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 leader

 * On Target (Jazz Mania, 1993)
 * The Irish Connection (SteepleChase, 1996)
 * Round Trip (SteepleChase, 1997)
 * Postcard from Vancouver (Jazz Focus, 1998)

As sideman
With Howard Alden With Ben Besiakov With Paul Bley With Joshua Breakstone With Charles Brown With Chris Conner With Stanley Cowell With Meredith d'Ambrosio With John Dankworth With Stanton Davis With Frank Foster and the SDR Big Band With Hugh Frasier/Jean Toussaint Quartet With David Gazarov With Al Grey With Johnny Griffin With Johnny Hartman With the Heath Brothers
 * Misterioso (Concord Jazz, 1991)
 * You Stepped Out of a Dream (SteepleChase, 1990)
 * BeBopBeBopBeBopBeBop (SteepleChase, 1990)
 * Echoes (Contemporary, 1987)
 * Evening Star (Contemporary, 1988)
 * Sittin' on the Thing with Ming (Capri, 1993)
 * Remembering Grant Green (Evidence, 1993)
 * The Music of Bud Powell (Double Time, 2000)
 * Tomorrow's Hours (Capri, 2002)
 * All My Life (Bullseye Blues, 1990)
 * As Time Goes by (Enja, 1992)
 * Sienna (SteepleChase, 1989)
 * Departure #2 (SteepleChase, 1990)
 * Hear Me One (SteepleChase, 1996)
 * The Cove (Sunnyside, 1988)
 * Love Is Not a Game (Sunnyside, 1991)
 * Echoes of Harlem (Compendia, 1988)
 * Brighter Days (Outrageous Records Incorporated, 1977)
 * A Fresh Taste of the Blues (Intercord, 1996)
 * Back to Back (Jazz Focus, 1998)
 * Autumnal Giant Steps (Episode Records, 1994)
 * Christmas Stockin' Stuffer (Capri, 1992)
 * Return of the Griffin (Galaxy, 1978)
 * Once in Every Life (Bee Hive, 1980)
 * In Motion (Columbia, 1979)

With Sam Jones With Mark Kirk With Ann Malcolm With Susannah McCorkle With Sandy McLeod With Jackie Paris With Bill Pierce With Mike Richmond With Bob Rockwell With Charlie Rouse With George Russell With Perico Sambeat With Larry Schneider With Jurgen Seefelder With Louis Smith With Rory Stuart With Billy Taylor With Chris Walden With Chris White With Martin Wind
 * The Bassist! (Interplay, 1979)
 * Lavender Mist (Jazz Mania, 1993) with Steve Gilmore
 * Incident'ly (Sound Hills Records, 1994)
 * I'll Take Romance (Concord Jazz, 1992)
 * Conversations with Love (CGM, 2003)
 * Nobody Else but Me (Audiophile, 1988)
 * Complete William the Conqueror Sessions (Sunnyside, 1995)
 * Dance for Andy (SteepleChase) (1989)
 * Shades of Blue (SteepleChase, 1996)
 * The Upper Manhattan Jazz Society (Enja, 1981 [1985]) with Benny Bailey
 * Electronic Sonata for Souls Loved by Nature (Soul Note, 1980)
 * So What (Blue Note, 1987)
 * Uptown Dance (EGT, 1992)
 * Just Cole Porter (SteepleChase, 1991)
 * Blind Date (SteepleChase, 1992)
 * Freedom Jazz Dance (Steeplechase, 1996)
 * Naide (Westwind Records, 1996)
 * Ballads for Lulu (SteepleChase, 1990)
 * Once in a While (SteepleChase, 2000)
 * Hurricane (Sunnyside, 1986)
 * Where've You Been? (Concord Jazz, 1981)
 * Ticino (ACT, 1996)
 * The Chris White Project (Muse, 1992)
 * Gone with the Wind (September, 1993) with Bill Mays
 * Tender Waves (A Records, 1995)