A Powerhouse Takes the Opera House

Grammy-nominated blues singer Shemekia Copeland slides back into Maine.

Interview by Evelyn Waugh

Chicago’s Queen of Blues returns to Waterville Opera House on March 9. The daughter of blues legend Johnny Copeland fell hard for Maine on music tours with her father. Today, Shemekia’s drawing her own crowd. Her most recent album, America’s Child, lofted to No. 3 on the Billboard Top Blues Albums charts last summer. We caught up with the award-winning artist soon after the announcement of her five Blues Music Awards nominations, including Album of the Year.

PM: What keeps you coming back?
SC: I’ve been coming to Maine ever since I was a young girl, with my dad. It’s kind of a tradition—the New England tour, you know. I love it.

Did you travel with your father a lot?
Oh my God, my dad would hit all the clubs up there. From Connecticut, Rhode Island, Boston and all over Massachusetts, all over Maine. We were always up there.

What’s the most important musical advice your father gave you?
It has to be a part of you. You have to love it. And you have to be original.

When will you tell that to your son?
As soon as he can understand it.

I loved your cover of the Kinks. Where’d you find the inspiration to blend so many genres?
You know, I just feel like we’re all one big melting pot of music. Gosh, years ago when you went to a record store, the music wasn’t broken up into sections. It was all mixed in together. That’s the way it should be.

Harlem, New Orleans, Texas—these places all have a sound. What’s Maine’s sound?
There are a lot of great musicians up there. I’m friends with a lot of them. A lot of great bands come out of there. They have their own sounds. It’s a mix of blues and funk and soul.

What lullabies does a blues singer sing to her child?
Well, on my latest record I include “Go to Sleepy Little Baby.” I sing that. But, mostly, I sing Sam Cooke songs to him.

What’s the longest time you went without singing a note—and why?
Oh, gosh, I don’t know if I’ve done that. Actually, last year I got sick. That was a time when I really rested my voice.

What are your 30 most embarrassing seconds onstage? Take us there.
One time I was in Europe with Taj Mahal, and his band was doing a song called “I Need Your Lovin’ Everyday.” All I had to say was “I need your lovin’ everyday.” I was so nervous that I couldn’t do it. It got
to that part, and I was just like, oh my God—what am I supposed to say?

What about your 30 best?
Probably singing background for Mick Jagger. But anytime I’ve ever
performed with the greats, you know? Ruth Brown, Koko Taylor, Buddy Guy, Solomon Burke.