In a video posted to his Instagram page this evening, electronic music pioneer Beverly Glenn-Copeland has shared that he has been diagnosed with dementia and that his upcoming tour will be his last.

In the statement, made together with his wife and creative partner Elizabeth, the 80-year-old said he wants to "challenge the mainstream image of this illness, which focuses on loss," adding, "We are actively asking the universe to show us where the life is here."

Glenn-Copeland also paid tribute to Elizabeth "for her unending caregiving and support and for the brilliance of her creative vision," saying "it’s because of her that I’m still able to join you on stage for this tour, which will be my last."

That doesn't mean that he is retiring completely, though. Elizabeth adds that despite the difficulty of coming to terms with Glenn-Copeland's condition, the couple have been experiencing "a massive creative renewal." Besides the upcoming tour, the pair have been "working on a book, adapting a musical, and planning a children's TV show."

"These things really fill our hearts and keep us grounded in our purpose," says Elizabeth.

Watch the full video below:

Last year, Glenn-Copeland broke a 20-year hiatus with his acclaimed album The Ones Ahead following a resurgence of interest in his work after the 2016 reissue of his iconic Keyboard Fantasies album. A documentary of Glenn-Copeland's rediscovery and of his fascinating life as a black transgender electronic artist was released in 2019, and is well worth watching.

It was recently announced that Glenn-Copeland is an ambassador and key collaborator for the Red Hot Organisation's TRANSA project, which releases on 22 November. He also appears on the compilation, collaborating with his wife Elizabeth and Kaye Loggins (aka Time Wharp) on original track "Always", with Devendra Banhart and Blake Mills on a cover of Caetano Veloso's "You Don't Know Me", and with British singer/songwriter Sam Smith on a version of Glenn-Copeland's own "Ever New".

Glenn-Copeland's final tour dates are billed as salon evenings with Beverly Glenn-Copeland & Friends, and are bound to be incredibly special.

09/26 Montréal, QC @ Rialto Theatre
09/30 Brooklyn, NY @ Pioneer Works
10/05 Saugerties, NY @ Opus 40