SHEMEKIA COPELAND

5/18/2018
\n
\nFrom the softest whisper to a growling\, full-throated blues roar\, vocalist \;Shemekia Copeland \;boasts a dynamic range and a vibrant personality that together have the music world hailing her as a diva in the making. Daughter of the late Texas blues guitar legend \;Johnny Clyde Copeland\, Shemekia was schooled in his Texas-style blues. But her experiences growing up on the streets of Harlem have infused her music with a deeply personal touch that remains decidedly accessible. Following the release of her debut album\, "\;Turn the Heat Up"\;\, Copeland began receiving a long list of accolades from critics and fans alike. \;The Village Voice \;called her voice "\;nothing short of uncanny\,"\; whileLiving Blues \;referred to it as "\;pure\, beautifully unaffected and powerful."\; And \;The Boston Globe \;proclaimed "\;She roars with a sizzling hot intensity."\; \;
\n
\nWhile still in her 20s\, she'\;s opened for the \;Rolling Stones\, headlined at the \;Chicago Blues Festival \;and numerous festivals around the world\, scored critics choice awards on both sides of the Atlantic (The New York Times and The Times of London) and shared the stage with such luminaries as \;Buddy Guy\, B.B. King\, Taj Mahal\, Mick Jagger\, Eric Clapton \;and \;John Mayer. Heir to the rich tradition of soul-drenched divas like Ruth Brown\, Etta James and Koko Taylor\, Copeland was presented with Taylor&rsquo\;s crown by her daughter\, Cookie\, on June 12\, 2011 at the Chicago Blues Festival and given the honor of the \;new &ldquo\;Queen of the Blues&rdquo\; \;by official proclamation of the City of Chicago and the State of Illinois.
\n
\nHer last album\, "\;Outskirts of Love"\; won a Blues Music Award in the Contemporary Blues Female Artist category in 2016. And she is again nominated for that award in 2018.
\n
\nHer current band lineup is: \;Willie Scandlyn \;(rhythm guitar)\, \;Robin Gould \;(drums)\, \;Kevin Jenkins \;(bass) and \;Arthur Neilson \;(guitar).
\n
\n"\;She belongs to the school of blues belters whose roars could move rocks up hills"\; - \;Jay Ruttenberg\, Time Out NY \;
\n
\nWatch Shemekia'\;s performance on \;The Letterman Show \;HERE
\nWith Gary Clark Jr. at the \;White House \;HERE
\nBuy Tickets