Enjoy a summer night with rhythm and blues, jazz and gospel at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Concordia Bank lobby in Vidalia.

This will conclude this year’s grant that was received through the Louisiana Arts Council.

Come hear Zelia Logan Smith with Maurice Johnson and Rod Payne give a toe-tapping  performance.

Zelia Smith is a former recording artist and a product of the Delta of Louisiana.

She received personal informal mentorship from Edna G. Cooke, Mahalia Jackson and Rosetta Thrope.

She was cited as “A Diva of the Delta” by West Monroe Convention Center and “Songs Across America,” which was a national cable broadcast in Athens, Ga. She has performed performances for former Governor Edwin Edwards and others. She has also performed with greats such as Shirley Caesar, Keith Sweat and Denise Lasalle.

Maurice Johnson renowned saxophonist, the former band director from Grambling State University plays with exhilaration and sensationalism. He has performed with such musicians like Ivory Joe Hunter, The Temptations and Percy Mayfield. He continues his music career on the saxophone.

Rod Payne is no stranger to Concordia Parish and without question, this area’s most visible musician. His command of many different styles of music has kept him busy at the piano and keyboard for more than 30 years. His performances are always amazing to hear the sounds from his keyboard.

This concert is co-sponsored by the Concordia Bank, the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development and the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism.

The concert also receives funding through the Louisiana State Arts Council as administered by The Arts Council of Central Louisiana, which is funded by DAF-Decentralized Arts Fund of the State of Louisiana.

Mark your calendars for Thursday, and come enjoy your summer night with great music.

 

Frances Lee is a resident of Clayton, Louisiana.