Shemekia Copeland
Shemekia Copeland (born April 10, 1979) is an American electric blues vocalist.
Career
Copeland was born in Harlem, New York City, United States. She is the daughter of Texas blues guitarist and singer Johnny Copeland. She began singing at an early age and her first public performance was at the Cotton club when she was about 10. She began to pursue a singing career in earnest at age 16. When her father's health began to decline, he took Shemekia on tour as his opening act, which helped establish her name on the blues circuit. Copeland graduated in 1997 from Teaneck High School in Teaneck, New Jersey.
She landed a recording contract with Alligator Records, which issued her debut album, Turn the Heat Up! in 1998, following it up with a tour of the blues festival circuit in America and Europe. Her second album, Wicked, was released in 2000 and featured a duet with one of her heroes, Ruth Brown. It earned her three Blues Music Awards.
The follow-up record, Talking to Strangers, was produced by Dr. John, and in 2005 she released The Soul Truth, produced by Steve Cropper.
Podcasts:
Shemekia Copeland
ALBUMS
- 33 1/3 released: 2012
- The Soul Truth released: 2005
- Wicked released: 2000
- Turn the Heat Up released: 1998
- Never Goin' Back released:
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Never Going Back To Memphis
by: Shemekia CopelandWalked across the room
In a neon light
Dark pair of shades
Blocking out the night
Smoke ring blowing
White Owl Panatella
There wasn't a thing
That man couldn't sell you
He kept a 45 in a Crown Royal bag
Wiped the fingerprints off
Handed me the rag
I'm never going back to Memphis
I'm never going back to Memphis
Little while later
Sirens started screaming
Felt like a nightmare
But you know I wasn't dreaming
Cops walked in
Dog pulling on a chain
Looking for a woman
Ran in from the rain
They sat out front eating fried chicken
While I shivered in a shed
Out behind the kitchen
I'm never going back to Memphis
I'm never going back to Memphis
Don't ask when
'Cause I'm never going back to Memphis again
The river is rising
Sky's getting darker
My mind keeps playing
Some old Junior Parker
Three days waiting
All alone by the tracks
Lying to myself
That man's coming back
Said he'd come around
Unless he was dead
Guess he took another woman
Or a bullet in the head
I'm never going back to Memphis
I'm never going back to Memphis
Don't ask when
'Cause I'm never going back to Memphis again
Never going back
To Memphis again
Too much trouble
You can get in
Never going back
To Memphis again
Never going back
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