Preview, ATC's Online Newsletter
No. 1 - Fall 2011
ATC In Our Community
Jevetta Steele: Renaissance Artist
Originally born and raised in Gary, Indiana, Jevetta Steele moved to Minneapolis as an aspiring criminal lawyer. Her path has deviated drastically from that original plan. Jevetta is an accomplished artist: a celebrated musician, actor, playwright and Academy Award nominee.
Jevetta is a member of The Steeles, a family group of brothers and sisters who have been singing together since childhood, performing gospel music nationwide and recording with famous artists such as Prince, Donald Fagen, James Cleveland and many others. The Steeles have contributed music to several soundtracks, as well, including Corrina, Corrina.
Her career began early in the 80s with the lead role in the international and national touring show The Gospel at Colonus, which ultimately took her to Broadway. Her career has flourished as a member of The Steeles performing and recording gospel but her musical repertoire also includes jazz, rhythm and blues, classics and opera.
Ms. Steele recorded the original soundtrack for the opera African Portraits on Warner Classics Records with the Chicago Symphony. Just a few highlights in her acting career include roles at Guthrie Theater in Crowns and Double Infidelities, in Smokey Joe’s Café atHey City Theater,andAin’t Misbehavin’ and Don’t Bother Me…I Can’t Cope with Penumbra Theatre Company. Her film and soundtrack career include a feature in Corrina, Corrina. She recorded “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and “This Little Light of Mine” on the soundtrack of this film, as well. Jevetta was nominated for an Academy Award for her performance of “Calling You” on the soundtrack for Baghdad Café.
More recently in 2005-2006, Jevetta composed the autobiographical musical Two Queens, One Castle which opened to rave reviews at Mixed Blood Theater in downtown Minneapolis. The performance then moved on to Washington D.C., playing to sold out houses at Metro Stages.
Her solo albums include Jevetta Steele (1988), Hold Me (1992), Here It Is (1993) and most recently she released a collection of original and classical jazz selections called My Heart (2006).
