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J Copas started playing guitar at age 16 when he met a new friend
at a SnoBall Stand on Plank Road where he worked. That new
friend's name was Jimmy Chiek. Jimmy taught him his first song
called "Abilene". L J was fascinated with the new
British Sounds especially the Beatles and continued to learn to
play while listening to the records. At age 17 Courtney Westbrook
of the Warbabies heard him playing at an after high school
football practice jam session with several other guitarists and
asked LJ if he would be interested in trying out for a local
Broadmoor band that had just lost a guitarist. LJ passed the
audition, met drummer Terry Burhans and was hired into his first
money making band called "The Phaggs"(used to mean a
cigarette in the cool British slang). Thanks to Sheldon, Hunter,
Raymond and Terry for breaking him into the music business. The
progression of bands he worked with after this first band are as
follows: The Luvrakers (managed by Jim Brown and Danny Kertacy),
Cookie Smith and the Inn Crowd(included Les Wallace of "Potliquor"),
Okra (voted Baton Rouge's best band in the early 70's, managed by
Danny Kertacy which included Jeff Pollard who eventually left the
band to find religion), KinFolk (at the Country Place on
Nicholson), The Copas Brothers (1973-1979), The Bluff Road Band
(Joey Murcia, George Bitzer, Tubby Ziggler, Harold Cowart and
Brenda K at The SouthFork on Airline Hwy), The Copas Brothers 2 on
Bourbon St in New Orleans, LaTouche Cajun Band in New Orleans
(played a major show at the Royal Concert Hall in Glasgow,
Scotland and released 3 CD's), played Solo in Atlanta, GA at the
Moonbean Coffeshop for 3 years as the Customer Jam Night Host on
Tuesday nights and with various musician friends helping out on
Friday and Saturday nights. He has played the Jazz Festival 5
times and has done extensive traveling for his love of music. Now
he is playing as a Solo Artist, in a duo with Steve Smith blazing
on the guitar and harp and in a Trio/Quartet with Pat Copas
helping out on bass/ vocals along with Joe Micelli throwing in
that cajun shuffle on percussion. |
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