Danny Williams is the President of the Board of Directors at The Colored Musicians Club. He served in the United States Army on active duty from April 1968 to September 1977. A Vietnam Veteran, who was assigned to the Active Reserve in September 1977. Mr. Williams retired from the United States Army Reserve in September 1988 with the rank of Major. In 1979, he joined the Buffalo Police Department and served 32 continuous years, retiring in September 2011 with the rank of Lieutenant.

Throughout his entire career, Mr. Williams has always had a love for music. His main goal in life is to provide children with the chance to learn about music. As one of 14 children, Mr. Williams and his parents had little to spare on instruments and lessons. He relied on public education to provide him with the expertise he now has. “We must make the arts mandatory in public education,” he says. Mr. Williams learned to read music in middle school and started playing the trombone throughout high school and continued in college as well as in various ensembles. Mr. Williams has played in Atlanta, San Francisco, Anchorage, Birmingham, New Orleans, Western New York and Southern Ontario. His biggest thrills came at The Colored Musicians Club in Buffalo.

Mr. Williams has a degree in Sociology from San Francisco State University and is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity; the African American Police Association of Buffalo (President for 8 years); National Black Police Association; National Association of Black Law Enforcement Executives and Blue Knights International, New York V (10 years on the Board of Governors).

Yvonne Boyles Evans is the Vice President of the Board of Directors at The Colored Musicians Club. She graduated from SUNY State University College at Buffalo with a degree in Social Work. Her career with Internal Revenue Service has spanned over 47 years. Currently, she works in the Diversity and Inclusion Division/Proactive Resolution and Education Office. Ms. Evans is a trained Alternate Dispute Resolution Mediator for the US Treasury Department; Myers-Briggs certified facilitator; True Colors certified facilitator; Personality Insights (DISC) certified Human Behavior Consultant; and Thomas Kilmann Instrument (TKI) Conflict Management certified facilitator.

Ms. Evans serves on the IRS Facilitator Cadre and is a member of IRS Servant Leaders Organization (ISLO). She also coordinated several community outreach activities for IRS, including Meals on Wheels, United Way Day of Caring and Battle of The Businesses. For many years she volunteered in the VITA program, helping individuals in the community prepare their income tax returns.

Ms. Evans has found time to be an active volunteer with United Way of Buffalo, YWCA, Buffalo History Museum, Buffalo Urban League Job Training Program and The Buffalo Alliance for Education. She is a current member of several national service organizations: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (Undergraduate Advisor); The Links (NY) Inc. (chapter past 1st Vice President); Charms Inc. (current chapter President and national Parliamentarian); Leadership Buffalo; and Junior League. She also served on the Board of Directors for the Aloma D. Johnson charter school.

Linda Appleby is the Secretary of the Board at The Colored Musicians Club; she has taught music and served as the musical director for countless theatrical shows, both professionally and for school districts throughout the area, over her 40-plus-year career. She has taught at numerous schools, including Buffalo’s Frederick Law Olmsted 56, City Honors, and South Park High School.

Ms. Appleby has been an adjunct instructor of music at Villa Maria College since 2011 and was the director of the citywide Buffalo Select Chorus for six years while also curating Artist in Residence Program that serviced over 40 public and charter schools in Buffalo from 2009 to 2014. In 2008, Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown presented Appleby with an Executive Chamber Proclamation for services rendered to the children of Buffalo. She is also the 2009 recipient of the National Federation of Just Communities Community Leader Award in the Arts. She was inducted into the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame in 2015.

Ms. Appleby has served as a minister of music for area churches and is currently music minister for SS Columba-Brigid Church in Buffalo. She serves on the board of directors for Ujima Theater, as well.

Linda Mack Freeman Gibson is a Member of the Board at The Colored Musicians Club and a semi-retired Youth Counselor Case Manager for New York State’s Office of Children and Family Services where she worked for 28 years. Mrs. Gibson has humbly serviced a caseload of over 6,000 children and families. She is a graduate of the Buffalo Public School system and attended Buffalo State College where she received her Bachelor’s in Anthropology.

Mrs. Gibson has a Master’s of Science in Counseling Education from Canisius College. These days, she is the CEO of the Non-Profit Linda’s Confidential Services where she is a counselor and life coach for a number of clients in need of human services. She attends Try Jesus Ministries and dedicates all of her efforts with the Musicians Club in honor of her late husband, Edward Gibson, who was a dedicated Jazz historian and aficionado.

George Scott is a Member of the Board at The Colored Musicians Club, band leader of The George Scott Big Band and a forerunner in community outreach regarding education, awareness and support. Mr. Scott advises young adults breaching the music industry with lessons as well as directing his own big band. He has been featured on BBC World Today for the historical significance of jazz.

Mr. Scott graduated from Canisius College with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and attended Syracuse University where he finished with a master’s of science in psychology. Mr. Scott puts his heart and soul into his music, and supports the community and its organizations.

