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I would like to be What is the oddest thing that has happened
during a performance or on tour?
someone young girls In the beginning of my career , we played an
can look up to. outdoor show in a tiny piazza in a small
town in Italy where the audience was only
Someone who made six old ladies dressed in black and three kids
the world a better kicking a soccer ball against the wall. That
was a little strange. But the show must go
place for all. Men, on!! And we played our usual full set.
women, black, white , You are recognized not only for your soulful
gay and straight. voice but for your songwriting abilities.
What is your creative process like when
writing a new song?
John Hahn, my manager, writes most of my
songs. I don’t write often. But since he and I
speak every day he has a pretty good idea of
my feelings on most subjects.
For a collaboration completely outside of
your norm (musically speaking) who would
you like to coproduce with for a completely
different sound?
I’d like to do a record in Africa someday
using African instruments. Maybe work
Vieux Farka Toure.
with someone like Vieux Farka Toure.
What song off the album, Done Come Too
Far resonates the most with you and why?
The Talk is a conversation that I have had
already with my young son. It’s important to
the point of life saving.
Is Done Come Too Far, only half of a
“Shemekia Copeland is the greatest blues singer sentiment, whose response is “too far to be
of her generation.” gone”. Is what you’re really saying is (I’ve)
–The Washington Post ‘Done come too far to be gone?’ Please
elaborate.
Civil Rights is an ongoing struggle. As a
people, we have come too far, fought too
hard, for too long, to stop now.
What would you like your legacy to be?
Historically I’d hope to be considered one of
the greatest blues artists of all time.
On a practical level, I would like to be
W i t h s p e c i a l g u e s t M a r k T S m a l l someone young girls can look up to.
Someone who made the world a better
S A T M A R 4 8 P M place for all. Men, women, black, white , gay
and straight.
