THE SESSION MAN is a biopic documentary film that tells the story of Nicky Hopkins, the prolific virtuoso session pianist. Classically trained at The Royal Academy of Music, London, Nicky could play Rock and Roll piano like nobody else.

Over a career that spanned 30 years, contributing on over 250 albums, Nicky’s legendary piano riffs and dazzling musical motifs helped ordinary tracks become iconic. During that time, he played with some of the greatest bands in the world.

By the late 1960’s Nicky was one of the busiest and most successful session players in London. Then he joined the Jeff Beck Group with Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood. It took him to America. He settled in Mill Valley enjoying the free-wheeling San Francisco ‘Bay Area Bands’ and playing at Woodstock with Jefferson Airplane. 

The 1970’s were his most successful period, commuting across The Atlantic to play with The Stones, with John Lennon, and on countless sessions in Los Angeles.  From hard rock to ballads like Joe Cocker’s You Are So Beautiful, he could play it all.

Living with Crohn’s disease since his teens, his ability to tour was limited, although he would manage tours with The Rolling Stones, Joe Cocker and Art Garfunkel. But it was in the recording studio where he became a legend amongst his peers. As Keith Richards recounts, “We were coming up with songs that [were] absolutely beyond Stu’s - let alone capabilities - his dreams! He didn’t want to know! So, I think that Stu called and said, ‘The only guy that can handle this is Nicky Hopkins.’” Nicky ended up playing on a total of 14 Stones albums.

The Session Man’s narrator, Bob Harris, former presenter of BBC’S The Old Grey Whistle Test, had no hesitation in confirming that, “His contributions on their records made him Rock and Roll’s greatest Session Man.”

Rome Indie Film Festival 2024  - ‘Award Winner’

LA Indie Film Festival 2024  - ‘Best Foreign Film Award’

Documentaries Without Borders International  - ‘Outstanding Excellence Award’                                                                        

“There were many great session players but few as distinctive as Hopkins. …But when he sat at the piano, he brought a unique combination of musical and personal skills: harmonic richness with melodic flair.”

UNCUT MAGAZINE

“This profile lacks little for star names paying tribute to ‘rock’n roll’s’ greatest session man.”

MOJO MAGAZINE

“He could do it all, soul, blues, rock, with a classical discipline. The Session Man is technically rich, deeply informative, and truly affectionate.”

LOUREVIEWS LONDON FILMS

“For a whole slam of rock legends and royalty, there is one key figure in modern music history and legend that has helped not only define but shape the course and destiny of the music that billions have grown and loved through the decades since the birth of rock and roll. Nicky Hopkins is that name with the talent for elevating a number or two.  THE SESSION MAN, reflects on the life, times and (perhaps) legend of this very talented and unique individual.”                                                                                

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