shemekia copeland

The daughter of Texas blues guitar legend Johnny Copeland, big-voiced singer Shemekia Copeland began opening for her dad at the tender age of 16 – and sometimes stole the show, thanks to her dark, goose-bump-raising alto that can scorch like a blast-furnace. She released her first record in 1997, at 18, and just eight years later this blazingly fresh talent seems ready for a lifetime achievement award. Aside from consistently driving festival crowds wild and getting reviews anyone would kill for, Shemekia has won four W.C. Handy Awards, five Living Blues Awards, and a Grammy nomination. She also tours and plays with the likes of Buddy Guy and B.B. King. Oh, and some rocker over in England named Robert Plant calls her “the next Tina Turner.” But he might just as easily have compared her to Koko Taylor or Etta James. Make way for the “Next Big Thing” in rocking blues and floor-shaking soul.

“Copeland burns white hot, singing with enough power to knock you flat on your back and enough purr to make you want to stay there. ” – Austin Chronicle