Sergeant Major Mercy A. Diez, Vocalist, The United States Army Band, “Pershing’s Own,” Falls Church, VA

Originally from Cebu City, Philippines, Sergeant Major (SGM) Mercy A. Diez began singing at the age of five and joined the U.S. Army in 1989, not as a musician but in the military intelligence field. Fluent in Visayan, Tagalog, and English, SGM Diez attended the Defense Language Institute and was then stationed in South Korea as a military intelligence interrogator. While there, she won a talent competition that earned her a place on the roster of the 1991 Soldier’s Show that tours the United States and overseas locations each year entertaining and supporting American soldiers. During one of her tours, she was spotted by members of The United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own” (TUSAB) and was invited to join the band within months.

With TUSAB, SGM Diez has performed for special events at the White House and has been a featured vocalist performing in Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Australia. On her own time, SGM Diez works with local musicians lending her talents to songwriters and recording projects. She has provided back-up vocals for famous recording artists in venues such as Carnegie Hall in New York, NY, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, and the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, TN. She also coaches young, up-and-coming artists in performance practices and contemporary vocal techniques.