He is Chairman of the Michigan Street African American Heritage Corridor Commission, a Board Member of the Michigan Street Preservation Corporation, a former Board Member of the Buffalo Collective, an Advisory Board Member of Buffalo Music Hall of Fame, member of the Buffalo Musicians’ Association Local 92 AF, among other accolades.

Kevin D. Robinson is a Member of the Board at The Colored Musicians Club and proudly serves as an Assistant United States Attorney with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York. Mr. Robinson is currently the Chief of the office’s Asset Recovery Division.

Mr. Robinson is a graduate of the Buffalo Public School system and received a B.S. in Business Administration and a Juris Doctorate degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo. He is active in the community and also serves on the Board of Directors for the Albright-Knox-Gundlach Art Gallery, Horizon Health Services, and the Nicholas Patterson Perpetual Fund.

In the past, Mr. Robinson has served on the Board of Directors for the Aloma D. Johnson charter school, Volunteer Lawyers Project, Coordinated Care, UB Alumni-Gold Group, and UB Law Alumni. Mr. Robinson is a past President of the Minority Bar Association of Western New York, and the recipient of its Legal Service Award in 2003. Mr. Robinson also received the Business First 40 Under 40 Award in 1998, USDA Recognition award in 2011, and the Bar Association of Erie County Charles H. Dougherty Civility Award in 2019. Mr. Robinson is a 2003 graduate of Leadership Buffalo.

Bassist Sabu Adeyola, protégé to the late jazz master Charles Mingus, is one of jazz music's finest and a Member of the Board at The Colored Musicians Club. As a member of the most celebrated trios to have toured with legendary pianist Ahmad Jamal, Mr. Adeyola (with Payton Crossley) incorporated a spiritual swing to Ahmad's signature style. He has spent his career touring, performing, and recording with industry elites like Abbey Lincoln, Ahmad Jamal, Charlie Byrd, Donald Byrd, George Caldwell, Payton Crossley, Dexter Gordon, Grover Washington Jr., and many more.

Mr. Adeyola has performed in many of the world's premier jazz venues including Village Vanguard, Blues Alley, Joe Segal's Jazz Showcase, Jazz Alley, Finger Lakes Jazz Festival, Fat Tuesdays, Lenox Lounge, Sweet Basil's, Fairmont Hotel, Massey Hall, Keystone Korner, Fairmont Hotel, Great American Music, and The Great Music Hall in San Francisco, California. Mr. Adeyola is presently an adjunct instructor of bass at the University of Buffalo.

Buffalo native Rod Bonner is a Member of the Board at The Colored Musicians Club and has been destined for a career in music from an early age. Classically trained at the age of 4, and a homegrown product of his church, Mr. Bonner began his illustrious music career in middle and high school, participating in all bands and receiving a number of musical achievement awards. Mr. Bonner’s true passion for music and desire for his own musical voice began when he was introduced to the genres of Jazz, R&B, Funk, and Neo-Soul. These addictive styles ignited a flame that has guided his 20+ year music career, both as a touring musician, producer, and solo artist.

Since the age of 17, Mr. Bonner has had the privilege of not only touring with 3-time Grammy-nominated saxophonist Najee, but holding the position of Najee's musical director over his 11 year tenure. He has traveled the world with Najee, as well as songwriter/singer Will Downing, and to perform with various artists including Pieces of A Dream, Noel Gourdin, Alissia Benveniste, Jon B, H-Town, Alex Bugnon, Phil Perry, Meshell Ndegeocello, Meli’sa Morgan, The Voice’s own Cami Clune, American electronic producer and DJ, Grabbitz, and Howard Hewitt. His impressive touring resume has allowed him to obtain the knowledge, experience, and maturity necessary to excel in almost any role in the ever-changing music industry.

Recently, Mr. Bonner was given the opportunity to be a part of national recording artist Doja Cat’s Grammy performance in which he played talk box. Throughout his 11 years of touring, Mr. Bonner earned his bachelor’s degree in Music Business at the prestigious Berklee College of Music. There, he embedded himself in the study of performance through ensembles, master classes, recordings, and even traveling to represent the school.

An incredible producer and writer, Mr. Bonner’s production style and credits have formed a vast catalog that far exceeds his age. He is currently on two albums nominated for an NAACP Image Award for production in the genre of “Best Smooth Jazz Album,” and has production credits for gospel artist Alexis Spight’s first single, “Steady,” which topped gospel charts and received recognition on BET’s “106 & Park.” One of his recent accomplishments was co-producing a song entitled “Focus” off K-Pop super-group NCT 127’s latest album, Sticker. The album set records when it went double platinum in one day and is still breaking the charts with numerous No. 1 accolades across various categories. Mr. Bonner has recorded countless live albums, singles, and features throughout a wide span of genres, proving that he was born to create, whether on a stage or in a studio.

Over the past three years, he has performed as a contemporary R&B and smooth jazz pianist and has even made a reputable name as a Talk box artist. Mr. Bonner has recently formed his own unit, self entitled "Rod Bonner" which highlights the roots of funk, R&B, neo-soul, and jazz. He is currently a recording engineer out of the world-renowned studio GCR Audio owned by The Goo Goo Dolls, working with some of Buffalo's up and coming artists and creatives.

