Mary Hopkin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mary Hopkin
Hopkin at the Eurovision Song Contest 1970
Background information
Born	(1950-05-03) 3 May 1950 (age 75) Pontardawe, Glamorgan, Wales
Genres	Folk-pop
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter
Instruments	Vocals guitar
Years active	1968–present
Labels	Apple Manticore Clan Nationwide Numero Uno [it] Mary Hopkin Music
Associated acts	Paul McCartney Tony Visconti David Bowie Ralph McTell Benny Gallagher

Mary Hopkin (born 3 May 1950) is a talented Welsh singer. She is famous for her 1968 UK number one song, "Those Were the Days". Mary was one of the first artists to sign with the Beatles' record company, Apple.

Life and Music Journey

Early Life and Start in Music

Mary Elizabeth Blodwen Hopkin was born in Pontardawe, Wales. Her family spoke Welsh. She took singing lessons every week when she was a child. Mary started her music career as a folk singer. She sang with a local group called the Selby Set and Mary.

Before joining Apple Records, she released an EP (a short album) of Welsh songs. This was for a local record label called Cambrian. The famous model Twiggy saw Mary win a TV talent show called Opportunity Knocks. Twiggy then told Paul McCartney about Mary.

First Big Hit: "Those Were the Days"

Mary Hopkin's first single, "Those Were the Days", came out on 30 August 1968. Paul McCartney produced this song. Even with competition from other singers, Mary's version became a number one hit in the UK. It reached number 2 in the US on the Billboard chart. The Beatles' song "Hey Jude" kept it from the top spot.

"Those Were the Days" sold over 1.5 million copies in the United States. It sold more than 8 million copies worldwide. Mary's recording was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1969.

In October 1968, Mary sang at St Paul's Cathedral in London. She performed songs like "Morning of My Life" and "Plaisir d'amour". She also sang title songs for two films by Stanley Baker.

Debut Album: Post Card

Mary's first album, Post Card, was released on 21 February 1969. Paul McCartney also produced this album. It included songs by Donovan and Harry Nilsson. The album reached number 3 on the UK Albums Chart. In the US, Post Card reached number 28 on the Billboard albums chart.

Her next single was "Goodbye", written by Paul McCartney. It came out on 26 March 1969. This song reached number 2 in the UK. Mary felt that McCartney was too involved in her career. She wanted to sing more folk music.

Mary's third single, "Temma Harbour", was released on 16 January 1970. This was her first single not produced by McCartney. It reached number 6 in the UK. Mary also sang on the Radha Krishna Temple's 1970 hit song "Govinda". George Harrison produced this song for Apple Records.

Eurovision Song Contest

In March 1970, Mary Hopkin represented the UK in the 1970 Eurovision Song Contest. She came in second place with her song "Knock, Knock Who's There?". She was a favorite to win but lost to Irish singer Dana. "Knock, Knock Who's There?" was a big hit worldwide, selling over a million copies.

Mary's last big hit was "Think About Your Children". It came out in October 1970 and reached number 19 in the UK. After Eurovision, Mary wanted to go back to her folk music style.

After the Big Hits

Paul McCartney wanted Mary to record "Que Sera, Sera" in August 1969. Mary did not want to record it and refused to release it in Britain. It was released in North America in June 1970. The song was a hit in Japan, Australia, and New Zealand.

Her last single to chart in Britain was "Let My Name Be Sorrow" in July 1971. It was produced by Tony Visconti. Mary later married Tony Visconti.

Mary's second album, Earth Song/Ocean Song, was released on 1 October 1971. Tony Visconti produced it. The album included songs by Cat Stevens and Ralph McTell. Mary felt this was the album she always wanted to make. After getting married, she decided to take a break from the music scene. She left Apple Records in March 1972.

After Mary left Apple, a collection of her songs called Those Were the Days was released in late 1972. It included all her hits. "Knock Knock, Who's There?" was released as a single in the US and Canada. It became Mary's last US hit.

Television Series

After Eurovision, Mary had her own TV series on BBC1. It was called Mary Hopkin in the Land of .... Each episode showed Mary exploring storytelling through music and dance. The six shows aired in 1970 and were repeated in 1971.

