Monday, January 22, 2007

Wilmington, N.C. - Groundbreaking, Harlem-bred vocalist Shemekia Copeland brings her fiery blues to UNC Wilmington's Kenan Auditorium at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 14. The concert is presented as part of the UNCW Presents Arts in Action Performance Series and co-sponsored by the UNCW Upperman African American Cultural Center.

Daughter of the daughter of the late Texas blues guitar legend Johnny "Clyde" Copeland, Shemika Copeland seems to have inherited her father's musical gifts. She sings in a hard-edged, brassy voice that hints heavily at Gospel and R&B influences. Born in Harlem in 1979, her father encouraged her singing from the beginning. He brought her on the Cotton Club stage when she was just eight years old. She began to pursue a career in earnest at age 16. When her father's health declined because of heart disease, he took Copeland on tour with him as his opening act, which helped establish her name on the blues circuit.

She made a splash when she entered the national scene in 1997 with the release of her debut CD, Turn the Heat Up. Since then this singing sensation has taken the music world by storm - she holds four W.C. Handy Awards, five Living Blues Awards, and a Grammy nomination. Critics have fawned over her stunning vocals, which burst with energy and passion.

For the UNCW concert, Copeland's performance will be electric but she utilizes traditional acoustic instruments and incorporates songs and rhythms from string band, gospel, work songs and "shouts" of black laborers, country and blues music repertoires. Her vocals are powerful and emotional with the spirit of classic Memphis soul but, at the same time, contemporary and up-to-the-minute. Copeland says, "When people hear 'Blues,' they think it's sad music by old men from Mississippi, but Blues has evolved and grown."

Described as satisfying, original, heartfelt, and memorable, her music favors stories of female strength. The Village Voice says, "Young Shemekia is the most soul-shaking, big-voiced blues singer in years, attacking contemporary material like the early Etta James." Copeland's passion for singing, matched with her huge, blast-furnace voice, gives her music the timeless power and heart-pounding urgency of a very few greats who have come before her.

BOX OFFICE AND TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets are $6 for university and area students, $14 for UNCW faculty/staff and senior citizens, and $18 for all others. For tickets, call Kenan Box Office at 910.962.3500 or 800.732.3643 outside the Wilmington area or visit uncw.edu/presents. Box Office hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.

About UNCW Presents

UNCW Presents annually brings to the southeastern NC region a full season of performing arts, visual arts and lectures by world-famous artists and speakers as well as astounding newcomers through its three dynamic programs: Leadership Lecture Series, Arts in Action Performance Series and the University Union Exhibit Series. The Arts in Action Performance Series seeks to culturally enrich, educate and entertain both students and the general public through the presentation of diverse programs featuring professional, high-quality performing artists. For more information, please visit the UNCW Presents web site at www.uncw.edu/presents

UNCW Presents is a member of the NC Presenters Consortium and the US National Association of Performing Arts Presenters. The 150 member venues of the NC Presenters Consortium may be visited at www.ncpresenters.org.

Full schedule and images available for download at www.uncw.edu/stuaff/activities/UNCWPresents/about-presskit.htm

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Media Contact: Shannon Hooker, 910.962.7600, hookers@uncw.edu