Catherine M. Roberts is a Member of the Board at The Colored Musicians Club and the President and CEO of the Resource Council of WNY, a human service organization whose mission aims to empower and enrich the lives of youth, adults and families by providing access to vital programs and services that meet the diverse needs and values of the communities it serves. She is also part-time Adjunct Professor of Economics at Houghton College: East Side.

Ms. Roberts holds an MBA from St. Bonaventure University, a Bachelor’s in Business, Management and Economics from SUNY Empire State College, a Certificate in Performance Measurement of Non-Profit Organizations from the Harvard Business School Executive Education Program and a Certificate in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell University.

She serves on many non-profit boards including: Trustee and Vice President of Persistence Prep Academy, Treasurer of Prevention Council of WNY, Leadership Buffalo, SUNY Empire State College Board of Governors, Girl Scouts of WNY, Consumer Credit Counseling Services of Buffalo, Colored Musicians Club of Buffalo, WNY Advisory Council of BoardStrong, Women United Advisory Council and Women Who Lead WNY. She is also a member of Junior League of Buffalo, Buffalo Association of Black Journalists, and the Buffalo Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA).

Ms. Roberts is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated Gamma Phi Omega Chapter and the Buffalo Chapter of The Links, Incorporated. Named to Buffalo Business First's Power 200 Women of WNY, she has received numerous awards for her work and community service.

Allison DeHonney is a Member of the Board at The Colored Musicians Club and CEO and Founder of Urban Fruits & Veggies, LLC and a nonprofit, Buffalo Go Green, Inc. The two entities started working together in 2014, creating the pathway to nutritional success for under-served individuals and families in the East Side of Buffalo, NY. The partnership has recently expanded services to the West Side and parts of Niagara County.

Ms. DeHonney has 20 years of professional service in key areas of Executive leadership, Project Management and Business Development. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and a Master’s Degree in Business Management both from Medaille College. She is also certified in “Food as Medicine Everyday” from the National University of Natural Medicine in Portland, Oregon.

Her primary mission is to continue to waylay health disparities utilizing nutrition-based principals while working smart and developing new, innovative ideas. Ms. DeHonney was the first to introduce the Fruit & Veggies Prescription Program to WNY. This has created sterling partnerships with Universities and Health Clinics that has led to her newest endeavor, the Holistic Wellness & Agricultural Education Campus as part of the Bailey-Green Initiative. Other programming includes a corporate wellness division, imbedding services into local companies and universities corporate wellness programs; Pathways Education Programming instructing high school students in nutrition education, farming, and so much more.

Craig Steger is a Member of the Board at The Colored Musicians Club. Mr. Steger holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Literature from the University at Buffalo and Buffalo State College, respectively. From 1980 to 1991, Mr. Steger wrote histories of the Manhattan Project and nuclear facilities for Oak Ridge Associated Universities.

From 1981 to 1999, he was Roswell Park’s first Grants Development Officer, identifying funding sources, writing grants, and managing research. Mr. Steger was also the administrator of Roswell Park’s Core Grant and five annual pilot project funding programs.

In 1999, he joined his wife as to develop the Blue Moon Café, a 99-seat global foods restaurant in the Elmwood Village. Mr. Steger consulted for Roswell Park during the Café’s 2.5 years and analyzed tobacco industry documents. From 2013 to 2018, he was the Administrator, writing grants and managing research, for the Departments of Biophysics and Health Behavior.

Since his retirement, he is the administrator for Health Behavior’s NIH-funded Tobacco Center of Regulatory Science.

Mr. Steger began with the Club in 2005, assisting with the planning and fundraising for the Jazz Festival. He was on the Jazz Museum’s research team and his grant applications funded the Museum and general building renovations. He was an Interim Board Member in 2015. He researched and wrote the application that placed the Club on the NYS and National Registers of Historic Places in 2018. In 2019, Messrs. Steger, Scott, and Williams received NYS Historic Preservation Awards. Mr. Steger is a lifetime honorary member.

Mr. Steger is honored to serve on the Board of Directors. He will proudly serve in the memory of his father, his cousin Bob, and his friend Steve, all of whom fostered his life-long love of music, especially jazz.

Omar Overstreet is a Member of the Board at The Colored Musicians Club and Branch Manager and Financial Advisor at KeyBank. Mr. Overstreet also holds the title of President and CFO of Financial Advisors Community Services Inc., which is dedicated to providing financial education to the urban areas of Western New York. He is on the SBA Cares Team where he partners with the Small Business Administration to help small businesses get to where they need to go.

Mr. Overstreet is also Chairman of Community Affairs at KeyBank’s African Heritage KBING, a group that sponsors many community events in New York State. He is a proud member of the Greater Hope Baptist Church and hosts a segment on WUFO called Financial Fridays. Mr. Overstreet has been a negotiator for another financial institution where he serviced California, Nevada, and Iowa; he has been called one of the top financial minds in the country.