Beverly Glenn-Copeland
Beverly Glenn-Copeland couldn’t afford to hire musicians, never mind the orchestra he had in his head. He was living in the small community of Huntsville, Ontario surrounded by the Muskokan wilderness. Though his roots were based in folk and jazz, new sounds seemed to beam into his mind like the holodeck of the Starship enterprise. Using a Yahama DX7 synthesizer, he created the gorgeously fragile electronic soundscapes of what became his celebrated New Age album, Keyboard Fantasies. Its songs are imbued with Glenn’s meditative voice, sharing his Buddhist beliefs in equanimity and reincarnation. 40 years later, this humble cassette was discovered by international music collectors. It was reissued by Toronto’s Brandon Hocura of Seance Centre Records, and has now become a beloved cult favourite with fans including Swedish pop artist Robyn. At age 76, Copeland has become a worldwide sensation, touring with a band of young Halifax-based musicians while spreading his messages of peace around the globe. If you enjoy this episode, please leave us a rating or review!