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Paul Hopkins'
THE BAND
Paul Hopkins has been performing for over 20 years with his tribute to The “Big O”. Appearing at some of the greatest theatres in the country including The London Palladium, Paul has also toured worldwide in the USA, the Middle East and Scandinavia to name but a few. He has appeared in several of his own touring productions as well as working for major producing companies and corporate giants.
He began his career in 1982 when he replied to an Ad in the local paper and became bass player in The Ricky Preston Showband. From there he went on to work in some fabulous bands as bass player and lead vocalist including “Brandysnap” and “Kool Decision”. It was during this time he began to tour abroad, with his first show being at a military base in Germany. More extensive touring followed including summer seasons on The Isle of Wight and Scandinavia, three years in the Middle East and three years working for Brittany Ferries. On Paul's return to the UK he left the band and began to put together a dedicated tribute to “The Big O,” following increasing comments from fans about his likeness to the singer.
Paul Hopkins
Roy Orbison
100% LIVE
We are very proud to keep the music raw and real, without the help of click tracks or pre recorded backing vocals. It can be difficult without having a full orchestra up there with us, but everyone plays their heart out, to make sure that we can bring you a completely live show.
Where possible, everything is done in the original key and is true to the way the original band wrote it and played it. We try not to put our own interpretation into the music, as our aim is to get it sounding just like the records that we all know and love.
Paul is our front man and mostly hosts the whole show. He is the Director of Return Of The Kings Ltd and has hosted and ran many of his own productions. This includes ‘Todays Teardrops’ where he starred as both Roy Orbison and Gene Pitney. He has alsoappeared as a guest artiste on many other touring theatre shows. Although Paul worked for years as a solo performer, he seldom works without his band now as this keeps him so busy. I’m sure you will agree that by hosting his own events for so many years, Paul is now an excellent front man, with charm, charisma and a great sense of humour.
As well as having the starring role in the show, Paul is also our Stage Manager. He makes sure that everything is running smoothly throughout the set up in the afternoon and liases with the theatre staff in advance. This may mean that he is still franctically dealing with any stage issues a few minutes before you all arrive!
Aubrey Robinson
Owen Johnstone
Al Camino
Ross Griggs
Bob Dylan
George Harrison
Jeff Lynne
Tom Petty
During the past 35 years, Aubrey has worked and shared the stage with artists including Jimmy Osmond, Russell Watson, Jane McDonald, Ray Lewis and Paper Lace. For the past 12 years he has worked extensively in theatre productions, touring around the UK and Europe as well as in the West End. He is also an in-demand theatre and dance organist; he has been the resident organist at Sheffield City Hall for the past 15 years as well as performing at venues around the country, including the iconic Blackpool Tower Ballroom.
When not touring, he owns Harmony Music School in Sheffield. With two branches and over 450 students, this is now one of the largest private music schools in South Yorkshire.
This highly accomplished organist and pianist has worked on all shows toured and promoted by Return Of The Kings Ltd and is one of the secrets to the company's success. As well as excellent musicality however, Aubrey also possess that husky, gravel voice that is so distinctively Dylan. His timing and portrayal of the greats such as "Tweeter and The Monkey Man" are always a firm favourite with our audiences.
As well as playing the part of Bob Dylan, Aubrey is also the Musical Director for the show. With his impeccable attention to detail and incredible ‘ear’, this perfectionist doesn’t do anything by halves. The end result is therefore as close to the Originals as we can possibly get.
Throughout the evening Aubrey will be playing keyboards, acoustic guitar and harmonica.
If you would like to learn to play to his high standard, why not visit his incredibly successful music school? www.harmonymusicschool.co.uk
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Jim Keltner - Drummer
Sean Gregory Wright
Ross has been involved with the music industry since his late teens and has enjoyed a wonderfully varied career ever since. During this time, he has been fortunate to have worked with many notable musicians (e.g. Keith Marshall, Lene Lovich, Rio, Bill Martin, members of Asia, Kinks, Argent, The Zombies and Osibisa) performing and recording at all levels from local pubs and garages to some of the most world-renowned venues and studios (e.g. Hammersmith Odeon, Royal Albert Hall, Abbey Road, Konk, BBC Maida Vale…) and for major labels (e.g. Polydor, EMI, Warners, Universal, Music For Nations…). Though primarily a guitarist, Ross has also been in demand as a keyboard player and vocalist, performing many sessions, both live and in the studio.
He has considerable experience as a writer and producer, having written and produced songs for national and international release as well as a growing catalogue of published production music, most of which has been recorded at his own studio, DTM. With hundreds of tracks to his name, notable placements include, Gambit ( Hollywood remake of the 60s classic starring Cameron Diaz, Colin Firth and Alan Rickman), Comedy Central, Huggies, Justified (US TV series), Fox Sports...
Ross also runs an independent record company and publishing business in order to manage the output of a diverse range of artists. Amongst others, this includes the catalogue of classic rock band BONED, with whom Ross (AKA Billy Unbelievable) played the Royal Albert Hall in 2006 as part of the Teenage Cancer Trust concerts on the bill with Ian Gillan & Friends, Scorpions and Judas Priest.
Ross also made good use of this varied experience in a previous role as pop music/music technology lecturer, helping many students on their paths towards a successful career in the industry and he continues to offer advice through his consultancy service.
In yet another interesting twist to this varied career.
Passions outside of music include family, friends, food, travel and cars.
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Biog coming soon
Biog coming soon
Sean was then hired as a session drummer for labels such as Bolshi Records, Positiva, XL recordings & Sony and played and recorded for some of their artists. This also led to several tours of Europe.
One of his biggest drumming moments was stepping in as drummer for Black Sabbath during pre-production for an album when their drummer was injured. Truly amazing.
After returning from a tour he set up a writing studio and began writing and producing his own music.
He was picked up by BMG publishing who signed him as a producer / writer for pop artists and also TV programs & film.
He went on to write and produce several pop/dance records which achieved some success and were licensed by labels such as Ministry of Sound, Gut records and Crosstown rebels.
The pinnacle of his time as a record producer was his remix for the Tom Jones and Stereophonics single ‘Mamma told me not to come’ - his re-mix was on the B side of the single.
As record sales declined with the introduction of music streaming, Sean returned to his main love of drumming and returned to playing shows.
He also set up my own drum teaching studio called ‘Creative Drums’.
He still works on various musical projects from his home studio in Norfolk where he also records remote drums.
Sean started playing drums at school and went on to play in the school Jazz Band and Orchestra.After leaving school, he was lucky enough to study with renowned UK drum teacher Bob Armstrong where things got serious and he studied chart reading, technique, Jazz, Afro Cuban Music and much more. Bob was a big influence on his playing and an absolute legend.He started playing as a freelance drummer in various gigs and shows and for artists such as Ray Lewis from The Drifters.He joined Pop band ‘Sunscreem’ who signed to Sony and went on to have UK chart success and a number 1 dance record in America.This led to several appearances on Top of the Pops, The Chart Show, The Word, Richard and Judy and other TV UK shows as well as radio. They toured America and Europe supporting bands like New Order and appeared on the Arsenio Hall show in the USA.Around this time he began to carve out a niche as ‘break beat’ style drummer - which was really popular at the time.
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