Jonn Del Toro Richardson at the Corner Pub in Conroe Texas (11/03/07) — Photo-Artistry by kenne
Jonn played lead guitar for Diunna Greenleaf for several years before going out on his own. The following video combines two clips, one in a club setting, another in a festival setting in which Jonn and Bob Corritore jam with Diunna.
The Rhythm Room, Phoenix, Arizona (February 28,2020) — Photo-Artistry by kenne
It’s been several years since we have seen our good friend Diunna Greenleaf live.
So, when we learned that she was going to appear at The Rhythm Room in Phoenix,
On February 28th, we made plans.
Charley Parker, A.J. Murphy, Diunna Greenleaf, Kenne Turner, Dale Armet
We have known and loved her music since she worked with us to form
The Friends of The Blues — Montgomery County in the north Houston area in 2000.
Bob Corritore and Diunna Greenleaf — Photos and Video by kenne
Since we first met Diunna, she has won many Blues Music Awards,
including the ‘Koko Taylor Award’ twice.
— kenne
Jonn Richardson, Diunna Greenleaf, and Bob Corritore — Image by kenne
I didn’t realize how much I needed a “Diunna Fix” till I was out doing a morning walk listening to my iTunes music. I like to shuffle through the music, when “Growing Up and Growing Old” (On the CD, Trying To Hold On) started playing, which is one of my favorite Blues/Gospel tunes. I knew then, I would be listening to more Diunna today.
“I Aspire to Inspire Before I Expire” — Diunna Greenleaf
Video by kenne
Jonn Richardson and Diunna Greenleaf — Image by kenne
We are pleased to have known Diunna for about twenty years. Joy and I consider her a very close friend. And when it comes to singing the Blues, there’s none better. Here’s another video from the same show, in case you also need a “Diunna Fix.” Get a load of Jonn’s guitar playing need the end of this video, the Del Toro really comes out!
— kenne
Video by kenne
Diunna & Joy, my Zen Women — Image by kenne
Jonn Del Toro Richardson and Diunna Greenleaf — Image by kenne
Tonight, two of our favorite blues musicians, Jonn Del Toro Richardson and Diunna Greenleaf, won awards at the 2017 Blues Music Awards in Memphis — Jonn for Best Emerging Artist Album and Diunna for the Koko Taylor Award (Traditional Blues Female Artist). Congratulations to Jonn and Diunna, we love you both!
— kenne
Do You Want Be To Stay — Diunna Greenleaf, Jonn DelToro Richardson and Bob Corritore Video by kenne
Houston Legend, Earl Gilliam and Jonn Richardson at the Big East, (February 15, 2009) — Image by kenne
Lately I have been listening to an Otis Taylor CD. Coincidentally, my friend Jonn Del Toro Richardson posts on Facebook a Otis Taylor, Gary Moore & Jonn Richardson video from 2006 — karma!
I’ve followed the musical career of Jonn over the last decade. The Blues world has a lot of great Bluesmen, but few as good, yet not recognized as Jonn. Yes, among Blues musicians Jonn is admired for his talent, but for many Blues fans he is under the radar. For years Jonn has toured with better known musicians, and collaborated on releasing CDs, but no solo CD — it’s time for his own CD!
Now there’s an opportunity to help Jonn reach his funding goal to produce his first solo album. Click here for more information.
Here are three of videos of Jonn I have done — yes, he is the “REAL DEAL!”
IBC Blues Jam, 2010
The Real Deal with Rich DelGrosso at Ken & Mary’s Blues Project, 2011
Diunna Greenleaf & Blue Mercy @ Rhythm & Roots Concert Series In Tucson, 2012 — Jonn and Diunna bring it on home in this video!
— from “Mother Blues” by Ray Wylie Hubbard
Ray Wylie Hubbard at the Rhythm Room, Phoenix, Arizona (October 30, 2014) — Images by kenne
— kenne
Click here to watch a great full concert video done three years ago. The Rhythm Room show was pretty much the same —
“If it ain’t broke, don’t break it!”
* Hayes Carll
Jonn Richardson, Diunna Greenleaf and Bob Corritore — Image by kenne
We have thought more about Houston lately and our many “blues” friends. Since moving to Tucson from The Woodlands, we have stayed in touch via the Internet, social media and other electronic media. Friday, we learned via Facebook that our good friend, Mary Harris (aka, Ken & Mary of Ken & Mary’s Blues Project) was in the hospital after having a lung collapse — gotta be hard on breathing! The news is good, she is resting and getting better all the time.
Each time we go to Houston visiting family, we tried to include friends, which is not always easy. So, Ken & Mary are a “must see,” because we love them and they are soooo connected to all our blues friends in the Houston area, therefore we try to schedule trips around Ken & Mary’s house concerts. (Sometimes we can only schedule lunch.) We could go on and on with superlatives, but we will let past and future posting on the blues and Ken & Mary do the talking.
When time allows, we stream KPFT on Sunday morning, listening to Mr. & Mrs. V, who we are pleased to say have been a part of our circle of friends for almost as long as we have known Ken & Mary — our circle has grown to include blues in Tucson and Phoenix, with the likes of Marty Kool , KXCI, and all the great blues Bob Corritore brings into Arizona at his “Rhythm Room” in Phoenix.
