Orleans is the band that gave America “Still the One” and “Dance with Me” — two of the most enduring soft-rock anthems of the 1970s — and their story begins in the creative community of Woodstock, New York. Formed in February 1972 by guitarist-songwriter John Hall, keyboardist-vocalist Larry Hoppen, and drummer Wells Kelly, with bassist Lance Hoppen joining later that year, Orleans emerged from the same fertile Catskills scene that nurtured the Band, Van Morrison, and Todd Rundgren. Their sound — tight vocal harmonies, melodic pop-rock craftsmanship, and an easygoing warmth — became the soundtrack of American optimism in the Bicentennial era.
The Woodstock and Ithaca Connections
The Hoppen brothers brought deep Upstate roots. Larry Hoppen attended Ithaca College from 1967 to 1969, and his Ithaca-based band Boffalongo recorded two LPs for United Artists Records, including the original version of “Dancin’ in the Moonlight” — years before King Harvest turned it into an international hit. When Boffalongo dissolved, Hoppen connected with John Hall in Woodstock, and Orleans was born in the same community that had recently hosted the most famous music festival in history.
The band built its core audience touring the clubs and college circuit of the Northeast, earning a reputation as one of the region’s best live acts. Rolling Stone called them “the best unrecorded band in America” — a tag that spoke to their formidable chops and the quality of their performances long before a record deal materialized. They eventually signed with ABC/Dunhill, and their trajectory changed.
Chart Success and Cultural Impact
“Dance with Me” (1975) reached No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100, establishing Orleans as a national act. But it was “Still the One” (1976) — written by John Hall and his wife Johanna — that became their enduring signature. The song peaked at No. 5 on the Hot 100 and was adopted as the ABC television network’s theme song, playing ceaselessly across American airwaves and embedding itself in the national consciousness. Johanna Hall wrote the lyrics after a friend asked why nobody could write a song about staying together instead of breaking up — and the result became one of the most beloved love songs of its decade.
After Hall left for a solo career in 1977 — he would later serve as a U.S. Congressman representing New York’s 19th district — Orleans continued touring and recording. Across 17 albums and over five decades of live performance, the band has maintained a loyal following. Their story — rooted in Woodstock and Ithaca, driven by tight harmonies and smart pop-rock craftsmanship — represents the best of the Upstate New York music tradition: collaborative, community-built, and built to last. Larry Hoppen passed away in 2012, but his brother Lance and the band have continued performing, keeping the music alive for audiences who have loved these songs for nearly half a century. “Still the One” remains one of the most enduring love songs ever written by an Upstate New York band.