Event Calendar
Nothin’ But The Blues - Louis Armstrong, Billy Holiday, and more
Saturday, January 25, 2025, 7:30 pm
Chelsea Tipton, Conductor
Shayna Steel, Vocals
Eric Metzgar, Guitar
Explore the early music that started the Blues and is at the heart and soul of nearly every form of popular music of the past 100 years, as we pay tribute to Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday, Ma Rainey, Louis Armstrong, and more – these are the first musical legends who sang their way into history.
This concert features the stunning vocals of Shayna Steele returning to the Miller Symphony Hall stage to perform with the ASO. There’s no need to sugar coat it since her impressive credits speak for themselves. Her colleagues praise her ability, her dedication and drive to perfecting her craft as a professional singer and knockout performer. With a voice that the London Jazz News says “unleashes enough voltage to light up the West End”, Shayna Steele has made her mark as an in-demand vocalist in the studio and on the stage.
Join us for an exciting concert of songs that influenced artists like Eric Clapton, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin and countless others. Songs include St. Louis Blues, House of the Rising Sun, Nobody Knows When You’re Down and Out, and Baby Won’t You Please Come Home.
ARTIST BIOS
SHAYNA STEEL BIO
This dynamic vocalist puts new meaning to diversity and grass-roots talent. Her natural ability to traverse musical genres be it in the studio, on the stage, or the screen, has kept her on the A list of in-demand singers in the industry. Shayna’s effortless execution of both soul and jazz has grabbed the attention of audiences globally, be it the Vancouver Jazz Festival, the Blue Note or a guest vocalist with the biggest symphonies throughout North America.
Set to release her fourth studio album, Gold Dust, in 2023 on Ropeadope Records, Shayna’s creative abilities explode in multiple genres and her original signature sound. Her mature song- writing abilities are dynamically evident as heard through her infusion of soul, jazz and blues. Produced by David Cook (Billboard #1 Jazz album, Spectrum by Shoshana Bean) Gold Dust embodies a sound that has taken Shayna 20 years to perfect. The album features a fresh new cover of Cole Porter’s “You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To” featuring Grammy nominated saxophonist Donny McCaslin. The album also highlights brand new original material such as the inspiring anthem “The Bloodline” celebrating her ancestors and the sultry, yet intimate “Behind Closed Doors” with jazz crooner Sachal Vasandani, but it’s her explosive new arrangement of Stevie Nick’s “Gold Dust Woman” that will leave every listener in awe of her explosive vocals on her rendition of the classic hit.
“At this point in my life, I have more clarity about my identity and sound as an artist than ever before. Gold Dust is a reflection of my growth and demonstrates my full potential as a vocalist, a writer, and an arranger.”- Shayna Steele
Growing from the pandemic’s gridlock on the music industry, Shayna’s inspiration for Gold Dust was fueled by her creative relationship with the extra time with her family. It drove Shayna to not only plan a new album following her 2019 Watch Me Fly (Must Have/Membran) but to return to music school almost 30 years later to finish her music degree. Through her studies at the prestigious Berklee College of Music, Shayna not only maintains a 3.95 GPA, but created many of the albums tracks within the classroom.
In 2023 Shayna will debut her solo symphony show, American Diva, with the prestigious Rochester Philharmonic Symphony, featuring Grammy-winning conductor and composer, Mr. Jeff Tyzik featuring arrangements of her music and favorite covers. Shayna has performed as the guest soloist with over 40 American symphony orchestras such as, The Dallas Symphony Orchestra, The Buffalo Symphony, and The Philly Pops.
Throughout her career, Shayna has lent her talent to leading artists such as Grammy-winning trumpeter, Chris Botti; Moby, whose tracks Raining Again, Disco Lies, and Extreme Ways, featured Shayna’s blockbuster vocals. Snarky Puppy’s, Michael League, handpicked Shayna’s original track, Gone Under, for inclusion in their huge hit, Family Dinner, Volume 1 album (Ropeadope Records) which has become a viral sensation with over 2 million views and countless covers from musicians globally. And no stranger to both the small and silver screens, Shayna has sung on the Hairspray, the Bourne Identity, and Sex and the City 2 soundtracks, as well as making a guest appearance on The Sopranos!
After spending her early years living mainly in Germany as the daughter of an Air Force master sergeant, Shayna spent her teen years in Biloxi, Mississippi, where she honed her musical theater and vocal talent. Her appearance on Star Search with Ed McMahon provided a bigger spotlight for her and, after leaving college, found herself in New York City appearing in the smash hit musical, RENT, as well as Jesus Christ Superstar, and then her original roll in the massive Tony Awarding winning musical, Hairspray!
She then moved out on her own, providing background vocals for Bette Midler, Rihanna, and Kelly Clarkson, and appeared with countless A list stars. After going solo, writing, and putting her band together, Shayna released her album, RISE, in 2015 (Ropeadope Records), reaching #2 on the U.S. iTunes jazz charts. Shayna has done the work, with her dynamic voice breathing life into what has become Gold Dust.
"My new work reflects my connection with my daughter, social justice, coming up from the ashes, and newfound freedom from isolation. The darkness did not swallow me whole, and I’m grateful to be back."-
Gold Dust on Ropeadope Records will be available on all major platforms April 21, 2023.