Gerald Stephens was born in Memphis and grew up in Southaven, MS, where he began piano lessons at age 7.  He continued with classical piano throughout high school and into college at Memphis State University in 1989.  Gerald also began his jazz training at Memphis State.  He began teaching piano lessons and performing professionally in 1994, and received a BFA in Commercial Music/Recording Technology from the University of Memphis in 1995.  Gerald taught with Germantown Baptist Conservatory from 1997 until 2007, and began teaching at the University of Memphis in 2002, first in the Community Music School, and from 2005-2015 in the Jazz department.  In 2011, he became adjunct professor of jazz piano at Rhodes College in Memphis.  Mr. Stephens has been in demand as a blues and jazz pianist in the Mid-South area since 1995, and has performed with many notable musicians of local and international fame, including Levon Helm, Hugh Masekela, The Memphis Horns, Antonio Hart, Annie Sellick, and Valerie June.  Gerald also returned to classical studies in piano, and acquired a Master’s degree from the University of Memphis in 2014. Currently he continues to teach at Rhodes, while performing solo, collaborating with various groups, and recording his own music.  He has been on many local album releases, including Red Trio (2005) and Groundspeak’s Local Language (2007).  Cycles (2013) is his first and only to date solo release.

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Pop, blues, rock and soul songstress Susan Marshall has released five critically praised solo albums— Susan Marshall Is Honey Mouth, Firefly, Little Red, Decorations of Red, and her latest, 639 Madison. The former front lady for 90’s rock/soul band The Mother Station (signed to EastWest /Atlantic Records ) has also performed leading roles in operetta’s Off-Broadway and is known for her past performances with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, as well. Weekly, she can be heard playing piano and singing an eclectic mix of original and cover songs here at Itta Bena where she’s held a residency for over 15 years alongside some of the other world class musicians that perform in our venue.

Her studio background vocal work has garnered multiple gold and platinum record awards, as well as the distinction of having sung background vocals on five GRAMMY-nominated records. She’s worked with Al Green, Lenny Kravitz, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Ann Peebles, Don Bryant, Foy Vance, North Mississippi Allstars, Solomon Burke, Bobby “Blue” Bland, Primal Scream and Katharine McPhee, to name a few.

She’s toured internationally as part of the Afghan Whigs, as well as Cat Power & The Memphis Rhythm Band, appearing on Austin City Limits, The Late Show With David Letterman, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, and the BBC’s Later…with Jools Holland  and has been a featured artist for the Sun Studio Sessions on PBS as well as a featured artist for RETURN TO SIN CITY: A TRIBUTE TO GRAM PARSONS that also featured Norah Jones, Lucinda Williams, Dwight Yoakam, and Keith Richards.