A Man Who Knows His Purpose

Credit: Album cover of "The Ones Ahead"

I was recently introduced to the music of an incredible man named Beverly Glenn-Copeland. He is a poet, singer-songwriter, and visionary who has the voice of an angel.

His first album was released in 1970 with the title Beverly Copeland; and rereleased the following year as Beverly Glenn-Copeland.

In 1986 he released his album Keyboard Fantasies on cassette tape. It was awarded the Slaight Polaris Heritage Prize in 2020.

Now 79 years old, his work is attracting a whole new audience. His latest album, The Ones Ahead, was released in 2023.

The themes of his work are love and death. His newer themes include being a supporter of the Millennials, of which I am a part, and Generation Z. Glenn feels this group of young people have always been prophesized to come to create the New Earth.

Glenn was born in Philadelphia but now lives in Canada. His father was a classically trained pianist, and his mother sang and could play anything on the piano. She noticed Glenn’s musical gifts early in his life.

Glenn had been receiving informal musical training from both parents from an early age. At 15 he went to a performing arts school where he continued to receive piano and voice lessons.

When Glenn was three, he knew he was not a girl and told his mother he really was a boy which horrified her. Glenn has said this was because no one was aware of the complexity of human sexuality at that time, and his mother was conditioned to the idea that being trans was a disease. So, Glenn had to hide that part of himself and live as a woman until after college.

 When Glenn wrote love songs, he was thinking of women but could not reveal that. Though Glenn has always been attracted to straight women, he was forced to identify as a lesbian in college to fit in better.

After college Glenn started to transition. Around this time, he met his future wife, Elizabeth. They became friends, and she sang back-up for him at his shows.

Elizabeth is no stranger to the arts. She is an accomplished dancer, actress, singer, and writer.  Once Glenn fully accepted himself and became comfortable in his male body, he and Elizabeth became a romantic couple.  According to Elizabeth, she had always been attracted to him and didn’t understand why until she realized Glenn was really a man. Elizabeth continues to be his biggest supporter and teacher, according to Glenn.

Glenn draws from a variety of musical influences. The biggest impact was the classical music he heard growing up, which was his major in college.

However, he knew he had been an opera singer in a past life and did not need to go down that road again. The classical foundation of his early training is mixed with African music, chanting, Native American, and Celtic music to create a sound that is unique.

Glenn connects with his African, Celtic, and Native American ancestors who constantly speak to him and provide inspiration for his music. He doesn’t consider himself a composer, but instead, a radio receiver of the music. He says music just comes into his head, or he starts singing or humming a tune he has never heard before. He runs to his computer to write it down.

Glenn is back on the road touring because of the renewed interest in his music. The musicians in his new band, Indigo Rising, are a part of his music, message, and calling.

In the last 20 years of her life, Glenn’s mother accepted him for who he was and was a great champion of his. Glenn took care of her for the last five years of her life. One day Glenn had an overwhelming need to jump into bed next to her, hug her, and sing the gospel songs she sang to him as a child. Upon hearing him sing, she took a deep breath and then peacefully passed on.

In a quiet moment it hit him: his purpose is to speak to the young generation of Millennials and Gen Z’s; to tell us that we are loved and valued and that we are needed to bring in the new world.  

I am grateful and proud to have Beverly Glenn-Copeland as my cheerleader as I do my work on Earth.