Sonny Hopson

by Robert L. Woodard

In the beginning of this year of 2023, Philadelphia lost one of its greatest Disc Jockeys. His name was imprinted into the minds, hearts, and souls of many of the youth’s memories of the 1960s to 1990s. Mr. Harold Sonny Hopson was known as “The Mighty Burner” to his fans.

popular because he would never stop the music. He would play one song and merge it with the next one without stopping the music. This was his style and creative art of playing hit after hit song on the radio.

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Sonny became a permanent fixture at Woodard’s Barbershop, located at the corner of Bryn Mawr and Lebanon Avenues, in the Wynnefield section of Philadelphia. Each time Sonny would enter Woodard’s Barbershop, he would bring a wealth of information about Philadelphia history from a musical perspective. His list was long. I can remember people like Will Smith, The Delfonics, The Intruders, Bunny Sigler, Cody Anderson, Kenny Gamble, Tom Bell and Linda Creed, Georgie Woods, Jocko Henderson, Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes, Carl Helm, E. Steven Collins, Joey Temple, Gary Shepherd, Patti LaBelle, Aretha Franklin and the Temptations, just to name a few.

Sonny had a show on WHAT 1480 AM, a Radio Station that he was intricate in making famous. He was truly one of the “Legends of the Airwaves.” He became

Sonny became so famous that I recall when Muhammad Ali was a guest on WHAT. Ali, because of his religious beliefs, refused to take part in the Vietnam War. State after state revoked his boxing license after he was convicted of Draft Evasion. Sonny Hopson was the man who allowed Muhammad Ali to speak on his radio show. As a result, thousands of people showed up in Fairmount Park to tell the world of boxing – and people around the world – to give Muhammad Ali his license back so he could fight Joe Frazier.

That historical moment happened right here in Philadelphia because of Mr. Harold Sonny Hopson. Muhammad Ali was one of the greatest fighters of all time. However, he came to the greatest communicator of all time to help him get his boxing license back. And that’s a fact that will never be forgotten in the history of this city of Philadelphia and the rest of the world. May you rest in peace, Mr. Harold Sonny Hopson, “The Mighty Burner.” You will surely be missed.

Take the “RACE Test” today for a better way at www.BarbershopTalkHFD.org.

PRH

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by DAVID W. CAVA