Johnny Copeland passed away on July 3, 1997, at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York City. The veteran bluesman and Gibson Endorsee underwent heart surgery a week before his death in order to repair a defective heart valve. He died as the results of complications from that surgery.

Johnny fought hard the last few years, undergoing eight heart surgeries since March of 1995, including a New Years day 1997 heart transplant. The most recent surgery was to repair a defective heart valve in the new heart he had received from the January 1 transplant.

In April, after recuperating from the transplant Johnny began working again, and performed both regionally in the Northeast and as far away as Houston, Texas and Memphis TN.

Johnny was a man loved by all who knew him. He enriched the lives of all whom he came into contact with. Aside from his stature in the hierarchy of blues artists, he was a magnificent person who didn't have an enemy in the world. He was a generous family man who was always there to help out friends and his fellow musicians.

Johnny was born in Haynesville Louisiana and moved to Texas at the age of thirteen. From the early fifties Johnny was an important figure on the Texas blues circuit. He scored a regional hit in 1958 with "Rock n' Roll Lilly". As the Houston market for his brand of blues declined, he moved to New York's Harlem in 1975.

In 1981 his career gained new momentum as he signed to Rounder Records. His debut release was the supercharged "COPELAND SPECIAL". A series of successful releases for Rounder followed. including "BRINGING IT ALL BACK HOME" which was inspired by Johnny's recent 10 country tour of West Africa.

In 1986 he collaborated with Albert Collins and Robert Cray for the W.C. Handy and Grammy award winning "SHOWDOWN!" album on Alligator Records. In the 1990s his career continued to grow, fueled by strong touring and two excellent cds on Verve Records. Johnny recorded his final Verve CD, "JUNGLE SWING" which was released while Johnny waited for his transplant.

The blues community stood firmly behind Johnny since his heart condition became critical during a tour in Colorado in March of 1995. Their generous support through fund raising, benefit concerts and donations was reassuring and strengthening to Johnny. Johnny continued to perform sporadically while on the LVAD (a battery powered pump that was embedded in his chest, and remained there for 18 months before the transplant). His strength and determination was an inspiration to all. His desire to keep performing while on the heart pump landed both him and the pump vast exposure on Good Morning America, The NBC Nightyly News, CBS Newswatch, CNN and other media outlets, both national and international.

Johnny will be sorely missed. The intensity and sincerity of his artistry had a long lasting and powerful effect on people. Watching him close the 1993 Chicago Blues Festival, where tens of thousands of people swayed and cheered to his every guitar lick and vocal phrase, as he stalked like a confident predator across the stage, will forever be embedded in my memory as a testimony to his ability to communicate with audiences, his power to move people, and his lofty place in the blues world. He was a leader in the blues community. His songs were refreshingly his own. His trademark style fresh and original. The emotion and conviction in his playing, and the poignant sentiments of his lyrics, and his ability to blend influences; albeit jazz, jump blues, Texas blues or African rhythms and instrumentation, secure his ongoing legacy for generations to come. As long as there is blues, there Johnny "Clyde" Copeland will be, a defining artist, the consummate performer, forever etched in the annals of the blues.
Steve Hecht - 7/3/97

Johnny's wake was Monday July 7, at Benta's Funeral Home, 630 St. Nicholas Ave NYC NY. The visitation took place in Houston on Wednesday, July 9 at James Stripling Funeral Home, 1402 Cleburne. The funeral was held at St. Agnes Church in Houston, on Thursday, July 10.

Any donations, condolences, or cards should be sent to:

Johnny Copeland Heart Fund c/o Manny's Car Wash 1558 Third Ave New York City, NY 10128

A benefit concert is scheduled for August 21 at Manny's Car Wash.

You can read an interview with Johnny at realblues.com