Rhonda Laurie hails from New York City, where she grew up in a family of professional singers and performers. Rhonda began her career as a cabaret singer in Manhattan nightclubs. She has studied vocal jazz with Janet Lawson, Judy Niemack, Sheila Jordan and Jay Clayton.

Rhonda is regularly praised for her smooth vocals and savvy interpretations of jazz classics and less familiar repertoire. In 2007, Rhonda was featured in the Twin Cities Jazz Society Jazz from J to Z concert, “I Get a Kick Out of Cole.” From 2007-2008 she enjoyed a weekly run at Cavé Vin in Minneapolis. Laurie has performed at the Twin Cities Jazz Festival 6 times, and she is a fellow of the prestigious Cabaret Conference at Yale. From 2004-2008, she was founding President of the MN Chapter of the Jazz Vocal Coalition.

Whether swinging a la gypsy, straight-ahead jazz, or cabaret, her approach is modern and fresh, obscuring musical boundaries. In 2010 Rhonda released her first CD, “Rhonda Laurie & Sidewalk Café,” and is getting excellent reviews and radio play.