Shemekia Copeland

A veteran blues singer whose career stretches back nearly 20 years, Harlem-born Shemekia Copeland started singing when she was only 16. She put out some terrific albums on Chicago-based Alligator Records before signing to Cleveland-based Telarc Records in 2009. Telarc issued her latest album, last year’s 33 1/3, an excellent collection of tunes that shows off her powerhouse voice right from the start — the rocking opener “Lemon Pie” is a grunge-y number that hits on all cylinders as Copeland intones, “I’m hungry for a job/I’m hungry for the good things I can’t afford.” It’s a sentiment that really strikes a chord in today’s world. (Jeff Niesel)