Original Bass Player & Vocalist With 70's Hit Makers Keeping The Band's Music Alive

Jeff Walker,  Entertainment Writer

When it comes to the entertainment world, especially the music business, there's no rhyme or reason why some bands have enormous success and others do not. Obviously a lot of factors come into play. Outside of the music (songs) themselves, timing, marketing, money, and support are the major factors in continued notoriety and longevity. Rock and pop music is littered with one hit wonders, as well as those who gave the music two or three really memorable songs.

Originally based out of Woodstock NY, pop rock group Orleans falls into the latter category. Over a stretch of four years in the late 1970's they offered up three timeless soft rock classics including 'Dance With Me' ('75), 'Still the One' ('76), and 'Love Takes Time' ('79), reaching 5, 6, and 11 respectively on the pop charts. 

Original bass player Lance Hoppen knows their history all too well, as he is the lone surviving member to be touring with Orleans, becoming a member of the band in 1972, not long after graduating high school. He joined alongside John Hall, Wells Kelly, and his older brother Larry Hoppen. Wells died unexpectedly in 1984, with Larry passing in 2012 at the age of 61.

"I was just 18 when I joined the band. We started playing clubs in the northeast almost right away. It was fast paced, but we were honing our skills and becoming tight as a band. We'd play three or four days, John would write and we'd record songs, and every Tuesday we'd make our way to New York chasing a record deal."

Persistence paid off. "Eventually we signed with ABC." However, ABC didn't think their first two albums merited any singles, so they were dropped by the label. Fortunately Asylum Records felt differently, with the title track from 'Let There Be Music' reaching 55 on the charts, and the album 'Orleans II' peaking at 33. "We all felt like we were at a turning point."

However, it was the infectious follow up pop single 'Dance With Me' released in the summer of 1975 that impressed Top 40 radio, with the single peaking at #6 by mid October. The track was reworked off the their previous album 'Orleans II'. Hoppen says it kind of caught the band off-guard. 

"It wasn't really the overall sound or direction we were going in. We hadn't been playing anything like it prior. We had recorded it for out last album with ABC. Asylum somehow got the rights to several of our previous recordings, and they believed in the song. Obviously it struck a chord with radio and listeners."

He adds. "I'm not sure based on the sound of 'Dance With Me' how the label described our music. However, due to the success of the single they sent us out on tour with Melissa Manchester."

A year later they would hit pay dirt again with the up-tempo love song 'Still the One' reaching #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, further cementing the band in the soft rock genre. Record World said that it was a "suitable follow-up to 'Dance with Me'" and that "chiming guitars and confident harmony work are the ingredients to make it happen."

Written by Wells and his wife Johanna who were the band's principle songwriters, 'Still the One' was chosen as the theme song for the ABC television network (the parent of ABC Records) with the track being used for an endless number of commercials and movie soundtracks. It proved a cash cow for Wells, who left the band in 1977 for a solo career after the subsequent single 'Reach' stalled at #51 on the charts.

While the band was in limbo, the three remaining original members decided to carry on. "The have and the have nots broke us up. John wasn't happy and I get it. His departure left a hole in the band. We sort of mulled around for a few months, but decided we'd had success so there was no reason to call it quits. We still had three core members in Orleans."

The newly revamped Orleans added veteran session musician and singer Robert Martin, signing with short-lived Infinity Records, which produced 'Love Takes Time'. The single off their fifth album 'Forever' soared to #11 in May of 1979. Sadly, due to Infinity's quick demise follow up albums and singles failed to chart, leaving Orleans struggling to find their footing.

"The 80's was not kind to Orleans. We thought after 'Love Takes Time' that we were ready for an upswing, but that didn't happen. On top of that we had a bad accountant, and we discovered the band was in debt. So we were reduced to playing small clubs just to pay off the debt."

Even worse, Lance had to get a real 9 to 5 job. “I started doing direct sales work. It was the last thing I ever imagined doing. Somehow I managed to excel at it, winning awards, becoming a sales manager and recruiter for the company. My bills got paid as I became this other guy. But all along I longed to be the musician I knew I was meant to be."

Without any clear vision as well as a record deal, Larry and Lance decided to call it quits in 1984. "Larry and I were just burned out." However after Kelly's death later that year, Hall and Larry re-united for a memorial show in his honor.

That sparked an Orleans reunion, with the band members relocating o Nashville, hoping Music City would provide a much needed boost to their careers. Sadly, it did not with the band pulling the plug a second time. "The first time was really bad. The second time was even worse."

