Diunna Greenleaf facts for kids

Diunna Greenleaf is an American blues singer and songwriter. She was born on October 6, 1957. Diunna is known for her powerful voice. In 2014, she won a special award called the Koko Taylor Award. This award is for the best traditional female blues singer. She won against other great singers like Teeny Tucker and Zora Young.

About Diunna Greenleaf

Early Life and Music

Diunna Fay Greenleaf was born in Houston, Texas, in the United States. Her parents, Ben and Mary Ella Greenleaf, were very religious. They were also involved in gospel music. This meant Diunna grew up around music.

She was inspired by many famous singers. Some of her early musical heroes included Sam Cooke and Aretha Franklin. She also looked up to Koko Taylor, who was a legendary blues singer. Before she became a professional singer, Diunna went to college. She earned a degree in Mass Communications from Prairie View A&M University.

Starting Her Music Career

Diunna Greenleaf and her band, Blue Mercy, have performed all over the world. In 2005, they took part in a big competition. It was called the International Blues Challenge. They won this competition in Memphis, Tennessee. This was a huge step for their music career.

Diunna also helped lead the Houston Blues Society. She was the president for three years. She was the first woman to hold this important role. She started the yearly Houston Blues Society Founders Day. She also helps with the Blues in Schools Program. This program teaches kids about blues music.

Albums and Awards

Diunna Greenleaf has worked with many other musicians. In 2007, she sang backup for Pinetop Perkins. This was on his part of a Grammy Award-winning album. It was called Last of the Great Mississippi Delta Bluesmen: Live in Dallas.

In the same year, Diunna and Blue Mercy released their first album. It was called Cotton Field to Coffee House. This album was very popular. In 2008, Diunna won an award for 'Best New Artist Debut' for this album. She won this at the Blues Music Awards.

She was nominated for more awards in the years that followed. In 2009 and 2012, she was nominated for the Koko Taylor Award again. In 2012, her album Trying to Hold On was nominated too. This album had fourteen songs. Diunna wrote ten of them herself.

Diunna has also been a guest singer on other artists' albums. She sang on Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne's album in 2014. She also appeared on a Japanese band's album in 2019.

Music Festivals

Diunna Greenleaf has performed at many exciting music festivals. These festivals are held all around the world.

• Blues to Bop Festival in Lugano, Switzerland
• Montreal International Jazz Festival (2009)
• Bern Jazz Festival
• Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival (2007)
• Boundary Waters Blues Festival
• Sarasota Blues Fest (2008)
• Notodden Blues Festival (2008)
• Long Beach Blues Festival (2009)
• DC Blues Festival (2010)
• Tinner Hill Blues Festival (2012)
• Bikes Blues and BBQ (2014)
• Houston Blues and Jazz Festival (2022)

Diunna's Albums

Here is a list of the albums Diunna Greenleaf has released:

More About Blues Music

• List of Texas blues musicians
• List of blues musicians