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Hoppers Honored By Governor of North Carolina
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Written: 11/27/2007 
Author: AGM
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“America’s Favorite Family of Gospel Music” Awarded Order of the Long Leaf Pine
Eden, North Carolina---(November 24, 2007)--- Canaan Records recording artist, The Hoppers, were awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine Saturday, November 24, 2007 at Morehead High School in Eden, NC. State Representative Nelson Cole presented The Hoppers with the distinguished award which is the highest civilian honor that can be granted in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Past recipients include Michael Jordan, Maya Angelou, Rev. Billy Graham, Bob Timberlake and others. Governor Mike Easley deemed The Hoppers worthy of “Ambassador Extraordinary” as the certificate reads. Recipients of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine have a proven track record of extraordinary service to their state demonstrated through humanitarian efforts that include contributions to their communities along with many years of service to their particular organizations.
The Hoppers commented on this extraordinary evening by saying, "What a great surprise The Hoppers received Saturday night! All of us are thrilled to be the recipient of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine. We never dreamed that after so many years of doing what we love, singing Gospel music, that we would be presented with such a prestigious award. It was quite an honor to be recognized by our Governor and to have the award personally presented by State Representative Nelson Cole. The state also honored us by printing an article on the Hopper's 50th Anniversary in their magazine, Our State. People who have never attended a Gospel concert have attended a Hoppers concert because of that article...what a blessing! We are so proud of being from North Carolina and all of the other amazing artists from this great state! Thank you North Carolina, our family and our friends for giving us 50 wonderful years!"
“America’s Favorite Family of Gospel Music” is proud to commemorate their 50 year anniversary through a series of Hopper's Heritage Concerts that include performances by The Original Hopper Brothers and Connie. The group began their quest in music as a sharecropping family of eleven children where five of the seven brothers began singing at local churches under the direction of their mother. In 1957, as young adults, four of the brothers began the Hopper Brothers Quartet. In 1960, Connie Shelton joined their ranks as the piano player and later married Claude, the manager of the group. Connie's popularity eventually caused the group to change its name to The Hopper Brother's and Connie. In 1964, the group entered and won the talent contest at the National Quartet Convention in Nashville, TN. The Hoppers have evolved over the years and now is comprised of Claude and Connie, their two sons Mike and Dean and Dean’s wife, Kim. The group recently signed with Canaan Records, a division of Word Entertainment, a Warner/Curb company, where they nationally released their new hit album, The Ride. This group has received nearly every award possible in their field of music including being presented with Favorite Mixed Group on numerous occasions. They average singing to over 1 million concert goers in over forty states and five countries per year.
For more information on the Hoppers, check out http://www.thehoppers.com. For more information on Canaan Records, log on to http://www.canaanrecords.com
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