![Daylight cover](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/48/Daylight_cover.jpg)
John Driskell Hopkins (born May 3, 1971) is best known for his role as a founding member, vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter for the Grammy Award winning group
Zac Brown Band
Zac Brown Band is an American country music band based in Atlanta, Georgia. The lineup consists of Zac Brown (lead vocals, guitar), Jimmy De Martini ( fiddle, vocals), John Driskell Hopkins (bass guitar, guitar, baritone guitar, banjo, ukulel ...
. Hopkins co-wrote, with
Zac Brown
Zachry Alexander Brown (born July 31, 1978) is an American singer-songwriter, musician, and co-founder and lead singer of the country–rock Zac Brown Band, as well as electronic dance music group Sir Rosevelt. In 2019, Brown released a pop su ...
, Wyatt Durette, and
Shawn Mullins
Shawn Mullins (born March 8, 1968) is an American singer-songwriter who specializes in folk rock, instrumental rock, adult album alternative, adult alternative, and Americana (music), Americana music. His 1998 single "Lullaby (Shawn Mullins song) ...
, the
Zac Brown Band
Zac Brown Band is an American country music band based in Atlanta, Georgia. The lineup consists of Zac Brown (lead vocals, guitar), Jimmy De Martini ( fiddle, vocals), John Driskell Hopkins (bass guitar, guitar, baritone guitar, banjo, ukulel ...
's third single, "Toes", from their 2008 major-label debut ''
The Foundation''. It was the second #1 single for the band.
Hopkins also co-wrote, with Zac Brown, Wyatt Durette, and
Sonia Leigh, the second single from the band's third major-label album ''
Uncaged
''Uncaged'' is the third studio album by Zac Brown Band. It was released on July 10, 2012. The album's lead single, "The Wind" was released on June 6, 2012. The album received widely positive reviews from critics and debuted at number one on the ...
'', entitled "
Goodbye in Her Eyes".
Hopkins co-wrote the band's first #1 hit on the Billboard
Mainstream Rock chart
Mainstream Rock is a music chart in '' Billboard'' magazine that ranks the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations in the United States, a category that combines the formats of active rock and heritage rock. The chart was launched i ...
, "
Heavy Is the Head", which featured
Chris Cornell
Christopher John Cornell (né Boyle; July 20, 1964 – May 18, 2017) was an American singer and musician best known as the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and primary lyricist and songwriter for the rock bands Soundgarden and Audioslave. H ...
and was the second single from their 4th major label studio album, 2015's ''
Jekyll + Hyde Jekyll may refer to:
Entertainment Film
* ''The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll'', a 1960 horror film
* '' Dr. Jekyll y el Hombre Lobo'', a 1972 Spanish horror film
* ''Jekyll'', a 2007 horror film
Television
* ''Jekyll'' (TV series), a 2007 BBC televis ...
''.
Early life
Hopkins was raised in
Gainesville, GA
The city of Gainesville is the county seat of Hall County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 42,296. Because of its large number of poultry processing plants, it is often called the "Poultry Capital of t ...
, the eldest of four brothers. He graduated from
Florida State University
Florida State University (FSU) is a public research university in Tallahassee, Florida. It is a senior member of the State University System of Florida. Founded in 1851, it is located on the oldest continuous site of higher education in the st ...
1993 with a degree in general theatre.
During college at Florida State University, Hopkins was the front man of a band called The Woodpeckers.
Career
After college, Hopkins moved to Atlanta. In 1996, he formed his rock band
Brighter Shade, with whom he still plays. Brighter Shade recorded two albums by the early 2000s. During that time, Hopkins got involved with the production end of the scene: producing, recording, and collaborating on several projects in the Atlanta area, including one with
Zac Brown
Zachry Alexander Brown (born July 31, 1978) is an American singer-songwriter, musician, and co-founder and lead singer of the country–rock Zac Brown Band, as well as electronic dance music group Sir Rosevelt. In 2019, Brown released a pop su ...
After several years of friendship with Brown, in 2005, Hopkins joined the
Zac Brown Band
Zac Brown Band is an American country music band based in Atlanta, Georgia. The lineup consists of Zac Brown (lead vocals, guitar), Jimmy De Martini ( fiddle, vocals), John Driskell Hopkins (bass guitar, guitar, baritone guitar, banjo, ukulel ...
on bass guitar and vocals.
In 2011, Hopkins joined forces with bluegrass band
Balsam Range
Balsam Range is a bluegrass and acoustic music group founded in 2007 in Haywood County, North Carolina. They are the 2014 and 2018 International Bluegrass Music Association (IMBA) Entertainer of the Year recipients. Their other accolades include ...
. In January 2013 they released their debut CD called ''Daylight'' to critical acclaim.
In 2019, Hopkins, along with fellow musicians Greg Lee, Mike Rizzi, Mark Dannells, and Mick Murphy formed heavy rock band, The Bloody Wolves Of Venice. The Bloody Wolves of Venice released a 5-song EP, ''The Revelation EP'', which was featured in the 2018 film "Adolescence".
Collaborations
Hopkins heard
Balsam Range
Balsam Range is a bluegrass and acoustic music group founded in 2007 in Haywood County, North Carolina. They are the 2014 and 2018 International Bluegrass Music Association (IMBA) Entertainer of the Year recipients. Their other accolades include ...
on bluegrass radio in 2011 and was so impressed, he immediately bought all their music. They later met, and made an immediate personal and musical connection. They decided to join forces and record a CD. In September 2012, the album ''Daylight'' was completed, and officially released January 2013.