Fortunately for Lance he was thrown a short term musical life-line on his birthday (Jan 9th) in 1989 from a couple he had met a decade earlier. "I got a call from Michael Bonagura, who I hadn't seen in 10 years. Turns out he and his wife Kathie were having success with a country band called 'Baillie & the Boys', and they needed a musician for their band. I had to pay the bills and wanted to keep a roof over my head, so I gigged with them for a little while."

By the early 90's the core trio regrouped with the double 'Orleans Live' ('93) CD surprisingly making headway in Japan, prompting the guys to tour Japan. The following year 'Analog Men' again proved favorable in Japan, with the band returning for yet another tour.

In August of that year they were fortunate to perform at Woodstock 94, celebrating the 25th anniversary of the iconic 1969 concert. As 1995 rolled around they were added to the 'Can't Stop Rockin' tour, with Fleetwood Mac, REO Speedwagon, and Pat Benatar.

Hoppen admits he thought Orleans was back on track. "The whole Japan thing took us by surprise. But we were feeling good, putting out new music and touring. Things definitely appeared to be going our way." However, before 1997 ended they decided to take another break.

By the early 2000's they went separate ways. Lance was backing various Nashville acts. His brother Larry who had relocated to Florida partnered with Voices of Classic Rock, a supergroup of talented lead singers of the 70's and '80s backed by a world class touring band, with John spending most of his time writing songs for Nashville artists.

When Larry passed in 2012, Lance took over his brother's role in Voices of Classic Rock, dubbed RPM (Rock & Pop Masters) for a short time, before becoming Greatest Hits Live. "We've backed some the best original lead singers over the years. It's mostly corporate type events."

Over their five decade run, some 20 plus musicians have performed at some point in Orleans, with Lance being the lone mainstay each and every time, with the youngest Hoppen brother Lane eventually becoming a full time member. Through revolving band members and reunions with Hall and the brothers, Orleans has managed to stay active. They have been relegated to the oldies circuit, and continue to tour every year with similar bands that have followed their same career path.

Orleans will be coming to the Charleston Music Hall with fellow 70's hit-makers Firefall. Although Firefall cracked the Top 40 six times, much like Orleans they are known for three classic pop songs, 'You Are the Woman', 'Just Remember I Love You, and 'Strange Way'. 

"Over the years we've toured with bands such as Firefall, Atlanta Rhythm Section, and Pablo Cruise. Most of us know each other, and we're all managed by the same group. Usually each of us will play 45 minutes to an hour. It's clever packaging, and allows the audience a nice trip down memory lane because together we bring a lot of hits to the show."

With just the three recognizable songs, Hoppen says Orleans adds a little extra something to their show. "We do an interesting medley of covers. I don't like to say what they are, but they keep the show moving and the medley is definitely a crowd pleaser."

While all of the bands Hoppen named above, along with Orleans have been labeled soft rock, pop rock, and light rock, they have all been re-categorized in this new era of 'yacht rock', a term Hoppen has embraced but still has issue with. "Based on our few hits I get where they are going. But back in the day when we were playing the clubs, we were a rockin' band." He goes on to say. "When 'Dance With Me' broke, it was a pleasant surprise, but again we hadn't been playing anything like it live."

Orleans has definitely had its share of ups and downs over the lifespan of the group. The passing of Wells and Larry has left Lance and John the sole remaining members that formed in 1972. With John stepping aside for personal reasons including a four year stint as a congressman ('06-10) from the state of New York, Lance has been the glue keeping Orleans together.

"John would do some dates with us on occasion, but he's pretty much been retired from the band since 2022. He's 77, so I get it." Jokingly he adds, "In the beginning I was the kid. Just 18. Now at 74, I'm the old man in the group."

Just how long will Orleans continue? "Hard to say. I'm the lone connection to the band's past. Once I'm done, Orleans is done." And what if any is the legacy of the band Orleans? Hoppen knows that answer with certainty. "We didn't have a ton of hits, but the few that we did are timeless."

Lance Hoppen tasted success at an early age. When times were tough he became a marketer, sold pools, and even worked as a carpenter. One of his greatest achievements hits closer to home. "It took a lot of soul searching, but I've been sober now for 29 years. I'm proud of that."

Through it all he had one particular aim in mind. "My goal was not to be famous, or even seek fame and fortune. I wanted to play music, and do that with my older brother Larry. I played my first gig when I was 14 and I was hooked. From that moment on I wanted to use my skills to as a musician."

Fans of Orleans and Firefall will have an opportunity to see both bands, and enjoy their hits from yesterday, when they perform 7pm at the Charleston Music Hall Sunday October 5th. More at https://www.charlestonmusichall.com/event/orleans-firefall/  For their complete tour visit https://orleansonline.net/tour-dates/ and for more on Greatest Hits Live visit https://www.greatesthits-live.com/