Shemekia Copeland has received international acclaim, with the Boston Globe declaring, “she roars with a sizzling hot intensity.” She will be appearing at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts this June.
Shemekia Copeland will perform at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts at 7:30 p.m. June 11.
At a young age, Copeland became a force to be reckoned with in the blues. While still in her 20s, she’s opened for the Rolling Stones, headlined at the Chicago Blues Festival and numerous festivals around the world, scored critic’s 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 and John Mayer. Heir to the rich tradition of soul-drenched divas like Ruth Brown, Etta James and Koko Taylor, Copeland’s shot at the eventual title of “Queen of the Blues” is pretty clear.
By some standards, she may already be there. Born in Harlem, New York, in 1979, Copeland came to her singing career under the guidance of her father, the late Texas blues guitar legend Johnny Clyde Copeland, who recognized his daughter’s talent early on. At only 19, Shemekia stepped out of her father’s shadow with the Alligator release of 1998 debut recording, Turn the Heat Up!, and the critics raved. The Village Voice called her “nothing short of uncanny,” while the Boston Globe proclaimed that “she roars with a sizzling hot intensity.” A year later, she appeared in the Motion Picture Three To Tango, while her song “I Always Get My Man,” was featured in the film Broken Hearts Club. Her second album, Wicked, released in 2000, scored three Handy Awards (Song of the Year, Blues Album of the Year, Contemporary Female Artist of the Year) and a GRAMMY nomination. Two years later, New Orleans R&B legend Dr. John stepped in to produce her third recording, Talking To Strangers (2002), which Vibe called “a masterful blend of ballsy rockers and cheeky ballads.” Copeland released The Soul Truth in 2005. The album was produced by legendary Stax guitarist Steve Cropper (who also played on the CD), and featured generous doses of blues, funk and Memphis-flavored soul. She joined Telarc International for the February 2009 release of Never Going Back.
Contact the North Shore Music Association at (218) 387-1272 for more information.
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