Balsam Range
Balsam Range is a bluegrass and acoustic music group founded in 2007 in Haywood County, North Carolina. They are the 2014 and 2018 International Bluegrass Music Association (IMBA) Entertainer of the Year recipients. Their other accolades include ...
is a 5 piece bluegrass powerhouse out of
Haywood County, NC, and include members: Buddy Melton (fiddle, vocals), Darren Nicholson (Mandolin, vocals), Marc Pruett (Banjo), Caleb Smith (guitar, vocals), and Tim Surrett (bass, dobro, vocals). Their accolades include: voted Best Old-Time/Bluegrass Band of 2012 in Asheville's Mountain Xpress,
IBMA Song of the Year Award Recipient "Trains I Missed 2011", 2013 IBMA "Album of the Year" for ''Papertown'', and were also the 2014 IBMA "Entertainer of the Year" Recipients.
Hopkins and Balsam Range continue play shows together often.
Dobro master and 14-time Grammy winner,
Jerry Douglas
Gerald Calvin "Jerry" Douglas (born May 28, 1956) is an American Dobro and lap steel guitar player and record producer.
Career
In addition to his fourteen solo recordings, Douglas has played on more than 1,600 albums. As a sideman, he has ...
was also featured on Hopkins 2013 release, ''Daylight''.
In 2014, Hopkins has also collaborated with GA native bluegrass group the "
Dappled Grays" on several shows, including 2 sold out nights at the
Georgia Theater
Georgia Theatre is a live music venue and event space in Athens, Georgia. Many prominent national and local acts across all genres have performed at the Theatre, including rock, folk, country, indie, alternative, hip hop and electronic. The venue i ...
opening for
The String Cheese Incident
The String Cheese Incident (SCI) is an American jam band from Crested Butte and Telluride, Colorado, formed in 1993. The band is composed of Michael Kang (acoustic/electric mandolin, electric guitar, and violin), Michael Travis (drums and percus ...
.
Brighter Shade
Hopkins formed aggressive songwriter band
Brighter Shade in 1996. The original line-up consisted of Hopkins on vocals and guitar, Andy Birdsall on vocals and guitar, Sean McIntyre on bass, and Marcus Petruska on drums. They recorded their self-titled debut in 1996.
Later, a second line-up followed featuring Hopkins and Birsdall, but added members; Wilder Embry on bass, Damian Cartier on keys and John Woodward and Eric Sanders on drums. They recorded Brighter Shade's sophomore album, ''Divine Ignorance'' in 2001.
Brighter Shade still plays periodic gigs in and around the Atlanta area.
Hopkins' recording studio "Brighter Shade Studios" shares the name-sake of his band, and was where the Zac Brown album "Home Grown" was recorded in 1998. Brighter Shade Studios was also used in the recording of first two major albums of the
Zac Brown Band
Zac Brown Band is an American country music band based in Atlanta, Georgia. The lineup consists of Zac Brown (lead vocals, guitar), Jimmy De Martini ( fiddle, vocals), John Driskell Hopkins (bass guitar, guitar, baritone guitar, banjo, ukulel ...
; ''
The Foundation'' and ''
You Get What You Give''.
Acting career
Hopkins graduated from
Florida State University
Florida State University (FSU) is a public research university in Tallahassee, Florida. It is a senior member of the State University System of Florida. Founded in 1851, it is located on the oldest continuous site of higher education in the st ...
in 1993 with a degree in General Theatre.
His first film, ''
Careful What You Wish For'' starring
Nick Jonas
Nicholas Jerry Jonas (born September 16, 1992) is an American singer, songwriter and actor. Jonas began acting on Broadway at the age of seven, and released his debut single in 2002; this caught the attention of Columbia Records, where Jonas ...
,
Isabel Lucas
Isabel Lucas (born 29 January 1985) is an Australian actress and model. She is mainly known for her roles in '' Home and Away'' (2003–06), '' Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen'' (2009), ''Daybreakers'' (2009), ''The Waiting City'' (2009), ' ...
, and
Paul Sorvino
Paul Anthony Sorvino (, ; April 13, 1939 – July 25, 2022) was an American actor. He often portrayed authority figures on both the criminal and the law enforcement sides of the law.
Sorvino was particularly known for his roles as Lucchese cri ...
was released in May 2015. Hopkins also had a role in the 2018 film Adolescence. Hopkins has a role in the upcoming crime drama, Breakwater, expected to be released later this year.
Personal life
In December 2021, Hopkins was diagnosed with
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as motor neuron disease (MND) or Lou Gehrig's disease, is a neurodegenerative disease that results in the progressive loss of motor neurons that control voluntary muscles. ALS is the most comm ...
, also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease. He did not publicly announce this diagnosis until May 20, 2022, when he and the rest of the Zac Brown Band publicly announced this during a
YouTube
YouTube is a global online video platform, online video sharing and social media, social media platform headquartered in San Bruno, California. It was launched on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim. It is owned by ...
video. In response, Hopkins founded the charity Hop on a Cure to fund research of the disease.
Discography
*''Brighter Shade''
Brighter Shade (1996)
*''Divine Ignorance''
Brighter Shade (2001)
*''Daylight''
John Driskell Hopkins and Balsam Range (2012)
*''In The Spirit: A Celebration of the Holidays''
John Driskell Hopkins and The Atlanta Pops Orchestra (2015)
*''You Better Watch Out!''
The Joe Gransden Big Band (2017)
*''The Revelation''
Bloody Wolves of Venice (2019)
*''Lonesome High''
John Driskell Hopkins (2021)
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hopkins, John Driskell
People from Gainesville, Georgia
University of Georgia alumni
Florida State University alumni
Zac Brown Band members
American country bass guitarists
American male bass guitarists
American country singer-songwriters
Living people
1971 births
21st-century American singers
21st-century American bass guitarists
Singer-songwriters from Georgia (U.S. state)
People with motor neuron disease