This morning, we were streaming KPFT, knowing the the V’s would mention Mary’s hospitalization. We stepped away from the computer for a moment, when returning we heard Diunna Greenleaf singing one of our favorite Diunna songs, “Growing Up and Growing Old.” Given Mary’s situation, having heard Diunna sing it on several occasions, plus having the CD, I kept saying to myself, “myself, I thing I videoed her singing this song when she and Jonn were here at Plaza Palomino’s Rhythm & Roots Concert Series, Tucson, Arizona, and the Bisbee Blues Festival. Hoping that I had not lost the clips from their time here in September 2012, my Sunday became an “age like fine wine” project, in more ways than one.
Here’s the video, dedicated to Mary — hope we continue to hear great news on your recovery, Mary!
kenne & joy
Eddie Turner and Trouble Twins at the 2012 Bisbee Blues Festival — Images by kenne
On the morning of the festival, Joy and I met Diunna Greenleaf, Blue Mercy band members, (Jonn, Josh and Veron) and Bob Corritore for breakfast in Tucson. The plan was for Joy/Kenne and Bob to drive everyone to Sierra Vista to the event hotel, then on to Bisbee. After making a wrong turn (thanks to a smart phone’s DPS), we finally made it to Bisbee. As a result, we were only able to see Eddie’s last few songs before Diunna and the band came on. However, we saw enough to know we missed a great session.
Sunday morning, Joy and I had an opportunity to share a table out by the pool with Eddie — great conversation.
kenne
Video by kenne
Jonn Richardson, Diunna Greenleaf & Bob Corritore at the Tucson Rhythm & Roots Concert Series
While in southern Arizona, Diunna Greenleaf and her band Blue Mercy (Jonn, Josh & Veron) appeared at the Rhythm & Roots Concert Series
in Tucson and headlined the Bisbee Blues Festival in Bisbee, with special guest, Bob Corritore. At each appearance, they ended their show with
Sly Stone‘s “Do You Want Me To Stay?”
This video contrasts the two starting with the Tucson version, changing to the Bisbee version about half-way through.
In the club setting, I title it the Koko Taylor version, and the festival is the Etta James version.
Southern Arizona was treated to two super shows.
kenne
Diunna Greenleaf & Blue Mercy with Special Guest Bob Corritore on Stage at the Bisbee Blues Festival.
Diunna Greenleaf — Images by kenne
Jonn Del Toro Richardson & Diunna Greenleaf — Image by kenne
The one thing I miss most about not living in southeast Texas is the abundance of great blues music. Over the years there, I got to see a lot of live music and get to know a lot of great musician — some who have become close friends over the years. And as I have already acknowledged in an earlier posting, I was very pleased to learn earlier this summer that Diunna Greenwood and Blue Mercy lead guitarist, Jonn Richardson were going to be heading this year’s Bisbee Blues Festival. We immediately made plans to be at the festival, but I let Diunna know that she needed to get a gig in Tucson — long story short, she was booked to perform in the Rhythm & Roots Concert Series with special guest Bob Corritore, which took place this past Friday, September 14, 2012. This video is one of several I recorded.
Embodied in this award-winning Texas blues singer, Diunna is the voice of female blues singer legends. This video is almost ten minutes long, but short of having been at the plaza, you will find it well worth the listen, especially with good speakers or ear phones.
kenne
Patrick Skog and “Mighty” Joe Milsap — Image by kenne
If you love the sound and beat of Gulf Coast R&B, you will love The Fremonts. This band features “Mighty” Joe Milsap, and the Tucson Rhythm & Roots Series included special guest, Bob Corritore of the Phoenix Rhythm Room fame. This event was also supported by The Southern Arizona Blues Heritage Foundation.
We are all about supporting live music! Whatever the genre, live music is what feeling the joy is all about — EXPERIENCE THE FEELING!
kenne
The Fremonts with Special Guest, Bob Corritore — Image by kenne
Bob Corritore & Dave Riley — Image by kenne
If you follow my blog, you have seen several videos from the 20th Anniversary of Bob Corritore’s The Rhythm Room. One of Bob’s regulars with him at The Rhythm Room is Dave Riley. They did several songs before bringing on some of the evenings special guest, two of which were spiritual.
kenne
Diunna Greenleaf — Image by kenne
Last year in September we were at the Bisbee Blues Festival where one of the groups was Bob Corritore’s Rhythm Room All Stars. This year, we miss the Bisbee Blues Festival so we could be at the Rhythm Room’s 20th Anniversary in Phoenix, where one of the performers was our good friend from Houston, Diunna Greenleaf. The anniversary event was Friday through Sunday, with Diunna appearing Saturday night. So, Joy and I were there for some great Blues and to see Diunna. On the stage with Diunna was Bob Corritore, Bob Margolin, Mookie Brill and Brain Fahey. As one might expect, the room was SRO, making it more challenging to get some good photos and video. Here’s some of what I was able to get. Enjoy!
kenne
Images by kenne
Rhythm Room All-Stars at the 2010 Bisbee Blues Festival – Image by kenne
(Image to the right: Diunna & Joy — by kenne)
Video by kenne
Becoming is Superior to Being 
Sometimes, it just doesn’t get better. The three-day celebration of the 20th anniversary of The Rhythm Room included the blues great, Bob Margolin. Many of the musicians at this event knew the legendary Willy “Big Eyes” Smith who passed away the day before Bob’s gig at the Rhythm Room, so his performance was in memory of Smith.
kenne
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