NEW YORK (CelebrityAccess) Citizen Cope, aka producer/songwriter Clarence Greenwood, is dropping his first album in seven years next month. Greenwood has been busy raising a child, writing music and maintaining touring but Heroin And Helicopters will be his first full-on return with new music. The album’s name is inspired by Carlos Santana who told Greenwood to “Stay away from the two H’s, heroin and helicopters” because those two things are fatal to musicians and celebrities.
Cope’s music has been recorded by Santana, Sheryl Crow, Richie Havens and Ryhmefest, with Crow making a hit out of “Sideways” from his 2002 debut album.
He cracked the Billboard 200 for the first time with 2006’s ‘Every Waking Moment,’ then launched his own label to release 2010’s The Rainwater LP and 2012’s One Lovely Day, his highest charting album to date.
Citizen Cope has sold more than 1 million records, and he’s earned praise from Rolling Stone and The Washington Post, who dubbed him “DC’s finest export since Marvin Gaye.” The tour includes a special appearance at NYC’s Beacon Theatre.
The new album drops March 1.
It’s been seven years between albums, plus you had a kid in that time. How active were you with your career.
I was just touring for a long time and also writing. I was just raising my daughter and basically spending time with her as well. I’d done a bunch of records that I thought were really strong. I just kind of wanted to make this special. I didn’t feel it was time to put out a record, and now is the time, I guess.
You are about to announce an extensive tour. Are you doing an acoustic tour? Are you taking a band with you?
This is a full-on band tour. I haven’t done a full band tour in a while. It’s going to be production and everything. It’s going to be a great thing.
Well, acoustic tours can be efficient and financially safer.
It’s not just that for me. It’s not about the finances. It’s about the intimacy that I get. I write my songs from an acoustic guitar perspective so it’s kind of giving people insight on the songs, and I love to produce music. The song and the production is usually different. I like to show people where the actual song came from originally.
You have the single, “The River,” but do you have any particular song you’re looking forward to playing?
I like “The Caribbean Skies.” And I’m looking forward to playing “The River.”
How long is the tour?
The first run is seven weeks and then I’m going to do three weeks in June and I’m going to be, maybe, doing a co-headline or opening an amphitheatre thing. A little bit in August and then I think in September/October I’m in Europe and Brazil in November, probably.
I’m just going to keep it moving like I always do.
Anything else?
I guess that I’ve got four singles now that are certified platinum and my Clarence Greenwood recordings have gone gold with several hundred-thousand copies. All the records have done pretty well.
CITIZEN COPE 2019 TOUR DATES
Thu 12/13 – Kailua-kona, HI – Laverne’s Kona
Fri 3/1 – Philadelphia, PA – Franklin Music Hall
Sun 3/3 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club
Tue 3/5 – Charlotte, NC – Fillmore
Wed 3/6 – Asheville, NC – Orange Peel
Fri 3/8 – Greenville, NC – State Theatre
Sat 3/9 – Raleigh, NC – Lincoln Theater
Sun 3/10 – Atlanta, GA – The Buckhead Theatre
Tue 3/12 – St. Louis, MO – The Pageant
Wed 3/13 – Kansas City, MO – The Truman
Fri 3/15 – Denver, CO – Paramount Theatre
Sat 3/16 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Depot
Mon 3/18 – Boise, ID – Knitting Factory
Tue 3/19 – Missoula, MT – The Wilma
Wed 3/20 – Spokane, WA – Knitting Factory Concert Hall
Fri 3/22 – Eugene, OR – McDonald Theatre
Sat 3/23 – Seattle, WA – Showbox At Market
Sun 3/24 – Seattle, WA – Showbox At Market
Mon 3/25 – Portland, OR – Crystal Ballroom
Wed 3/27 – San Francisco, CA – August Hall
Thu 3/28 – Los Angeles, CA – The Novo
Fri 3/29 – Las Vegas, NV – Brooklyn Bowl
Sat 3/30 – San Diego, CA – Observatory North Park
Mon 4/1 – Phoenix, AZ – The Marquee
Thu 4/4 – Dallas, TX – Bomb Factory
Fri 4/5 – Houston, TX – House Of Blues
Sat 4/6 – Oklahoma City, OK – Diamond Ballroom
Sun 4/7 – Austin, TX – ACL Live at the Moody Theater
Tue 4/9 – New Orleans, LA – House Of Blues
Thu 4/11 – Nashville, TN – Cannery – 2H / The Cowan
Fri 4/12 – Chicago, IL – House Of Blues
Sat 4/13 – Detroit, MI – The Fillmore
Mon 4/15 – Pittsburgh, PA – Byham Theatre
Wed 4/17 – Washington, DC – Lincoln Theatre
Thu 4/18 – Bridgeport, CT – Klein
Fri 4/19 – Portland, ME – State Theatre
Sat 4/20 – Boston, MA – Orpheum Theatre
