JOHN FORD HOPKE

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John Ford Hopke is the oldest child of W&M grads John A. Hopke ’80 and Jeanne Lull Hopke ’80 (Ed’s big sister). Affectionately know as “Johnny” (we call him John), he was born in Williamsburg & lived there his whole life with the exception of the four years he spent in Charlottesville attending a university founded by a W&M Alum, earning his degree so that he could come back home to Williamsburg.

 

John is married to Samantha and has four beautiful children. They all live in a cute, sustainable farm property that when in operation, produces local produce for local restaurants. The farm is named “Skimino Acres”. John serves on the music staff at his church and is the Director of the Catholic Campus Ministry at William & Mary.

 

John began his career in music as a youngster, annoying his parents from the earliest of ages with his constant dronings of “Hot Cross Buns” on his recorder. Next he played bass on The Who’s rock opera “Tommy” his senior year in high school. There was also a bunch of music stuff in-between…

 

John & Ed first played together in December, 1999, when Ed & Jeanne’s families gathered together for Christmas upon Ed’s return from 12 years in California.

 

When Neilhead passed on January 11, 2001, John joined the Dimeslots for the first time as a bass player at a celebration party for Neil’s life in Ed’s backyard. As Reid Harrison re-joined the group over the next couple of years, John AND Reid covered the bass parts with the Dimeslots at the Big 20th Class of ’83 Reunion at the William and Mary Homecoming in 2003 at the Woodlands Resort.

 

John has taken on the full-time bass-slappin’ duties for the Dimeslots in 2024 after Reid’s passing on January 15, 2024. In April, 2024 John joined us for a Reid Harrison Tribute Show at the Flat Iron Crossroads in Gloucester, VA (Reid’s home), and then during W&M’s October Homecoming shows for the Dimeslots’ 41st class reunion at the Virginia Beer Company on Friday night and then for the Saturday show in the Big Tent in the Sunken Garden for the official W&M Tailgate party.