple

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Her single "Those Were the Days", produced by Paul McCartney, was released in the UK on August 30, 1968 (catalogue number "APPLE 2"). Despite competition from a well-established star, Sandie Shaw, who released the self-same song as a single, Hopkin's version became a #1 hit in the UK singles chart, and made #2 in the US.

Related Topics:
Those Were the Days - Paul McCartney - UK - August 30 - 1968 - Sandie Shaw

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

On February 21, 1969 her debut album Postcard, also produced by McCartney, was released. It includes covers of two songs from Donovan, who also played on the album, and one song each from George Martin and Harry Nillson.

Related Topics:
February 21 - 1969 - Donovan - George Martin - Harry Nillson

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The next single was "Goodbye", a Lennon-McCartney song, released on March 28, 1969 ("APPLE 10"); it reached #2 in the UK singles chart and was featured on the Blade Runner soundtrack by Vangelis. It was kept off the top of the charts by the Beatles' single "Get Back". "Goodbye" has never been officially released by the Beatles, although a demo version can be found on some of the Beatles' bootlegs.

Related Topics:
Lennon-McCartney - March 28 - 1969 - Blade Runner - Vangelis - Get Back - Beatles' bootlegs

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

She represented the UK in the 1970 Eurovision Song Contest singing "Knock Knock Who's There", which came second in the contest, narrowly beaten by "All Kinds of Everything" performed by Irish singer Dana. "Knock Knock Who's There" was released as a single ("APPLE 26") on March 23, 1970, reaching #2 again in the UK singles chart.

Related Topics:
1970 - Eurovision Song Contest - All Kinds of Everything - Dana - March 23

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

After marrying record producer Tony Visconti in 1971, she mainly withdrew from the pop music scene to have a family, although she sang backing vocals for "Sound and Vision" on the 1977 David Bowie album Low. Hopkin and Visconti divorced in 1981.

Related Topics:
Tony Visconti - 1971 - 1977 - David Bowie - Low - 1981

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~