Pamela's Story:
Little Rock, Arkansas native, Pamela Hopkins, is a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. She is a Dueling Piano Player by trade and also leads her own band.
Pamela started her music career back in the 90's and took time away from the music scene to pursue other careers and to raise her children. She started part time as a dueling piano player in 2013, and eventually went full-time in the summer of 2014. Around 2018, she decided to find her own sound and began to write and record her own music in Arkansas. Pamela released an EP in 2018 and released it in CD form in 2019. Pamela decided to search for a new studio close to her flavor of music in the spring of 2020. She became one of Off the Row Recording Studio's "Break Out Artists" and recorded 4 singles that were released throughout 2020. She had decided to continue writing and recorded 7 more songs which were all released in 2021 and 2022 .
She released a full album titled, “Giving a Damn (Don't Go with My Outfit), in December of 2021. Her biggest hit thus far is the album titled song, ”Giving a Damn (Don't Go with My Outfit), yielding over 560,000 Spotify Streams. In 2023, Pamela started working with Nashville’s own, Kenny Royster, who produced her 2 newest songs, “I Love You Most,” and “Raised Some Hell.” Pamela continues to co-write with several Nashville writers, including number 1 hit writer, Billy Lee (The One by Gary Allen), Scott Barrier (former band member for Gretchen Wilson) and Dave Lenahan (former radio personality and current podcast personality). Pamela just added two new song-writing friends to her repertoire; Arkansas' own Anna Brinker and Lonnie Abbott.
In 2021, Pamela released 4 new songs throughout the year. She co-wrote each song with various Nashville writers and was excited to release her first co-written duet featuring Matt Dame (singer for The SteelDrivers), on February 5, 2021 titled "Little Things" (Which WON the 2021 "Country Song of the Year" for a Duo/Group with the Josie Music Awards--the largest independent music awards show). She ended 2021 with another duet she co-wrote with Dave Lenahan and Melissa Leigh, "One More Last Kiss." Pamela found the perfect male voice to accompany hers by enlisting Jason Lee Campbell to collaborate with her on the recording.
In 2022, Pamela was an Official Nominee for 3 Arkansas Country Music awards; Country Artist of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year, and Album of the Year. In 2023, Pamela was an official nominee for several other awards, including Country Song of the Year for “I Love You Most,” Americana Song of the Year for “Squirrel Train,” Female Vocalist of the Year, and Artist of the Year with the Josie Awards. She won “Female Musician of the Year,” for the Red Carpet Award Show based out of Holland for 2023.
Where has she been and where can you find her now?
In October, 2013, she began as a Dueling Piano Player for Ernie Biggs in the River Market District of Little Rock and worked 4 out of 5 of their locations in Arkansas, Missouri and Kansas. In January of 2017, Pamela transitioned to Willy D's Rock & Roll Dueling Piano Bar and was a staple for over 6 years at that venue. She continues to grow her craft, repertoire, and network of fellow musicians in what is a very unique niche in the music industry - Piano bars! She free-lances in various piano bars across the United States and also plays with her band in festivals, casinos and private weddings and corporate events.
Pamela spends a few weeks a year entertaining the troops overseas with ProTour Productions and Armed Forces Entertainment. She has a passion for this because her husband, Jason, is a disabled veteran who served in Iraq in 2004-2005. She wrote a song of her experience as a wife/mother of 3 small children during this difficult time, as well as describing how soldiers come back home, changed forever. You can listen to this song, "Give Him Back to Us," on all major digital streaming outlets. If you happen to be at one of the military bases (across the world) where she is performing, make sure to catch one of her shows--Pamela and her band bring an energy unmatched by any other!
Pamela's band can play an all-original music show or an all cover-song show. Pamela's band plays many of the tunes you love to hear, from country to classic rock, her 4-5 piece band is comprised of some of the best musicians around. You can book her band to play for all occasions...just reach out to her and/or check out her schedule to catch them playing a public event. Pamela calls her band, “The Squirrel Train Band,” and they love to lead to party and entertain your guests all night long!
In her own words, Pamela says, “I’ve had a passion for music since I was a young girl, singing, playing cello and piano. I’ve been successful in music, as a wife, in raising a family and have held two successful careers in law enforcement and then as English Teacher for the middle and elementary school level. I am now in the midst of this next chapter of my life, dedicating it to my music career and couldn’t be more excited about achieving what’s been a long-term dream of mine - a full-time music career.”
You can stay up to date on where she is playing by following her show schedule here OR by following her https://www.songkick.com/artists/10136806-pamela-hopkins
Stay tuned to Pamela’s performance dates and newsletters. Join her mailing list here.
EARLY CAREER & BACKGROUND:
Pamela has always had a love for music. She started playing cello in the 5th grade and was asked by her orchestra teacher to apply to attend a fine arts and science magnet jr. high school. Once she began school there, she took a required Piano Theory class and fell in love with the sound of the piano. Shortly thereafter, she began developing her vocal range, clarity, tone, and her love for singing.
Pamela continued to go to school in the arts and science magnet school system, attending Parkview Arts and Science Magnet High School. While there she stayed in the orchestra earning first chair as a cello player. She also joined the Lab Singers Choir which mostly focused on a more soulful sound verses the standard choral repertoire. Moving forward after high school she attended the University of Central Arkansas on a choir and orchestra scholarship.
Pamela was in the UCA Concert Choir as well at the UCA Orchestra and the Conway Civic Orchestra simultaneously.
Pamela graduated from UCA after four years with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology. While in college, Pamela was produced by Seymour Sounds Recording in Nashville and released her all original self-titled album.
Shortly after graduating with her Bachelor's degree Pamela married her college sweetheart, Jason Hopkins. She decided to go into law enforcement and continued that path for 13 years, ending her career in the rank of Sergeant. During her last 6 months as an officer she decided to go back to school and obtain her Master's of Art in Teaching degree and became a teacher while attending those classes. Pamela stepped away from music during these years but as her children were getting older, she decided to get back into music!
Under the guidance of fellow dueling piano player mentors, David Rasico and Frisbee (Robert Coleman), she began training and learning the craft and art as a Dueling Piano Player. She’s since devoted herself to a full-time music career learning the massive repertoire required and developing her stage skills in these venues.
Pamela started her solo career 4 years after going into the piano bar niche. She continues to write and record continuously, releasing new songs on a regular basis. You can follow and support her on her PamFan page.