The Hopkins Brothers - Shake Cheri

Side A - Shake Cheri
Side B - Kiss of Fire

Catalogue # SJ514


Posted in: Release Listings

The Hopkins Brothers - Shake Cheri

Release Date: Monday February 20th 2012

The Hopkins Brothers “Shake Cheri” can lay claim to be one of the most current in demand 45’s within the UK and European Funk and Northern Soul scenes. With only a handful of DJ’s being able to boast of ownership of a copy.

The Hopkins Brothers, Frank, Sylvester and the late Arthur (aka Count Hopkins) were part of a larger performing family dynasty from New Haven, Conneticut which began in the doo-wop era of the 1950’s and early 60’s. The brothers and at one point their father Lyman Hopkins Sr featured in the line up of two of New Haven’s most notable R’n’b vocal groups the Chestnuts and the Scarlets who later became known as Fred Parris & the Five Satins.

The Hopkins Brothers - Shake Cheri

The Hopkins Brothers; Left to Right - Frank Hopkins, Sylvester Hopkins & Arthur 'Count' Hopkins


Following the break up of the aforementioned groups during the early 60’s brothers Frank, Sylvester and Arthur formed the family group known as the Hopkins Bros.

As the Hopkins Bros they recorded the solitary vanity release “Kiss Of Fire/Shake Cheri” in February 1970 which was released on the local custom Magnetik label. Although a popular record in the New Haven area it never gained any greater national attention.

The official A-side “Kiss Of Fire” later became a popular collector’s item with Sweet Soul aficionado’s but it is the more quirky flip side “Shake Cheri” that is currently more popular with Northern and Funk fans throughout the UK and Europe at this moment.

For this current release we have promoted “Shake Cheri” to the A-side with the B-side now featuring the original previously unissued full length version of “Kiss Of Fire” which we found upon receipt of the original master tapes.

A more in depth biography can be found in our new artist biography section of our website: Click Here.

The Hopkins Brothers - Shake Cheri The Hopkins Brothers - Shake Cheri