Keith Copeland
Keith Copeland (born in New York City on April 18, 1946, died in Germany on February 14, 2015) was a jazz drummer and music educator. Career. His father, Ray Copeland, was a jazz trumpeter, and he learned by watching him, but he decided to play drums after studying Art Blakey's records with The Jazz Messengers. In his teens he played with Barry Harris. He later worked with the Heath Brothers, but Percy Heath disliked his style, leading to arguments and to Copeland quitting. During his musical career, Copeland played with Sam Jones, Billy Taylor, Johnny Griffin, Stevie  Wonder, Rory Stuart, George Russell, and Hank Jones. He also led his own European-based groups, including one with Irish bassist Ronan Guilfoyle. Copeland taught at The New School University in New York City, Rutgers, and Berklee College of Music before moving to Germany in 1992 and teaching in the Hochschule system. His students include Terri Lyne Carrington, Darren Beckett and Adam Cruz. Discography. As sideman. With Paul Bley With Joshua Breakstone With Stanley Cowell With Johnny Griffin With Johnny Hartman With Sam Jones With Charlie Rouse With Rory Stuart With Martin Wind