The first time Gabi Wilson appeared at Listen Be Heard Poetry Caf was when she sat in with Alvon . After mesmerizing the audience with her rendition of Donny Hathaway s A Song for You (both piano and vocals) she introduced herself to me by handing me her own business card which reads: Gabriella Gabi Wilson, Singer, Musician Poet.

Addressing me as Miss Martha, she told me that she would like to make an appearance at Listen Be Heard Poetry Caf and pointed out her parents to me, sitting on the couch beaming with pride. That was back in December of 2006. At that point Gabi had made a few spotlight appearances around the bay area with her dad s band The Urban Bushmen . She had learned to play Donny Hathaway by ear, and had actually just begun to take piano lessons.

Not quite one year later I got a call from someone at the Ellen Degeneris Show followed about an hour later by a call from someone representing the Golden State Warriors , both wanting Gabi to make appearances after seeing her on The Today Show yesterday morning.

Now ten years old she has caught the attention of the nation, something we knew would happen (my husband Tony and I, who opened Listen Be Heard Poetry Caf together in downtown Vallejo.) Gabi is an extraordinary young woman, who happens to be beautiful. Now that the big show is unfolding, I hope that Ellen and Oprah, and all the rest will recognize and help to cultivate what is still raw, albeit rare, talent.