Biography
Many professionals sustain careers in the music business without ever stepping into the spotlight, often handling roles such as management, promotion, publicity, booking, or A&R even when they possess vocal or instrumental skills. Terry Steele fits this pattern: although the Los Angeles vocalist possesses recognized ability in the urban contemporary, adult contemporary, and quiet storm idioms, drawing comparisons to Luther Vandross, Freddie Jackson, Peabo Bryson, and Glenn Jones, he achieved greater commercial traction as a songwriter than as a front-line performer for much of his working life. During the 1980s and 1990s his compositions reached Patti LaBelle, Whitney Houston, Diana Ross, and Dionne Warwick, all of whom blended R&B foundations with substantial adult contemporary and pop reach. Steele himself has consistently targeted both the adult contemporary and R&B audiences while remaining open to pop-friendly crossover strategies.
His most prominent composition, the co-written “Here and Now,” reached Vandross after Warwick recommended the song, and the track registered as a major success on both the R&B and pop charts in 1989. Yet that accomplishment did not translate into sustained solo momentum for Steele during the late 1980s or early 1990s. He signed with SBK in 1989, and the label issued the album King of Hearts the following year; the project attracted minimal notice, after which Steele recorded no further material for SBK, a company also associated with Wilson Phillips, Vanilla Ice, and Technotronic. He nevertheless maintained activity as a background vocalist and continued supplying songs to other artists.
A significant opportunity arrived in 1999 when Hiroshima recruited Steele as lead singer. The ensemble, already established in NAC circles through its work in smooth jazz, crossover jazz, and fusion alongside urban contemporary, quiet storm, and adult contemporary styles, thereby raised Steele’s profile and reduced his behind-the-scenes status. While the affiliation proved advantageous, Steele maintained his independent trajectory, balancing Hiroshima commitments with solo work throughout the early 2000s. In 2002 he co-produced the solo album Day by Day with Hiroshima keyboardist Kimo Cornwell, the musician who had originally brought him into the group, and JTS Records released the project that year.
His most prominent composition, the co-written “Here and Now,” reached Vandross after Warwick recommended the song, and the track registered as a major success on both the R&B and pop charts in 1989. Yet that accomplishment did not translate into sustained solo momentum for Steele during the late 1980s or early 1990s. He signed with SBK in 1989, and the label issued the album King of Hearts the following year; the project attracted minimal notice, after which Steele recorded no further material for SBK, a company also associated with Wilson Phillips, Vanilla Ice, and Technotronic. He nevertheless maintained activity as a background vocalist and continued supplying songs to other artists.
A significant opportunity arrived in 1999 when Hiroshima recruited Steele as lead singer. The ensemble, already established in NAC circles through its work in smooth jazz, crossover jazz, and fusion alongside urban contemporary, quiet storm, and adult contemporary styles, thereby raised Steele’s profile and reduced his behind-the-scenes status. While the affiliation proved advantageous, Steele maintained his independent trajectory, balancing Hiroshima commitments with solo work throughout the early 2000s. In 2002 he co-produced the solo album Day by Day with Hiroshima keyboardist Kimo Cornwell, the musician who had originally brought him into the group, and JTS Records released the project that year.
Albums
Singles
