Martin Luther King Birthday Concert featuring Diunna Greenleaf

Tuesday, January 15 at 7:30 p.m.





Diunna Greenleaf, leader of Blue Mercy band, is a native Houstonian whose background is steeped in gospel music—influenced by Koko Taylor, Aretha Franklin, Rosetta Thorpe, Sam Cooke, Charles Brown and her own parents, Ben and Mary Ella Greenleaf. By combining intricate patches of jazz, gospel, and heartfelt soul she has created an emotional roller coaster blues sound. Diunna and Blue Mercy have performed throughout the United States and internationally, most recently at the Lugano Blues Festival, Bern Jazz Festival, and Cahors Blues Festival. She is slated to do festivals in Canada, England, Italy, France, Virgin Islands and a return trip to Lucern, Switzerland, as well as other performances throughout the United States. President of the Houston Blues Society for three consecutive years, Diunna was the first woman ever elected to hold this position. During her presidency she produced the Willie Mae Thornton Blues Festival, bringing in such talent as “The Queen Of Blues,” Mrs. Koko Taylor, and many others. Diunna started the annual Houston Blues Society Founders Day and actively continued the Blues In Schools Program throughout the state. She is one of the founders of Friends of Blues Montgomery County. Accompanying Ms. Greenleaf is I.J. Gosey, who also grew up in the Gospel tradition. One of the of the most celebrated blues guitarists in the Houston area, he is among the few Duke-Peacock recording session veterans. Mr. Gosey is “the realest of deals, a bluesman who lives to play and plays like his life is on the line.” Author and “Mountain of Soul” DJ Skipper Lee Fraizer will introduce Greenleaf and Gosey. He broadcasts the Skipper Lee Fraizer show on KWWJ Gospel Radio 1360 every day at 2 pm.