Citizen Cope

Clarence Greenwood, professionally known as Citizen Cope, was born on May 20, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee. His formative years were spent in various locations, including Texas, Mississippi, and primarily Washington, D.C., where he was raised and graduated from Wilson High School before attending Texas Tech. Early in his music career, Greenwood served as the DJ for the Washington, D.C.-based alternative rock band Basehead, gaining initial experience in the music industry.

Citizen Cope secured his first major record deal with Capitol Records in 1997. Following this, he signed with DreamWorks, releasing his self-titled album in 2002. His career progressed with the release of “The Clarence Greenwood Recordings” in 2004, an album he also produced, and “Every Waking Moment” in 2006, which debuted at number 69 on the Billboard 200 chart. A significant turning point in his career came in 2010 when he established his independent record label, Rainwater Recordings. This move provided him with complete creative control, and he subsequently released “The Rainwater LP” that same year, marking it as the label’s inaugural release.

Over the years, Citizen Cope’s compositions have been sought after by other notable musicians. Carlos Santana recorded Cope’s song “Sideways” for his 2002 album “Shaman,” and Santana also invited Greenwood to perform the song live on his 2003 European tour. Sheryl Crow also recorded “Sideways” in 2010 for her album “100 Miles from Memphis” and performed with him at the Crossroads Guitar Festival in Chicago, where Eric Clapton also joined Greenwood on stage to perform “Hands of the Saints.” His songs have also been featured in numerous film and television soundtracks, extending his reach beyond traditional album releases.