LES COPELAND BIOGRAPHY
Les Copeland has always played guitar. He is schooled in most styles and can improvise anything. He fell in love with the blues at a young age upon hearing the music of Mississippi Fred McDowell. Les has travelled all over playing his guitar and learned many different styles. He is a consummate musician, specializing in blues, jazz and roots music.
Les Copeland was born in Kelowna B.C. Canada on August 7,1959. He currently resides with his wife and children in the beautiful Okanagan Valley town of Vernon BC. He has supported his family by playing local gigs and touring. Over the years Les has met some incredibly talented musicians. He has promoted some tours across Canada and made some great friends. Les plays with many people in his home area as well. He has toured across Canada, as rhythm guitarist and also opening act, many times with legendary bluesman David Honeyboy Edwards since their first meeting in 1997. In 2009 Les toured England, Wales, Italy and Austria in the Honeyboy Edwards Trio, with Les on second guitar and Michael Frank on harmonica. A highlight of that tour was playing Venice’s 53rd Biennale Contemporary Music Festival .
Les has also promoted concerts in western Canada and toured with the late Jimmie Lee Robinson, Louisiana Red, Jimmy D.Lane, Dennis Binder and Sonny Rhodes. In May of 2010, Les joined the ranks of Michael Frank’s Earwig Music label with the CD release of Don’t Let The Devil In. This debut CD on Earwig Music is pure Les Copeland as a solo artist and songwriter, with the exception of David Honeyboy Edwards backing Les on 2 cuts with his guitar, and Michael Frank backing Les on 3 cuts with harmonica. Michael Frank has introduced Les Copeland to a worldwide audience with this debut recording. It has received excellent reviews in many publications, including Living Blues, Blues Revue and Vintage Guitar.
Don’t Let The Devil In, shortly after its release, reached #1 on the Canadian Roots Radio Airplay Chart and remains on steady rotation in Canada . In 2010, Don’t Let The Devil In also reached #3 on the worldwide Top 20 Roots Blues Radio Airplay Chart and was a nominee for Blues Revue magazine’s Sponsor The Band Contest.
In April 2011, The Les Copeland Band opened for blues legend Buddy Guy in Kelowna B.C Canada. Upon David Honeyboy Edwards’ official retirement in July of 2011 Michael Frank made it possible to fly to Chicago to visit the elder bluesman. On top of personally taking Les to visit with Honeyboy , Michael took Les to meet and sit in with some of Chicago’s other blues legends, including Mary Lane and Johnny Drummer. Les performed on a live radio broadcast from WNUR radio station at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois with DJ and interviewer Mike Baum.
In August of 2011, Les appeared as a solo performer at Norway’s Notodden Blues Festival.
FOR BOOKINGS AND INFO CONTACT:
Michael Frank at Earwig Music Company Inc.
2054 W. Farwell Avenue Chicago , Illinois U.S.A. 60645-4963
Phone: 773 262-0278
E-mail: mfrank@earwigmusic.com
LOCAL BOOKING AND INFO CONTACT:
Les Copeland
Vernon B.C. Canada
Phone: 250-545-1067
E-mail: les_copeland@yahoo.com
