J. D. Steele

J. D. Steele is an American singer, songwriter, arranger, and choir director. Born in Gary, Indiana, to Sallie Steele Birdsong, he attended Purdue University before relocating to Minneapolis in 1976.

Steele's association with Prince began in 1977, when he encountered Prince Rogers Nelson during basement rehearsals and early performances in Minneapolis. That relationship extended into the studio, where Steele brought his siblings to record alongside Mavis Staples on "Melody Cool," a track from Prince's 1990 album Graffiti Bridge. As the vocal group The Steeles, they also contributed background vocals to "Still Would Stand All Time" and "Thieves In The Temple" and appeared in the film Graffiti Bridge. In 1993, The Steeles opened for Prince on tour, and Prince wrote the song "Well Done" for the group's debut album. Steele's studio work with Prince took place at Paisley Park Studios in Chanhassen, Minnesota. In 1994, "Super Hero" by New Power Generation featuring The Steeles was recorded at Paisley Park Studios between May and June and released on August 9, 1994, as part of the Blankman soundtrack.

Steele served as choir director for the original production of The Gospel at Colonus in 1983 and for its Broadway production in 1988. He has continued with touring productions alongside composer Bob Telson, a process that involves inviting local choirs from African-American communities to participate in each staging. In 2022, Steele composed the music and directed a community choir for a production of Iphigenia.

As a founding member of The Steeles, a vocal group formed with his siblings, Steele produced and co-wrote twelve of the songs on the group's 1993 debut album Heaven Help Us All, released on Elektra Records. Subsequent albums included We Worship You, Two Queens, One Castle, It's Christmas, and Better Love in 1997, followed by We Worship You in 2003. Through his work with The Steeles, Steele recorded background vocals for artists including Donald Fagen, George Clinton, Mavis Staples, Kim Carnes, Fine Young Cannibals, and The Sounds of Blackness.

Steele served as choral director and arranger for The Movement Revisited, a project with Christian McBride. In 2021, he directed the short documentary Listen! Please!, which addresses the subject of racism.