Lanny Steele

{{short description|American jazz musician}}

'''Robert L. Steele ("Lanny")''' (December 30, 1933 – October 21, 1994) was an American jazz pianist, educator, composer,<ref>''Contemporary American Composers, A biographical dictionary'', First edition. Compiled by E. Ruth Anderson. Boston: G.K. Hall & Co. (1976)</ref> and jazz festival promoter. He founded the Texas Southern University Jazz Ensemble.<ref>[https://www.allaboutjazz.com/mike-barone-big-band-north-texas-two-oclock-lab-band-john-daversa-big-band-by-jack-bowers Jack Bowers, ''All About Jazz,'' Dec 5, 2009]</ref>

Steele graduated from Lamar High School in Houston, Texas. He studied music at the University of North Texas College of Music, where he was a member of the One O'Clock Lab Band.

He was a pianist for Arnett Cobb. He taught music at Texas Southern University, where he created the TSU Jazz Ensemble. He also founded the Juneteenth Blues Festival (Houston), a commemoration of the liberation of Texan African-Americans from slavery. He helped organize the Houston Jazz Festival and was a co-founder of SUMArts.<ref>Jim Sherman, "Goodbye to Lanny Steele", ''Houston Press'', October 22, 1994</ref>

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Steele, Lanny}} Category:1933 births Category:1994 deaths Category:20th-century American pianists Category:American jazz bandleaders Category:American jazz pianists Category:American male jazz pianists Category:American music arrangers Category:Jazz arrangers Category:Jazz musicians from Houston Category:Jazz musicians from Texas Category:American male jazz composers Category:University of North Texas College of Music alumni Category:20th-century American jazz composers Category:20th-century American male composers Category:20th-century American male pianists

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