LEA A. GILMORE OK, so here is the part where you get to read about me. I know that you are thrilled at the prospect of learning about this 30-something, blues lovin' sistah-woman from Baltimore. Well, below is my complete bio and you can feel free to read to your heart's (or patience's) content. Here are a few things I love: -    Blues (ha ha, what a shock!), but I also love Chopin, Diane Reeves, GOSPEL (Amen!),       Puccini, Bela Fleck, Al Green, Jill Scott…. -    P.W. Fenton, without him this tribute to blues women would not be possible. -    Laughing at myself when I take myself too seriously (at least once every minute a day) -    The ocean -    Butter…man, it just tastes so good…WHY does it live on my hips?? -    Traveling…why wasn't I ordained a travel writer for National Geographic?? -    Peace, Love, Justice, Equality…and I am very serious about that. -    Humorous and honest people -    God -    People who read this and don't think I am a nutcase. -    Most of all: My Boys!! David, Jonathan and Gabriel.

OK Here's the rest:  It has been said "Lea Gilmore's rich and passionate voice is a gift from her soul to our ears."     Known for her quick smile, sly sense of humor and energetic performances, Lea is a skilled and sought after singer, lecturer and performer.   She has appeared in over 45 musical and dramatic theater productions, including starring roles in "Ain't Misbehavin' ", "Dream Girls", "Purlie" and much more; toured with the Common Ground Gospel Choir in Vienna, Austria as a soloist; toured Holland, Belgium and Scotland as a singer (blues, gospel, jazz?) and lecturer, and is currently performing  "A Tribute to Mahalia Jackson" with noted pianist Eric Byrd at music festivals and cultural centers around the US.  Lea is also the lead singer of the acoustic blues trio "Sangmele" (meaning mixed blood).   Amongst many concerts, Sangmele performed at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washing, D.C. (the performance can be viewed at the Kennedy Center's website).

Lea just completed her first Blues CD, "I Don't Know Where You Are" produced by KBA Award winner Paul Benjamin.   Lea traveled back to Belgium to record a live gospel CD ("Gospels for Damien - Let Your Light Shine").  With a sold out first run, the CD's proceeds  support the work of the Damien Foundation, a nonprofit organization based in Belgium that assist victims of leprosy and TB in several third world countries.  Lea most recently traveled to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Africa) to give a gospel concert and meet with school children in Kinshasa, as well as visit the Damien Foundation's hospitals. (Click here for photos)

Ms. Gilmore writes and lectures extensively on the history of African American music, as well as women and their historical and contemporary roles in Black American music.   She is a contributor to the just published book Up the Mississippi - A Journey of the Blues and is a writer for the soon to be published Routeledge Enclopedia of the Blues.   Lea is a member of the Board of Directors of The Blues Foundation and is the 2003 University of Mississippi Sarah Isom Center's Women in the Blues Scholar.   A graduate of Morgan State University with a degree in political science and a member of the Pi Gamma Mu International Honor Society for the Social Sciences, Lea is staunchly committed to human and civil rights.  The former Deputy Director of the American Civil Liberties Union of MD, Ms. Gilmore has been appointed by the United States Commission on Civil Rights to serve as a member of the Maryland State Advisory Board.  She lectures on social justice issues at universities and schools, has given the keynote address for U.S. Naturalization ceremonies, and much more.   Lea is currently the principle for The Gilmore Group - specializing on developing strategic program management for nonprofit organizations. She lives in Baltimore, Maryland with her husband David and two sons, Jonathan and Gabriel.

These two songs were performed live to a sold out house in Vervier, Belgium at the "Spirit of 66" blues club with the wonderful Belgian band "Froidebise." 1. Let The Good Times Roll (.mp3) 2. I Just Want To Make Love To You (.mp3)

© 1997-2003 Lea A. Gilmore and P.W. Fenton, All Rights Reserved.