Harlem-bred blues vocalist Shemekia Copeland grew up performing since childhood, accompanying her father, legendary bluesman and guitarist Johnny “Clyde” Copeland, onstage across the country. Shortly after his untimely demise in 1997 from heart disease, Shemekia embarked on her own career and signed her first recording contract with Alligator Records. She released her debut album, May 1998’s Turn the Heat Up!, which created a buzz around Copeland’s sound and persona—reminiscent of the late, great blues pioneer Big Mama Thornton. Her second album, September 2000’s Wicked, featuring R&B legend Ruth Brown, picked up three Blues Music Awards and also earned a Grammy nomination.

She put out her follow-up single and the third album’s title track, “Talking To Strangers,” in September of 2002; produced by famed New Orleans piano man Dr. John. Three years later, she released August 2005’s Soul Truth. In 2008, Copeland signed with Telarc International and released February 2009’s Never Going Back, September 2012’s 33 1/3, and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Blues Album.

September 2015’s Outskirts of Love was also nominated for a Grammy and August 2018’s riveting America’s Child, addresses the racial tumult of current America. Copeland took home album of the year at the 40th Blues Music Awards. In May 2020, she also picked up the award for Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year. Most recently, she was named 2020 Living Blues Female Artist of the Year for her latest single, “Uncivil War” released on Juneteenth, 2020 bearing the same title as the album tackles issues of injustice, inequality and social unrest. Copeland has snagged prestigious awards and earned coveted titles throughout her career. She’s also won DownBeat magazine’s “Rising Star Blues Artist” title and was crowned “Queen of the Blues” by the legendary Koko Taylor’s daughter, Cookie Taylor.