Preview by Jon Donnis
The Session Man: Nicky Hopkins is one of the greatest session musicians you’ve probably never heard of now a new feature documentary celebrates the unsung rock and roll hero whose contributions helped create some of the most iconic music of all time
There is a certain irony in how some of the most recognisable music ever recorded can be traced back to a man whose name rarely made the sleeve. That quiet absence is exactly what makes the arrival of The Session Man feel so overdue. Landing digitally in the UK on 4 May 2026 through Reel2Reel Films, the documentary turns its full attention to Nicky Hopkins, a musician whose influence has long echoed louder than his public profile.
Directed by Mike Treen and produced by John Wood alongside Mike Sherman, the film sets out to correct that imbalance. It traces the life of a pianist who helped define the sound of an era while deliberately staying out of its spotlight. Hopkins built a career across more than three decades, navigating personal setbacks while quietly shaping the recordings of some of the biggest names in popular music.
His list of collaborators reads like a map of rock history. He worked extensively with The Beatles, even contributing to solo work from all four members, including John Lennon’s Imagine. His relationship with The Rolling Stones was equally significant, appearing across fourteen of their albums. From The Kinks and The Who to Rod Stewart, Dusty Springfield and Jeff Beck, his fingerprints are everywhere. The reach extends even further, touching the work of Cat Stevens, Peter Frampton, Joe Cocker, Art Garfunkel, Ella Fitzgerald and Carly Simon, among many others.
Across more than 250 albums and countless singles, Hopkins developed a style that felt instantly recognisable yet never intrusive. His piano lines carried songs without overwhelming them. You hear it in Revolution, in Sympathy for the Devil, in Angie, in Jealous Guy, in You Are So Beautiful. Each track carries a trace of his touch, a subtle lift that turns a good recording into something lasting.
Recognition, when it finally came, arrived long after his passing. Over thirty years on, Hopkins was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in November 2025, with another honour set to follow at the Musicians Hall of Fame on 28 April 2026. The timing gives this documentary a certain weight. It feels less like a rediscovery and more like a correction.
Narrated by Bob Harris, the film gathers voices from across that golden era, including Keith Richards, Mick Jagger, Pete Townshend, Peter Frampton and Bill Wyman. There is also a more personal perspective through his widow, Moira Hopkins, who helps bring the man behind the music into clearer focus.
The Session Man does not try to rewrite history. It simply fills in the space that was always there, the space behind the piano, where one of rock’s most important musicians quietly shaped the sound of a generation.
On digital 4 May from Reel2Reel Films
APPLE TV - https://apple.co/4dJn3f3
