Black History Celebration: Norman Sylvester and the Boogie Cats

Thursday, February 5, 5:30-7:30pm

Celebrate Black History Month with Portland-based musician Norman Sylvester & the Boogie Cats! Explore the history of American Music through from drumming and field hollers (call and response) to today's hip hop. Hear examples of gospel music, Delta Blues, Harlem Renaissance Jazz, rock and more. Get ready to move at an interactive performance by award-winning musicians.  

The program is made possible through the generous support of the Coos County Cultural Coalition.

About the Musicians

Norman Sylvester was born in the farmlands of Bonita, Louisiana in 1945 and moved to Portland in 1957.  His earliest musical influences came from hearing his father’s gospel quartet on the radio, singing in church and hearing the blues on the back street of town. Norman learned to play in church from high school friend, “The King of Seattle Blues”, Isaac Scott. Sylvester played in soul bands in the 60’s, 70's and 80’s while also working in the trucking industry as a Teamster raising his young family. At a Buddy Guy concert he talked his way onstage to play a song. After his performance, Buddy encouraged him to devote himself to a career in music.  When PIE Trucking where he worked for closed down in the 90’s he took that leap of faith to play full time and formed the Norman Sylvester band. “Boogie Cat” (as he’s known) has become a popular NW blues staple playing at clubs, festivals, benefits, schools, libraries and special events of all kinds for 40 years. Norman has been inducted into the Oregon Music Hall of Fame and was awarded Cascade Blues Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award. 
www.normansylvester.com

Lenanne Sylvester-Miller has been a professional vocalist and actor for the past 40 years. She began performing with her father, Norman Sylvester in 1987. She holds a BA in Theater Arts from The University of Oregon and has a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Southern California. Lenanne & the incomparable late Janice Scroggins performed three runs of Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill which she produced an album from. After a break to raise her 2 children, Lenanne has returned to the Norman Sylvester band full time for the past 7 years and also hosts a jazz & soul band. 

LaRhonda Steele began singing in church at age 13, in Jones, Oklahoma. Her professional career began in Portland  in 1994 with Ken Berry’s band Time Sound.  Since then she has been inducted into the Oregon Music Hall of Fame and  the Cascade Blues Association Hall of Fame.  LaRhonda plays with her own band The LaRhonda Steele Band and has also performed with Curtis Salgado, Lloyd Jones, Obo Addy, Norman Sylvester and Ken Derouch.  She currently serves as the choir director for the Portland Interfaith Gospel Choir, which performs all over the region. LaRhonda and husband Mark Steele (a popular keyboard player in the NW) have raised four daughters while honoring their community with their amazing gifts.                                      
 larhondasteele.com