To whom much is given, much is required. This scripture is taken to heart by the psalmist who follows the legacy of Luke by glorifying Him with her God given talent. Greta’s second outing is a ground-breaking, gospel compilation called Fruit of the Spirit on The Trio Group label. This singer/songwriter presents a soul stirring vocalization that traps jazz without compromising the Word. She delivers riffs reminiscent of legendary jazz divas that compliment gospel tradition.

Greta is a physician who has lifted audiences with gifted vocals since the age of five. A native of Tuskegee, Alabama, she was surrounded by music in her family and in a community where the Commodores enjoyed international fame. She and friends started a female group at the age of 12 that mesmerized audiences all across the state of Alabama. After graduating in the top of her class at Tuskegee Institute High School, she attended the University of Alabama where she transformed jazz standards forever as the Jazz Ensemble vocalist. There, she was cultivated by Cedric Dent and Mervyn Warren of Take 6. This psalmist continued to develop her vocal style while pursuing her Master of Molecular Biology at Tuskegee University. “I Got it Bad” has never been so good, as when Greta headlined the popular musical Bubblin’ Brown Sugar at the Alabama Shakespeare Theatre.

In a mighty move of God, she started medical school at the highly ranked University of Michigan Medical School. If she ever needed the Lord, it was now. Greta found herself disillusioned and miserable without her music. She tried to quit singing completely to focus on medicine, but in the midst of her studies, she began to cry out to the Lord for guidance. Gospel music was emerging with Yolanda Adams becoming a force. Her encouraging message helped her through that trying time. That’s when she realized how important music is to our spirits - to usher us into God’s presence, to edify us, to heal us. Led by the Holy Spirit, she has been writing ever since.

Greta Manning was blessed with a Navy scholarship for Medical School and spent four years as a General Medical Officer on a Georgia Navy Base where she ascended to the rank of lieutenant. She was dubbed the “Songbird of the South” for her velvety, heartfelt rendition of the National Anthem. While there, Greta penned her first book, a health maintenance log and released her first CD, an EP entitled Balm, providing healing for the sin-sick soul.

On her sophomore release, you experience the dawning of a new genre in gospel music as Greta displays a full range of truly jazz sounds laced with the pure word. The CD opens declaring “God is in Control,” as she breathes new life into Job chapter 38. “Everything” soothes you into the reassurance that Jesus is just that. You too will be “Flying High” after Greta ascribes to you the attributes of an eagle in the song given this name. Next, the hymn “My Faith Looks Up to Thee (Wholly Thine)” is given a metamorphosis into straight-ahead jazz complete with scatting. The single, “Good Shepherd” is a light grove with R&B flavor featuring Birmingham natives Kelley O’Neal on sax and Eric Essix courtesy of Essential Recordings on lead guitar. An inner court usher, “Have Your Way” leads you right to the throne. Greta converts a birthday poem for her father into, “I Still Want To (Daddy’s Song)”, a love song for the Abba Father and follows with the gentle rock of “He Never Sleeps”. The ballad “Penitent Psalm” announces our filthy sin as birthright but sweetly answers with the gift of Jesus on a jazz platter. The declarations of “You Are King” will bring any worshiper to his feet in praise with its’ Latin beat and catchy tune.

The production team of Alex Stadaker (Take 6) and Kelvin Wooten (Earth, Wind and Fire; Jill Scott; Isley Brothers; Anthony Hamilton) has captured the Fruit of the Spirit at the peak of ripeness, straight from the Vine. Oh taste and see, this fruit is SWEET!!!

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