Born in Louisiana, blues guitarist and singer Johnny Copeland (1937-1997) was raised in Houston, Texas, where he formed the band Dukes of Rhythm. Although he recorded albums and performed with Sonny Boy Williamson and Bib Mama Thornton in Texas, Copeland only received recognition after moving to New York City in 1975. Six years later, he signed with Rounder Records and released his album with Arthur Blythe and Byard Lancaster, Copeland Special . In 1982, during a tour of West Africa, Copeland recorded Bringing It All Back Home, becoming one of the first American blues musicians to record in Africa, and, in 1986, he won a Grammy Award for his album with Albert Collins and Robert Cray, Showdown . Diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, Copeland underwent seven open-heart operations in the 1990s. Receiving a heart transplant in 1996, he died due to complications of surgery to repair a heart valve the next year.
Source:
Strauss, Neil. Johnny Copeland, 60, Who Sang Texas Blues and Played Guitar. New York Times, July 4, 1997.
From the guide to the Johnny Copeland and Texas Blues, program 87-066., 1987, (Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin)
