Press Kit Bio
Singer-songwriter J.R. Rhodes believes in the transformative power of music.
From her first open-mic performances at the O.K. Hotel, Seattle, to her latest album I Am, these beliefs in the transformative power of music are distilled into songs of quiet intensity that traverse spirituals, folk, blues, jazz, and rock.
Rhodes muses, “It’s easy to be cynical. It takes a lot to be intentional. It takes a lot to dream. It takes a lot to love.” Her recent release, I Am, takes the listener into love and then heartache, through rebirth, and finally, up into freedom.
Rhodes earned her B.A. in music composition from Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT. Jazz artists Bill Lowe and Anthony Braxton were teachers at Wesleyan who encouraged her to explore and push beyond any self-imposed boundaries. These lessons have allowed her to continually grow and evolve her music.
Her full-length albums include I Am (2017), Elixir (2011), AfriQueen Stare (2003), and Songs of Angels (1999). Additional works that demonstrate Rhodes’ creative range are Lullabies (2013), a performance of traditional spirituals, with On the Boards, Seattle; as well as 2 Old Chicks (2005), a 50-piece orchestral film score, created in collaboration with Doris Bartha and Steve Brush. In 2020, J.R. recorded a new single, ‘Spilt Milk’ for the compilation album Songs Collected released by Drums & Wires Recordings. That same year she sang harmony vocals on the folk singer-songwriter, Jim Page’s album Now is the Time. In 2021, she recorded her rendition of the traditional folk song ‘Black is the Colour’ with cellist Lori Goldston.
J.R. is currently working on two new albums. One recording is a cinematic folk album including music inspired by the works of African-American artists Alice Walker, Nikki Giovanni, Elizabeth Cotten, Langston Hughes and more. The other recording is a collection of songs of African-American heritage including spirituals, slave songs and lullabies.
J.R. Rhodes Company (JRRC) is the home of J.R. Rhodes music. Founded in 1996 to focus on creating live and recorded music solo and in collaboration. Hear select works here.
Solo: Studio Recordings
I Am – Recording/ Music, Lyrics, Vocals, Guitar, 2017
Elixir – Recording/ Music, Lyrics, Producer, Vocals, Guitar, 2013
AfriQueen Stare – Recording/ Music, Lyrics, Co-Producer, Vocals, Guitar, 2003
Songs of Angels – Recording/ Music, Lyrics, Co-Producer, Vocals, Guitar, 1998
The Vision of the Fool II – Recording/Music, Lyrics, Co-Producer, Vocals, Guitar, 1997
The Vision of the Fool – Recording/Music, Lyrics, Producer, Vocals, Guitar, 1996
Highlights
Benaroya Hall – Performance of Original Song ‘Ancestors Never Sleep’ Opening for Alice Walker, 2019
Benaroya Hall – Performance of Original Song ‘The Fly on the Wall’ Opening for Nikki Giovanni, 2018
Lilith Fair – Talent Search Runner Up, 1999
Lilith Fair – Talent Search Winner, 1998
Voted Top 5 Concerts of 1998 by Mark Dudick, Anchorage Daily News, 1998
Venues
(select list)
Benaroya Hall, Seattle, WA
The Gorge Amphitheater, George, WA
The Knitting Factory, New York, NY
Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, WA
The Royal Room, Seattle, WA
Lakebottom Sound Concert Series, Missoula, MT
Out North Contemporary Theatre, Anchorage, AK
On the Boards, Seattle, WA
Folklife Festival, Seattle, WA
Bumbershoot Music Festival, Seattle, WA
The Lost Church, San Francisco, CA
The Gypsy Tea Room, Dallas, TX
Collaborations: Projects
(select list)
Harmony vocals on Jim Page’s album, Now is the Time, Recording & Performance, 2020-Present
Duo with cellist Lori Goldston, Recording & Performance, 2019-Present
Duo with woodwinds player Hans Teuber, Recording & Performance, 2019-2022
Poetry & Song - with Jack Straw Cultural Center, Music, Lyrics, Recording & Performance, 2019 – Present
Duo with pedal steel guitarist Dan Tyack/Music, Lyrics, Recording & Performance/Touring, 2018 – 2020
Duo with pedal steel guitarist Ed Brooks, Music, Lyrics , Recording & Performing, 2017
Solo, Original Songs based on Various Books and Short Stories – presented by Bushwick Book Club Seattle, Music, Lyrics & Performance, 2017 - 2019
Solo, Lullabies. A performance of spirituals at On the Boards Seattle, 2013
Quintet – with Serendipity Strings/Music, Lyrics, Arrangements, Vocals & Guitar, 2008-2010
The Hunger Artist – with Jessica Lurie/Lyrics & Vocal Performance, 1998
The Blue Bouquet – with Jessica Lurie/Lyrics & Vocal Performance, 1997
Memberships
ASCAP - American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers
NARAS - National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences/The Grammys, Voting Member
Education
Pacific NW Film Scoring Program – Seattle, WA
Wesleyan University, B.A. Music Composition – Middletown, CT
The Helen Bush School – Seattle, WA
Eckstein Middle School – Seattle, WA
Laurelhurst Elementary School, Seattle, WA
Roland Park Country School, Baltimore, MD
Bryn Mawr School, Baltimore, MD