TEXAS BLUES AND SOUL

Diunna Greenleaf, vocals and leader Jonn Richardson, lead guitar and backup vocals Larry “Lownote” Johnson, bass guitar and backup vocals Vernon Daniels, drums, percussion and backup vocals Albert Storo, rhythm guitar and backup drummer www.diunna.com

Lee Gates has spent most of his life playing in Milwaukee and is therefore unknown outside of a restricted group of faithful fans.Born in Mississippi he grew up in a musical family in which his father and his mother were guitarists, “My mother was the one who got me started. I was about 14 when she got me an electric guitar.” Lee left Mississippi when he was 22 and found work playing guitar in Wilson’s Club in Milwaukee where he stayed for the next 15 years. It was only in 1974 that he met his world famous cousin Albert Collins but they went on to become close friends. Lee’s life continued in its unadventurous fashion until October last year when he decided to contact Tim Duffy at the Music Maker Foundation to see if he could make a CD to get his music better known. (Tim Duffy is an old friend of Blues to Bop and the two organisations have worked together for 15 years!). Duffy directed him to Alabama and Ardie Dean’s studio. Gates arrived by Greyhound bus and even though he had lost a night’s sleep he took only three hours to record the album he had in mind. (this CD is on sale at Blues to Bop). After 52 years of constant playing in the one town, things are about to change radically for Lee Gates and Blues to Bop is proud to part of that change. His first trip out of America is sure to be a success and we hope a warm, positive welcome here will prepare him for the many other offers that are sure to come his way.