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LaRhonda Steele. Do Your Job.
11/20/2025
LaRhonda Steele. Do Your Job.
Episode 2 of Women. Music. Power. features LaRhonda Steele, Portland’s First Lady of the Blues. An artist whose voice has the power to transport, heal and transform. In this inspirational episode, we sit down with LaRhonda Steele, a compelling, uplifting vocalist whose artistry spans blues, R & B, gospel and jazz with boundless emotional depth and astounding virtuosity. Born in Oklahoma, Larhonda relocated to Portland in the early 90’s and became a beloved fixture on the Portland scene. She’s now an essential part of the Waterfront Blues Festival, a Cascade Blues Hall of Fame inductee, and a 2020 Oregon Music Hall of Fame honoree. She has also traveled overseas to perform at festivals. Larhonda has recorded several albums with her husband and musical partner, Mark Steele. She also has studio credits that include back up vocals and collaborations with many luminaries including Curtis Salgado, Taj Mahal, and Gino Vanelli, whose albums Wilderness Road and The Life I Got feature LaRhonda’s stunning back up vocals. LaRhonda shares stories with us about her musical journey, her family and her creative voice. Whether fronting the LaRhonda Steele Band, directing the Portland Interfaith Gospel Choir, or performing with the Steele Family Band, her sound is unmistakable: bluesy, gospely, and drenched in soul. As Portland blues legend Norman Sylvester puts it, “She can bounce over chordal progressions like a surfer on a perfect wave”. We talk about music as a career, a way of life and a journey to finding strength in the face of adversity. LaRhonda’s voice doesn’t just fill a room—it transforms it. Listening to her can heal you, transport you to a place of peace and stir your soul. Tune in for a conversation that has us laughing, crying and honoring LaRhonda’s artistry and musical gifts. Aside from our podcast theme song, every track in this episode carries LaRhonda’s creative touch—whether as writer, co-writer, or collaborator. Here are links to those songs: - Ocean 503 - LaRhonda and Mark Steele - LaRhonda and Mark Steele - Lo Steele and Peter Knudsen
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