DIUNNA GREENLEAF

Diunna Greenleaf (born October 6, 1957)is an American blues singer and songwriter. At the 2014 Blues Music Awards, Greenleaf won the Koko Taylor Award (Traditional Blues Female), beating fellow nominees Teeny Tucker, Lavelle White, Trudy Lynn, and Zora Young. Diunna Fay Greenleaf was born in Houston, Texas, United States. Her parents, Ben and Mary Ella Greenleaf (née Travis), were religiously devout and involved in gospel music. Her early musical influences included Sam Cooke, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Koko Taylor, and Aretha Franklin. Before her musical career, Greenleaf obtained a degree in Mass Communications at the Prairie View A&M University. Greenleaf and her backing band, Blue Mercy, have performed on the international stage for a number of years. In 2005, they took part and triumphed at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee. She was President of the Houston Blues Society for three years, becoming the first woman to undertake that role. Greenleaf initiated read more...