Jevetta Steele

Jevetta Steele, born November 14, 1962, in Gary, Indiana, is an American singer known for her work in gospel and soul music. She initially moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, with aspirations of becoming a criminal lawyer, but eventually pursued a career in music and theatre. In 1983, she landed the lead role of Ismene in the touring production of The Gospel at Colonus. This marked her breakthrough moment, leading to appearances in various stage productions such as Smokey Joe's Cafe, Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope, and Ain't Misbehavin'. She gained significant recognition for her collaboration with Bob Telson on the 1988 song "Calling You" from the movie soundtrack of Bagdad Café. The song was nominated for an Academy Award and became a hit in Europe, reaching top 10 positions in Sweden and France. This success led to a recording contract in France and the release of her debut album Here It Is in 1993. She also contributed vocals to Prince's records from 1989 to 1995 and worked with other notable artists such as George Clinton, 10,000 Maniacs, and Mavis Staples. My Heart, a collection of original and classic jazz selections, was released in 2006.