R.I.P.: Harold Hopson, Longtime Philly Radio Personality

1937-2023

Radio personality  Harold Hopson, known as “The Mighty Burner” who became a prominent figure in the Philadelphia music scene, died on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023. 

He was 85, according to The Philly Tribune.

Hopson, who credited Jerry “The Geator” Blavat as one of his mentors, spent a substantial portion of his radio career at WHAT-AM, beginning in 1965. Later, he worked as the president’s assistant at WDAS. After maintaining high ratings, he ventured off into other avenues, including serving as the co-host of the Ed Hurst and Georgie Woods shows and MC of the Miss Black America Show.

Hopson became a manager and producer for jazz musicians like Charles Earland and the Fantastic Johnny C and became acquainted with jazz singer Billy Eckstine. He owned four neighborhood clubs, including the Astro Disc Club in Philadelphia’s downtown and Sonny Hopson’s Celebrity Lounge in Germantown.

His autobiography, “The Untold Story,” which he self-published, says he pressed charges against ABC, CBS and other television stations concerning the underrepresentation of Black coverage in the media.

His son, Harold “Dietz” Hopson, who is also a musician, told the Tribune that his father allowed him to sit around prominent music figures growing up, including the Delfonics. He described his father as someone who would never let you give up on your dreams.  “My dad lived by a code. He was always a respectable and honorable guy who never asked for anything in return,” he said. “He had all of these stories and met a lot of these famous people, and I couldn’t believe that this was the guy I was eating pancakes with.”