The Houston Blues Legends Gala | Ladies of the Blues

When
10/20/2024
3:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Location
Emancipation Park | 3018 Emancipation Ave, Houston, TX 77004

Enter the Free Community Raffle for Tickets to This Prestigious Event

Help Us Kickstart the Houston Blues Legends Gala!

Dear HBS Members and Followers,

We are thrilled to announce that the Houston Blues Society is hosting a very special event this October 20th from 3-7pm: The Houston Blues Legends Gala at Emancipation Park! It will be a night to remember, filled with incredible performances by three blues legends, an awards ceremony, and food.

The Gala will unite music lovers and legends in an unforgettable celebration featuring:

Trudy Lynn

Trudy Lynn, born Lee Audrey Nelms in Houston’s Fifth Ward, is a legendary blues vocalist with a career spanning decades. After honing her craft with Texas greats like I.J. Gosey and Clarence Green, Lynn struck out on her own, eventually signing with Ichiban Records in 1989, releasing five albums and touring Europe extensively. In 2014, she teamed up with harmonica player Steve Krase and the Connor Ray Music label, where her album Royal Oaks Blues Café hit #1 on the Billboard Blues Chart. A seven-time Blues Music Award nominee, including for the Koko Taylor Award, she continues to release acclaimed music and was recently honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Jus' Blues Music Foundation.

Tweed Smith

Tweed Smith has been a vibrant part of the Houston music scene for over 40 years, beginning with gospel music at Good Samaritan Baptist Church and continuing as choir director at St. Phillip Missionary Baptist Church. A graduate of Texas Southern University, she is versed in various genres, including jazz, blues, and rock. Notably, Tweed was the only female member of the band War, featuring on hits like "The World is a Ghetto" and "Why Can't We Be Friends?" She has toured extensively and worked with artists such as Sarah Vaughan, Sly Stone, and Bobby Womack. Tweed has continued to perform and represent Houston, including at the 2019 International Blues Challenge in Memphis.

Diunna Greenleaf

Diunna Greenleaf, leader of Blue Mercy, is a Texas native from Houston with roots in gospel music, influenced by legends like Koko Taylor, Aretha Franklin, and Sam Cooke. Diunna and her band have performed across the U.S. and internationally, sharing stages with blues icons like Bob Margolin, Keb' Mo', and Hubert Sumlin. In 2005, she became the first woman to win the International Blues Challenge, holding that distinction for eleven years. As the first woman president of the Houston Blues Society, she launched initiatives like the Willie Mae Thornton Blues Festival and Blues in Schools. Diunna has won multiple Blues Music Awards, including the prestigious Koko Taylor Award in 2014 and 2017. Her album Trying to Hold On topped several blues charts worldwide, and in 2015, she was named Living Blues Magazine's Female Artist of the Year.

We need YOUR help to make it happen!

We launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise $4,500 to cover essential event costs and ensure this once-in-a-lifetime event is free and open to the community. With your support, we can honor the legends who’ve shaped the blues and inspire future generations of music lovers.

How You Can Help:

By pledging to our Kickstarter campaign, you’ll be helping us cover costs like:

Compensation and awards for our blues legends
Venue rental
Security and event services
Decor, food, photography, and more

Exciting Rewards Just for You:

To show our appreciation, we’ve created some fantastic optional rewards for our backers, including:

Guaranteed free tickets to the Gala with reserved tables
- Bypass the free community raffle for tickets
Backstage passes and meet-and-greet opportunities with the legends
Recognition in-person and on our website and social media
Digital packages with exclusive event footage, behind-the-scenes content, and more for those who can’t attend in person.