Kevin Hopkins:  

Keith "Kevin" Hopkins a.k.a. Kevin Schaefer 1966-1971 Born and raised in Michigan 1955-1965. I was always called "Kevin". I moved to South Toledo in 1966 when my Mom married William F. Schaefer. He enrolled me in school with the last name Schaefer stating that he planned to adopt me, but he never did. When I was a Junior, I changed my last name back to Hopkins. I REALLY enjoyed Band and Choir at Maumee High School. I was in Summer Band, Marching Band, Dance Band, Pep Band and Concert Band. I also was in Freshman Choir, Chorale and Senior Choir. I took about a year of piano lessons and then discovered the awesome sound of the Baldwin baby grand piano in the choir room. I would skip lunch (or eat real fast) and then run down to the choir room to play that piano. I played it before school, at lunch, and after school-- anytime I had any free time. I was always getting yelled at to stop "banging" on the piano, but I was learning how to coax every bit of sound I could out of that instrument. I soon learned that I could play a lot of chords with rhythmic style and sing the melody-- and before I knew it, others would join in and sing along. After high school I joined the Army and served as an MP in the K-9 Corps. I did the "prodigal son" thing for a while but ultimately came to my senses and became a born-again Christian. This was one of those life-changing/heart-changing experiences where I became a totally different (new creation) type person. At this time, the keyboard/vocals resurfaced in praise and worship to God. I joined a church orchestra where I played electric bass for 2-3 years, but when a REAL bass player came along, I knew God had something better for me. T...Expand for more