Dream Fest creator is passionate about sharing the African culture

HUNTINGTON -- Soon after Harry Hopkins was born in 1959, he couldn't stop beating on his mother's pots and pans.

"I use to get in trouble by my parents for beating them too much," Hopkins said, laughing.

For Christmas in 1964, Hopkins' parents bought him a gift that would eventually lead him to playing with famous Jamaican bands, creating the annual local concert Dream Fest, and helping the youth in the Huntington community learn about African culture.

At the age of 5, Hopkins was given his first drum set. But the interest in music didn't come until he was in his early 20s. Throughout his junior high and high school years, Hopkins was busy playing football, basketball, baseball and wrestling.

Growing up primarily on 11th Street and 9th Avenue, Hopkins said everyone in his family was raised on music. But it wasn't until the mid-1990s that he decided to bring something different to the Huntington community -- teaching the drums and the African culture.

Hopkins said when he first heard Bob Marley and other well-known Jamaican artists, he fell in love with the music. In 1996, he made his first visit to Ocho Rios, Jamaica, and has gone back to visit several times since.

"The only way you could come back to visit there is if you purchased a villa," he said. "I got one in 1998 because I had a very nice time there."

That nice time included Hopkins learning more about the African culture, going horseback riding, touring the eastern Caribbean sea and river rafting. A major event that captured Hopkins' attention while in Jamaica was the Sun Fest.

"It's a festival party that lasts from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. that includes Jamaican foods and bands," he said.

With the influence from the Sun Fest, Hopkins returned back to the states and traveled to elementary schools to put on culture shows.

"The shows mainly teach children about the African culture and how to play the drums," Hopkins said.

Hopkins has taken his culture shows to six elementary schools this year. He's been doing the shows since 2000, which also include a drum program at the A.D. Lewis Center.

In 2004, a spin-off of the Sun Fest was created in Huntington by Hopkins -- the Dream Fest.

"I named it the Dream Fest because it was a dream of mine," he said. "It was a dream of mine to bring a cultural event to my hometown so everyone could enjoy. I traveled to other states that had similar shows, and I thought it would be something wonderful for Huntington to have."

The Dream Fest includes live music from Jamaican bands, along with Jamaican dishes Huntington residents can enjoy.

Now in its fourth year, Hopkins has Dream Fest set for Saturday, May 31, at Holderby's Landing, and is looking for community partners and sponsors for the concert that will feature such national reggae acts as EVER-G from Virginia and Shayar from Beckley.

"Each year, it gets harder and harder for community members and businesses to support," he said. "It's not about the money for me, it's just about everybody coming out to support it and have a good time."

Hopkins, a 15-year percussionist who played for several years with bluesman Larry Whitt and well-known Jamaican band The Cibonetts, said he will continue to do culture shows and teach local residents about African culture.

"I love Huntington, and my culture shows are a way of keeping the kids off the streets," he said. "I plan on continuing to do what I do until the day I die."