Robert L. Steele (b Dec 30, 1933; d Oct 21, 1994) was an American jazz pianist, music educator, composer, and jazz festival promoter. Steele founded the Texas Southern University Jazz Ensemble.

Professional career

Steele was pianist for the late Arnett Cobb

Arnett Cobb

Arnett Cobb was an American jazz tenor saxophonist.Cobb was born Arnette Cleophus Cobbs in Houston, Texas. His musical career began with the local bands of Chester Boone, from 1934 to 1936, and Milt Larkin, from 1936 to 1942...

. He taught music at Texas Southern University

Texas Southern University

Texas Southern University is a historically black university located in Houston, Texas, United States....

, where he created the TSU Jazz Ensemble. He also founded the Juneteenth Blues Festival (Houston), a musical commemoration of the liberation of Texas' African-Americans from slavery presented. He also was an organizer of the Houston Jazz Festival and cofounder of SUMArts.

Education

• 1952 — Graduated Lamar High School, Houston, TX
• 1960s — Studied music at the University of North Texas
  University of North Texas
  The University of North Texas is a public institution of higher education and research in Denton. Founded in 1890, UNT is part of the University of North Texas System. As of the fall of 2010, the University of North Texas, Denton campus, had a certified enrollment of 36,067...
  
   College of Music where he was a member of the One O'Clock Lab Band
  One O'Clock Lab Band
  The One O’Clock Lab Band for years has been the premier ensemble of the Jazz Studies Division at the University of North Texas College of Music in Denton. The band has performed and toured abroad in Australia, Canada, England, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Norway,...