Don Hopkins Music
Don Hopkins is a vocalist, piano player and songwriter whose music comes from the Blues & Roots (Folk, Country, Gospel, Jazz) traditions. He also plays keyboard, piano accordion, guitar and harmonica.
Don performs solo, duo (Dr. Don’s Double Dose) and as part of larger acts at festivals, special events and venues. He teaches blues, roots and popular piano from his studio near Newtown in Sydney, Australia. Don has also been writing songs for as long as he has been playing guitar, piano and singing, from eleven years old.
Don Hopkins is a vocalist, piano player and songwriter whose music comes from the Blues & Roots (Folk, Country, Gospel, Jazz) traditions. He also plays keyboard, piano accordion, guitar and harmonica.
Don performs solo, duo (Dr. Don’s Double Dose) and as part of larger acts at festivals, special events and venues. He teaches blues, roots and popular piano from his studio near Newtown in Sydney, Australia. Don has also been writing songs for as long as he has been playing guitar, piano and singing, from eleven years old.
Festivals, Events, Venues
Don is an experienced entertainer for festivals, special events and venues such as pubs and clubs. He performs solo, duo (Dr. Don’s Double Dose), trio and larger formats. Don has also led six to eight piece bands at festivals and clubs performing the songs of the great Fats Domino, New Orleans R&B and Rock‘n’Roll sounds of the 1950s and 60s. Contact Don for availability and quote for your event.
Piano Tuition - Blues, Roots & Popular
The specialised tuition from Don Hopkins includes: Improvisation, piano technique, theory. Songwriting skills. Reading music notation and chord symbols. Don has been teaching piano since 1985. Individual sessions are tailored to your needs. Piano and keyboard as solo, accompaniment and band instrument. Beginners to advanced. Get to where you want to be. Contact Don to find out more or to book a lesson.
Songwriting
Live video of Don performing some of his own songs in Jim Conway's Big Wheel:
Better Make The Most Of It http://tinyurl.com/857d6u3
Running Away With The Blues http://tinyurl.com/7terbqm
I Need You Here Right Now http://tinyurl.com/7uehvbq
Recorded by Bill Brown of ABC Local. Please click the share button on the ABC page if you like the videos.
Live video of Don performing some of his own songs in Jim Conway's Big Wheel:
Better Make The Most Of It http://tinyurl.com/857d6u3
Running Away With The Blues http://tinyurl.com/7terbqm
I Need You Here Right Now http://tinyurl.com/7uehvbq
Recorded by Bill Brown of ABC Local. Please click the share button on the ABC page if you like the videos.
Blues, boogies, spirituals, rags & ballads performed by piano player and vocalist Don Hopkins with drummer Rob Grosser from Sydney, Australia.
You’ll hear their originals along with classics and rarities from the 1920s to the 1960s, oozing the good-time, barrelhouse and boogie woogie fun of a blues party night, with the emphasis on the New Orleans piano styles.
A Dr. Don’s Double Dose performance will most likely get you singing along, dancing or just having a good time to their music.
An influential part of Sydney’s Blues scene since the 1970s, Don was inducted into the Goulburn Blues Walk Of Fame in 2002. Don has played piano and keys on many Australian albums over the years, receiving a Chain Award for his work on the Sippin’ and Slidin’ CD by JR & The Bar Kings. His CD appearances include the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) nominated “Little Story” and “Share This Life” by Jim Conway’s Big Wheel. Don wrote and sang the majority of tracks on these CDs.
Rob Grosser started out playing drums in the big band swing style of his heros before recording and touring with pop, rock and blues bands from the 1970s to 1990s . One of these, The Aliens had two top ten Australian singles. As well as Dr. Don’s Double Dose, Rob has performed with many acts live and on CD including, Jon Lord (Deep Purple), Pete Wells (Rose Tattoo), Chris Turner, and a duo with Tim Gaze. Bio
Contact Don for booking enquiries or to receive our gig guide emails