and colors. American music legend Prine joins distinction she won the year before. She also Shemekia for a stirring duet on his own Great took home the 2016 Blues Music Award (BMA) shEmEkia copEland Rain. Guitar great Cropper adds his scorching for Contemporary Blues Female Artist Of The playing to the ballad Promised Myself, written Year. Outskirts Of Love won the BMA for Best by Shemekia’s father, the late bluesman Johnny Blues Album Of The Year. MOJO said Copeland A M E R I C A’S C H I L D Clyde Copeland. And her version of I’m Not Like was “spectacular, stirring, sanctified and sassy.” Everybody Else transforms the Kinks song into a blues-fueled declaration of independence. Shemekia Copeland has performed thousands of gigs at clubs, festivals and concert halls all Shemekia Copeland never holds back. Her Upon the birth of her son Johnny Lee Copeland over the world and has appeared on national instantly recognizable voice—capable of in 2017, Shemekia, with fresh eyes, began to television, NPR, and in newspapers, films being sultry, assertive and roaring—delivers take an even deeper look at the state of the and magazines. She’s sung with Eric Clapton, every song with unparalleled honesty and world. Of the new album, she says, “After Bonnie Raitt, Keith Richards, Carlos Santana, passion. Her wide-open vision of contemporary having a child, I started thinking about the James Cotton and many others. She opened Americana roots and soul music showcases world I brought him into, how it actually is and for The Rolling Stones and entertained U.S. the evolution of a passionate artist with how I wished it was and all the things he will troops in Iraq and Kuwait. Jeff Beck calls her an up-to-the-minute musical and lyrical have to go through. And to live in this world “amazing.” Santana says, “She’s incandescent... approach. With her new Alligator Records today, you have to have a strong foundation a diamond.” In 2012, she performed with B.B. album, , Copeland confidently America’s Child like I did to make it through. So that’s what King, Mick Jagger, Buddy Guy, Trombone announces an electrifying new chapter in 'America’s child' means to me. I’m truly grateful Shorty, Gary Clark, Jr. and others at the White her constantly evolving story. Produced by to all the artists that joined me on this record— House for President and Mrs. Obama. Americana Instrumentalist Of The Year winner it wasn’t about the genre for anyone, it was Will Kimbrough (who also plays guitar on the about the music and mutual love and respect.” Now, with America’s Child, Shemekia Copeland album) and recorded in Nashville, America’s is standing on the cusp of her greatest success. is a courageous and fiery statement of Child When Shemekia broke on the scene at age Her intensely empowering, American music purpose, a major step forward for the singer 18 in 1998 with her groundbreaking Alligator is as insightful as it is fun. NPR Music says, whose musical consciousness continues Records debut CD Turn The Heat Up, she “She brings a perfect balance of authority and to expand as her star continues to rise. instantly became a blues and R&B force to understatement to each song.” No Depression be reckoned with. News outlets from The adds, “When Shemekia Copeland opens her is by far Copeland’s most America’s Child New York Times to CNN praised Copeland’s mouth, everybody pays attention. She pierces compelling work yet, with music swelling talent, larger-than-life personality, and true your soul. This is how you do it, and nobody beyond blues and into spirited Americana, "America’s Child is a groundbreaking, genre- star power. With each subsequent release, does it better than Shemekia Copeland.” with elements of rock, soul, and country. bending work of beauty. Shemekia is one Copeland’s music has continued to grow. From From America’s Child’s anthemic opening of the great singers of our time. This record her debut through 2005’s The Soul Truth, track, Ain’t Got Time For Hate, to the closing introduces listeners to another side of her, Shemekia earned eight Blues Music Awards, lullaby, the traditional Go To Sleepy Little and I predict it will result in many new fans. a host of Living Blues Awards (including the ALLIGATOR RECORDS & ARTIST MGMT., INC. Her voice on these songs is nothing short of Baby, Shemekia sings with passion and P.O. Box 60234, Chicago, IL 60660 • 773.973.7736 • [email protected] • Bio by Marc Lipkin prestigious 2010 Blues Artist Of The Year) and Cover photo by Kevin Cook • Additional photos by Mike White • Design by Kevin Niemiec insight about the chaos and uncertainty in the magic." –Mary Gauthier more accolades from fans, critics and fellow world while still finding joy all around her. musicians. 2000’s Wicked received a Grammy "Shemekia Copeland is the real deal. nomination. Two highly successful releases on With guests including John Prine, Rhiannon America’s Child goes deep and Shemekia’s Telarc (including 2012’s Grammy-nominated Giddens, Mary Gauthier, Emmylou Harris, Steve voice—a national treasure—carries the songs 33 1/3) cemented her reputation as a singer Cropper, J.D. Wilkes, Al Perkins and members of effortlessly, whether topical, personal, who, according to NPR’s All Things Considered, the Time Jumpers, bursts with spiritual, political or just plain raucous fun. America’s Child “embodies the blues with her powerful vocal Copeland’s bravado and embraces with her Shemekia rears back her head and what comes chops and fearless look at social issues.” out is humanity made vocal." –Will Kimbrough tenderness. Gauthier and songwriter/executive producer John Hahn wrote two striking songs Copeland returned to Alligator Records in 2015 for the project. Smoked Ham And Peaches is "Shemekia Copeland is one of the great blues with the Grammy-nominated Outskirts Of Love. a search for truth and tranquility in America, voices of our time. No one comes close to the She won the 2017 Living Blues Readers’ Award featuring Giddens on African banjo. Americans sheer firepower that Copeland conjures at for Blues Artist Of The Year (Female), the same will." –Chicago Tribune celebrates our collective diversity in all its forms .