Descriptive Summary
Copeland, Johnny.
King, B. B.
National Public Radio (U.S.)
Johnny
Copeland and Texas Blues program
1987
Materials are written in English.
87-066
1 audiocassette
Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The
University of Texas at Austin
Recorded off-the-air in February 1987, the Johnny
Copeland and Texas Blues Program, 1987, comprises one audiocassette of
the radio program Johnny Copeland and Texas
Blues, narrated by B. B. King for the NPR series Horizons. The program discusses the life of Texas guitarist Johnny
Copeland and the history of blues in Texas, including the influences of T-Bone
Walker, Blind Lemon Jefferson, and Lightning Hopkins as well as Copeland’s impact on
the development of blues music.
Biographical Note
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.
Scope and Contents
Recorded off-the-air in February 1987, the
Johnny
Copeland and Texas Blues Program, 1987, comprises one audiocassette of
the radio program Johnny Copeland and Texas
Blues, narrated by B. B. King for the NPR series Horizons. The program discusses the life of Texas guitarist Johnny
Copeland and the history of blues in Texas, including the influences of T-Bone
Walker, Blind Lemon Jefferson, and Lightning Hopkins as well as Copeland’s impact on
the development of blues music.
Access Restrictions
This collection is open for research use.
Index Terms
Subjects (Persons)
Copeland, Johnny.
King, B. B.
Subjects (Organizations)
National Public Radio (U.S.)
Subjects
Blues (Music) -- Texas.
Blues musicians -- Texas -- Biography.
Guitar music (Blues) -- Texas.
Horizons series.
Places
Houston (Tex.) -- History -- 20th
century.
United States -- History -- 20th
century.
Preferred Citation
Johnny Copeland and Texas Blues Program, 1987,
Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin.
Processing Information
Basic processing and cataloging of this collection was supported with funds from the
National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) for the Briscoe
Center’s “History Revealed: Bringing Collections to Light project,” 2009-2011.
Detailed Description of the Papers
Inventory:
2.325/S54
Audiocassette, 1987