Shemekia Copeland is no newcomer to Blues. A mere 33 years old, he has opened for the Rolling Stones and been nominated for two GRAMMYs. She has performed with legends such as Mick Jagger, B.B. King, Buddy Guy, and Eric Clapton. Her soulful, throaty voice has graced the stage at numerous music festivals the world over, including the XPoNential Music Festival. And, she has performed at the White House.

Copeland's stregnth lies in the sheer power of her voice. A melodic powerhouse, She is sometimes compared to Tina Turner - and with good reason. The music she produces combines the sounds of the city with a vocal tour-de-force. Her fans include Maya Angelou, Carlos Santana, and Robert Plant.

Born in Harlem in 1979 to Texas blues guitarist Johnny Clyde Copeland, Shemika grew up with music around every corner. She first performed (at her father's request) in Harlem's old Cotton Club when she was only eight. At fifteen, with her father's health failing, Shemika turned to music as a refuge. At nineteen, she released Turn the Heat Up! on Alligator Records. A year later, she appeared in the movie, Three to Tango. In the year following that motion picture debut, she released her second album, Wicked.

Wicked (2000) garnered Copeland three Handy awards (Song of the Year, Blues Album of the Year, and Contemporary Female Artist of the Year). It also earned her a GRAMMY nomination.

Copeland's third album, Talking to Strangers, was released in 2002 and was praised as a bold and well-crafted departure from her previous works. Three years later, in 2005, she released The Soul Truth to critical acclaim. In it, she collaborated with Stax guitar man Steve Cropper, who also produced the album.

In 2009, Copeland released Never Going Back, her fifth album, this time under the Telarc label. Her new album is due out September 26, called "33 1//3" on Telarc. Shemekia's musical backing includes Arthur Neilson on guitar, Willie Scandlyn on rhythm guitar, Kevin Jenkins on bass, and Morris Roberts on the drums.

In addition to XPN's Free At Noon, Shemekia Copeland plays a full show at World Cafe Live on Friday night, September 28, 2012!

Website: shemekiacopeland.com/
Facebook: facebook.com/shemekiacopelandband
Recent Release: 33 1/3
Release Date: 09/25/2012
Label: Telarc

Hometown: Harlem, NY