Hopper returns to town to make music, settle down

Thursday, May 10, 2007 | 7:27 a.m.

Who: Jimmy Hopper

When: 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

Where: Suncoast Showroom

Tickets: $19.95 and up; 636-7075

Jimmy Hopper has been described as Freddie Mercury meets Andrea Bocelli, an allusion that appeals to the flamboyant crooner.

He sings songs from deep in his heart, and he does it with a lot of style.

"My concert tour, 'Journey of the Heart,' is kind of like rock meets opera, classical meets Broadway."

To see all these permutations, you can catch up with Hopper at the Suncoast on Saturday and Sunday.

Hopper developed a loyal local fan base during his four years or so at the Bellagio's Fontana, an elegant showroom/lounge that overlooks the fountains. He gave up the gig two or three years ago to go on tour, returning occasionally to perform corporate or other private dates.

He moved to Manhattan, but recently returned to Las Vegas and bought a home at the Southern Highlands Golf Club for him and his new wife.

Hopper says he would like to find a permanent gig in Las Vegas. Meanwhile he keeps busy touring and working on a play he says is destined for Broadway.

"While I was in Manhattan I began writing this Broadway musical with my partner, Mickey Charles. We're very excited. I'm doing the music. He wrote the lyrics."

The musical, called "The Day There Was No More Music," is a fantasy that takes place in a town called La Di Dum where the world revolves around music - a saxophone is a slide in a city park, a microphone boom is a traffic signal, percussion instruments grow on trees.

Hopper describes the plot: A wicked witch puts a spell on the king that causes music to hurt his ears. He's forced to do away with music in his kingdom, which begins to wither away.

But the ending will be happy.

"All stories need to have a happy ending," Hopper says.

For his fans it will be his return to Las Vegas, which could also be a happy beginning.