Steele Legacy
A one-of-a-kind recording project captures the music, magic, and love of LaRhonda and Mark Steele.
Mark and LaRhonda Steele recording at Becker Canyon Studio
By Claire Levine
Earlier this year, Norm Eder, whose photography so beautifully captures the vitality of Portland’s music scene, was taking pictures at a Lisa Mann concert. Mark and LaRhonda Steele opened the show – simply one piano and one voice.
Norm was mesmerized.
“Not only was the music beautiful, but their interactions as husband and wife were so clear. They were communicating together on these beautiful ballads,” Norm remembers.
And it rekindled a thought Norm had been having for a while: that some of Portland’s most revered musicians have relatively little in the way of recorded material to contribute to Portland’s music history. The Steeles’ duets fell into that category.
Norm had often wondered if his photography studio could work as a recording studio, too. (He calls it Becker Canyon Studio, in a nostalgic, if tongue-in-cheek, reference to the iconic Laurel Canyon, incubator for so much extraordinary music of the 1970s.)
So, in his “let’s get it done” mode – which those of you who know Norm will appreciate is formidable – Norm got on the phone and put things in action.
He first called his friend James Latham, a bass player who’s on the faculty of Portland State University, to help produce an album. Next he contacted jazz pianist Paul K. Ward, a masterful recording engineer. After developing a budget, Norm called some of his many friends and, in less than a day, raised enough money to pay for production.
Then, Norm said, “I called LaRhonda and Mark and asked what they were doing on Memorial Day,” which was about a week away.
He said, “The money is in place. We’re ready to go. All you have to do is say yes and put together a list of songs that are important to you. Come to my studio, and we’ll do it.”
And he took LaRhonda completely by surprise. She said, “I was a little shocked – but grateful and excited.”
Paul K. Ward, recording engineer for Steele Legacy
The session
They came, they recorded – and they left listeners awestruck.
Norm said, “Most of the songs were one-take wonders. They were so good that Paul would look up and say, ‘Done, we got it.’ We were all smiling and thinking, ‘Wow, this is good.’”
A few songs, Norm said, needed a little extra attention. After that one-day session, the Steeles joined Paul at his Studio Blue to rework a couple cuts. Paul then tracked and mastered the recording.
And with that, an eight-song recording of some of the Steeles’ favorite music was ready for download in time for the Waterfront Blues Festival over Fourth of July Weekend.
All proceeds from downloads and streaming go to the Steeles.
The Product
The recording, called Steele Legacy, is remarkable in so many ways.
Co-producers Norm and James sat back and encouraged the Steeles to sing and play what most moves them. The result is an extraordinary opportunity to hear each of them performing music they hand-selected, with the simplest of arrangements.
While we love listening to them in bands and choirs, hearing just the two of them is a gift.
We hear Mark’s tasteful versatility and creativity – from quiet ballad accompaniments to dynamic jazz and stunning blues. The only instrumental is Mark’s vibrant original, “Wuhan.”
We also get to hear something rare in a recording – a completely improvised duet on their Blues Medley. It makes for a joyous ride.
And we hear in the clearest way the voice that has meant so much to so many Oregonians. And as always, we know that she means every word she sings.
We can see the haunting “Strange Fruit” through LaRhonda’s eyes and hear her longing for true freedom in “I Wish I Knew.”
LaRhonda said that the decision to add “Hallelujah” was a special moment in the process. She and Mark hadn’t intended to record it, but Norm suggested it as so many people know it and love it.
A song with many complex themes, LaRhonda said, “each of the verses speaks to me in a different way.”
And we are left wishing that Leonard Cohen were alive to hear her sing his masterpiece.
LaRhonda strikes a pose in the studio
Available to you!
Norm Eder is the energetic and generous force behind The Jeremy Wilson Foundation’s Artist Portrait Project. The Steele recording is just his most recent way of lending his talent, resources and big heart in support of his music community.
And the Steeles are thrilled. LaRhonda said, “I'm grateful to the folks who got together to make that happen. You know, I've been wanting to record some favorite songs for a long time, and so to have it all just set and ready and be invited to come in and sing was really quite a blessing. Just truly a blessing.”
Norm has raised enough money to produce a second project, to be recorded when Mark and LaRhonda’s schedule permits.
As the Steele Legacy website reads: Lean back, open your ears, and immerse yourself in the dazzling, soulful magic of LaRhonda and Mark—perfectly, simply, and beautifully one together.