Life After Hit Singles

After marrying Tony Visconti in 1971, Mary stepped away from pop music to focus on her family. She still recorded music. In January 1972, she traveled to Australia with Visconti. She performed at a large rock festival and gave concerts. In March, she announced she was leaving Apple Records.

In June 1972, she released the single "Summertime Summertime" under the name Hobby Horse. She also released a Christmas single, "Mary Had a Baby", with Visconti's help.

Mary starred in her own TV special for BBC1 on 29 July 1972. It was called Sing Hi, Sing Lo.

She sang on many recordings produced by her husband, Tony Visconti. She was credited as "Mary Visconti" on these songs. She appeared on TV shows like Cilla Black's.

Return to Recording

In 1976, Mary started recording again under her birth name. She released the single "If You Love Me (Really Love Me)". It reached number 32 in the UK. The other side of the single, "Tell Me Now", was written by Mary. Her next single was "Wrap Me in Your Arms". These songs came out on Visconti's Good Earth Records label.

Mary played "Princess Lirazel" on a special album called The King of Elfland's Daughter. She also performed at the Cambridge Folk Festival. In 1976, her second child was born. A collection of Mary's early Welsh recordings was released by Decca Records.

1980s Music Projects

Hopkin in 1982

In the 1980s, Mary played the Virgin Mary in a show called Rock Nativity. She then joined a new group called Sundance. Their only single, "What's Love", was popular in South Africa. Mary soon left the group.

Mary and Tony Visconti divorced in 1981. In 1982, she sang on "Rachael's Song" for the Blade Runner movie soundtrack. Around 1984, she joined a group called Oasis. Their album, Oasis, reached number 23 in the UK. The group stopped touring because Mary became ill.

Mary performed in several charity shows in the 1980s. In 1988, she was part of George Martin's production of Dylan Thomas' Under Milk Wood. She played Rosie Probert and sang a duet.

Mary recorded an album called Spirit in 1989. It had light classical songs and included the single "Ave Maria".

1990s Collaborations

In 1990, Mary sang with the Chieftains at the London Palladium. She later toured the UK with them.

She worked on various projects, including Julian Colbeck's CD Back to Bach. She wrote lyrics and sang a song on it. She also worked with Brian Willoughby and Dave Cousins on their CD The Bridge.

Album cover of Y Caneuon Cynnar – The Early Recordings

In 1996, a Welsh record label released all of Mary's Welsh recordings on a CD. It was called Y Caneuon Cynnar/The Early Recordings.

In 1999, she toured with the Chieftains again. She also performed concerts in Scotland. There were three TV documentaries made about her. She sang the theme song for Billy Connolly's TV series World Tour of England, Ireland and Wales.

2000s and Beyond

In September 2005, Mary released an album called Live at the Royal Festival Hall 1972. Her daughter runs the Mary Hopkin Music label. In December 2006, she released a Christmas song, "Snowed Under".

For her 57th birthday in 2007, she released Valentine. This album had 12 songs recorded between 1972 and 1980. Three of these songs were written by Mary. In 2008, a new album, Recollections, was released. It included 11 songs recorded between 1970 and 1986.

Her last album of older recordings, Now and Then, came out in May 2009. It has 14 songs recorded between 1970 and 1988.

2010s and Recent Work

Mary's daughter, Jessica Lee Morgan, released her first CD, I Am Not. Mary sings on several songs on this album.

In October 2010, Mary and her son, Morgan Visconti, released You Look Familiar. This album combined Mary's singing and lyrics with her son's music.

In 2013, Painting by Numbers was released. This album has 10 songs written by Mary. For Christmas 2014, Mary recorded a single with her son and daughter. It was a Welsh carol called "Iesu Faban" (Baby Jesus).

To celebrate 50 years since "Those Were the Days" was released, Mary put out a new acoustic version on 30 August 2018.

2020s Releases

Mary Hopkin released an album called Two Hearts with her daughter Jessica Lee Morgan. It features new songs and covers. It was released on 3 May 2023, Mary's 73rd birthday.

Discography

See also

In Spanish: Mary Hopkin para niños

• Apple Records discography