Pontypridd born singer-songwriter Vernon Hopkins was founder leader of a rock band called The Senators, formed in 1960. One of it's members was a powerful singer, Tommy Scott. Building up their reputation in the South Wales Valleys, they were spotted by the man who would become their manager, Gordon Mills. In 1964 The Senators moved to London and the following year, It's Not Unusual was released after the band was renamed Tom Jones and The Squires. Tom and the band toured the world, working with The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, The Who and The Animals, to name a few. On April 6, 1968, Elvis Presley and Priscilla, along with their entourage, made their entrance into The Flamingo Hotel, Las Vegas. They were there to see Tom Jones and the band feverishly working the stage that night. Afterwards, in Tom's dressing room, Vernon was introduced to Elvis. Vernon recalled the moment: 'Shaking hands with the King and getting into a conversation with him was awesome.' Even though Vernon had appeared on two Royal Command Performances with Tom, apparently it couldn't beat meeting Elvis! Vernon worked with Tom for eight memorable years. In 1969 Tom and the band went their different ways. Vernon, playing bass guitar, continued working with other top entertainers before teaming up with his wife, forming the duo, Vernon and Maya, singing country music. Later, during the Nineties, he also teamed up with and old friend, Vic Cooper, who played piano with The Squires. They played the Swiss Alps and Costa del Sol as a country rock duo, Vernon on Telecaster guitar. At the end of the Nineties, drummer Chris Slade, who had been with The Senators from the beginning, along with The Fortunes guitarist Ricky Purcell, teamed up with Vernon and Vic and hit the road with the band again, lasting for about a year. Having lived in London since 1964 Vernon decided in 2002, along with his family, to settle on the Gower Peninsular, Swansea. Whilst there, playing the club circuit, he composed The Liberation Hymn, recorded by Treorchy Male Choir and released for the Help 4 Heroes charity. Afterwards, the anthem was adopted by Cardiff FC, played at every home game. A highlight for Vernon was when he was invited to sing his composition with Treorchy Choir at the Stadium, the home game against Newcastle United in the Premier League, October, 2013, televised to over 200 countries and one million viewers. In 2018 the powerful war anthem was chosen, along with three other classical pieces, for a charity EP, Elegy To The War Horse, coinciding with the unveiling of a magnificent 15 foot monument of a bronze war horse atop a plinth. It stands on a roundabout leading into Ascot, near the racecourse. Dedicated to the millions of war horses killed on the battlefields during the First World War, the charity EP, along with artefacts from the conflict, were placed in a brass cylinder, a shell casing from a cannon and sealed in the plinth. The poignant memorial service was attended by dignitaries, including members of the Royal Family, Parliamentarians and Household Cavalry. Vernon's memoirs, Tom Jones Just Help Yourself, coincides with the release of his new album of self penned songs, on sale from November 2020 Vernon Hopkins is a prolific songwriter whose music has been recorded by Tom Jones, Iris Williams, Billy J Kramer, Penny Lane, Treorchy Male Choir, Swansea Philharmonic Choir and other luminaries.