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S H E M E K I A C O P E L A N D , D O N E
C O M E T O O F A R w r i t t e n b y M a r c L i p k i n
On her new Alligator album, Done Come Too Far, Section on pulsating B-3 organ). On the all-
Copeland continues the story she began telling too-timely "Pink Turns To Red" (written and
on 2018’s ground breaking America’s Child and recorded prior to the May 2022 Uvalde, Texas
2020’s Grammy-nominated Uncivil War, school shooting), Copeland decries America’s
reflecting her vision of America’s past, present gun violence epidemic.
and future. On Done Come Too Far, she delivers Done Come Too Far’s better times and
her hard-hitting musical truths through her brighter days come on just as strong in the fun
eyes, those of a young American Black woman, a and swampy Fried Catfish And Bibles and the
mother, and a wife. But she likes to have a good boot-kickin’, semi-autobiographical "Fell In
time too, and her music reflects that, at times Love With A Honky". Spirits get lifted in
putting her sly sense of humor front and center. Copeland’s celebratory interpretation of Ray
“This album was made by all sides of me—happy, Wylie Hubbard’s Barefoot In Heaven, before
sad, silly, irate—they’re all a part who I am and closing the set with the heartfelt love song,
who we all are. I’m not political. I’m just talking Nobody But You, written by her renowned
about what’s happening in this country.” father, the late Texas bluesman Johnny Clyde
And she doesn’t hold back. Recorded in Copeland.
Nashville and produced by multi- Copeland is used to the spotlight. Born and
instrumentalist/songwriter Will Kimbrough raised in Harlem, New York in 1979, she first
(who also produced her previous two albums), stepped on stage with her famous father at
Done Come Too Far is Copeland at her New York’s Cotton Club when she was eight.
charismatic, passionate, confrontational best. As soon as Copeland released her Alligator
With singular purpose and simmering power, Records debut Turn The Heat Up in 1998 at age
Copeland unleashes the searing, history-fueled 18, she instantly became a blues and R&B
tracks "Too Far To Be Gone" (featuring Sonny force to be reckoned with. The New York
Landreth on scorching slide guitar) and "Done Times and CNN, among many others, praised
Come Too Far" (with Grammy-winner Cedric her talent, larger-than-life personality,
Burnside duetting and playing Mississippi Hill dynamic, authoritative voice and true star
Country blues guitar). “If you think we’re power. With each subsequent release,
stopping,” she sings in both songs, “you got it Copeland’s music continued to evolve. From
wrong.” On "The Talk", Copeland shares the her debut through 2005’s The Soul Truth,
brutally honest, harrowing reality of a Black Shemekia earned eight Blues Music Awards
mother talking with her son about surviving an and a host of Living Blues Awards. 2000’s
encounter with the police (with the great Wicked received the first of her four Grammy
Charles Hodges of the famed Hi Rhythm nominations. After two
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