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Shemekia Copeland was born in Harlem, New York on April 10, 1979, and came to her singing career naturally. Her bluesman father recognized his daughter's talent early on. He always encouraged her to sing at home and even brought her on stage to sing at Harlem's famed Cotton Club when she was just eight. At that time Shemekia's embarrassment outweighed her desire to sing. But when she was 15 and her father's health began to slow him down, she received the calling. "It was like a switch went off in my head," recalls Shemekia, "and I wanted to sing. It became a want and a need. I had to do it." 

At 16, Shemekia joined her father on his tours after he was diagnosed with a degenerative heart condition. Soon enough Shemekia was opening, and sometimes even stealing, her father's shows. "She grabbed the crowd with her powerful voice, poised and intense," raved Blues Revue at the time. Eventually, though, it became clear to Shemekia who was helping whom. "Dad wanted me to think I was helping him out by opening his shows when he was sick, but really, he was doing it all for me. He would go out and do gigs so I would get known. He went out of his way to get me that exposure," recalls Shemekia. 

Shemekia stepped out of her father's shadow in 1998 with her groundbreaking debut CD, Turn The Heat Up, recorded when she was only 18. Critics from around the world celebrated her music as fans of all ages agreed that an unstoppable new talent had arrived. News outlets from the New York Times to CNN took note of Copeland's talent, engaging personality, and true star power. "Nothing short of uncanny," said the Village Voice. "She roars with a sizzling hot intensity," added the Boston Globe. 

Copeland followed up with 2000's Grammy-nominated Wicked, 2002's Talking To Strangers (produced by Dr. John) and 2008's The Soul Truth (produced by Steve Cropper). In that short period of time, she earned eight Blues Music Awards, a host of Living Blues Awards (including the prestigious 2010 Blues Artist Of The Year) and more accolades from fans, critics and fellow musicians. Two highly successful releases on Telarc (including 2012's Grammy-nominated 33 1/3) cemented her reputation as a singer who, according to NPR's All Things Considered, "embodies the blues with her powerful vocal chops and fearless look at social issues." USA Today says, "Copeland is a singer with fervor and funk, power and range." 

Copeland has performed thousands of gigs at clubs, festivals and concert halls all over the world and has appeared on national television, NPR, and in newspapers, films and magazines. She is a mainstay on countless commercial and non-commercial radio stations. She's sung with Eric Clapton, Bonnie Raitt, B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Carlos Santana, James Cotton and many others. She opened for The Rolling Stones and entertained U.S. troops in Iraq and Kuwait. Jeff Beck calls her "f*cking amazing." Santana says, "She's incandescent…a diamond." At the 2011 Chicago Blues Festival, the City of Chicago and the State of Illinois officially declared Copeland to be "The New Queen Of The Blues." In 2012, she performed at the White House for President and Mrs. Obama. Afterward, Jagger (with whom she sang) sent her a bottle of champagne.

Turn The Heat Up - Copeland Shemekia

Turn The Heat Up

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Shemekia Copeland - Married to the Blues

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Based in Los Angeles, California, The String Revolution is comprised of four professional guitar players who are not only stellar guitarists, but also create distinctive sounds with their guitars: mimicking percussion, special effects, melodic grooves, bass lines, and more. Their knowledge of a wide range of musical styles, guitar techniques, and a clear dedication and passion for the project brought The String Revolution together. 

Janet Robin (recently named “Top 50 Acoustic Guitarist” by Guitar Player Magazine, 2017), acclaimed Austrian nylon-string guitarist Markus Illko, Swiss multi-credited producer, songwriter, & guitarist Daniel Schwarz, and underground LA fav indie artist/guitarist Art Zavala Jr. are at the top of their game, embarking on a new recording mixed and mastered by Grammy nominated Matt Hyde, known for his work with guitarists, Rodrigo y Gabriela.

The band has been selling out regional venues and house concerts and will soon embark on international touring. Their shows include original compositions as well as memorable covers arranged in fresh and surprising ways utilizing their expert guitar skills. With entertaining guitar chops, exceptional musicianship, and an international background, The String Revolution is no doubt a new and unique force in the world of music and guitar performance.

03 - Sara K. - Turned My Upside Down

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