Soul, gospel and blues are three words that will attract almost every music fan I know.

Even my redneck friends — you know the type, those that say, “I like both kinds of music, country and western,” — have to agree that they have a special place in their heart for at least two of the three.

Thursday the Concordia Parish Library will host another fabulous and free night of music when Houston’s Mary Griffin and Louisiana’s Rod Payne put the spotlight on soul, gospel and blues.

In describing the evenings entertainment, let me begin with the familiar one. Rod Payne has accompanied several artists who have performed here, including Lisa McCalmon and Corey Trahan. His style and pure musical talent captivate audiences and add an incredible lift to the singers’ performances. Rod has such a command of so many musical styles, and slips from one to another with ease. With these traits and talents Rod is hired by some of the best in the music industry. He has performed throughout the South, and has also written numerous theme songs and jingles.

Mary Griffin’s success story is like a page from the life of Aretha Franklin or Whitney Houston. Born a minister’s daughter in New Orleans, Mary developed a gospel-inflected, soulful voice that attracted talent scouts at a local club. Her debut album, “For the First Time,” was released in 1997. She sought a music education at Grambling University, where she honed her musical and performance skills on full scholarship. Then, she returned to New Orleans to pursue her career.

Her reputation rising, Mary accepted offers to record music for films. She sang for the films “Coyote Ugly” and “Driven,” and had a cameo in the film 54 in which she recorded the song “Knock on Wood.”

Then came her second album, the internationally acclaimed “Purified.” Patti Labelle and Celine Dion were so captivated by the album’s songs that Labelle hired her as a background vocalist and Celine Dion re-recorded one of the songs from Mary’s album, “Surrender.”

Mary soon was sharing the stage with Mary J. Blige, Aretha Franklin, Luther Vandross and Christina Aguilera.

Since then, Hurricane Katrina forced her to relocate to Houston, where she regrouped her band and became a regular at the city’s premier Jazz club, The Red Cat Jazz Café. There’s another album coming, one rumored to be bringing her back to the gospel roots of her father’s little country church.

For music lovers it will be a magical night of entertainment like so many that the Concordia Parish Library has brought to our area. Thanks again to the Louisiana Division of the Arts, the Office of Cultural Development, and The Arts Council of Central Louisiana for sponsoring and supporting the library in its efforts.

The music starts at 7 p.m., Thursday, in the Concordia Bank Lobby in Vidalia. Take your free seat early, as I think this event is going to be packed!

And as for my remark about my redneck friends, I’ll submit to that great philosopher Larry the Cable Guy who said, “That’s funny right there, I don’t care who you are!”

Sam Jones is a friend of the Concordia Parish Library.