Today we’d like to introduce you to Rhonda Baker-Stansberry
Hi Rhonda, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
The Bolita Princess
Rhonda Baker-Stanberry (September 27, 1959) is an American singer, actress, and author whose career spans over 45 years. She is the eldest child born to Frank Price and Queen Esther Baker. As a child her father noticed that she had a natural talent for music and enrolled her in piano lessons. Shortly thereafter he added voice lessons. She studied with the renowned Eleanor Boaz of Boaz Studios. Eleanor took her on as her personal protégé and began to groom her to use her voice an instrument.
She quickly gained much success as the curly headed little girl with the big voice. Influenced by her daddy as he picked out what was then called “sheet music” her songs for the weekly voice lessons. But there was some resistance as she favored Dakota Staton, Billie Holiday, and Frank Sinatra. But she said there was no one like Nancy Wilson. She was enamored by her style, grace, vocal range, and her ability to captivate the audience. However, she was taught that as a professional musician, when asked what type of music you sing: “Just tell them, I can do it all.” Per her father you should never pigeon hold yourself as an artist always be prepared to sing on que. Her lessons continued for nine years and during that time she was cast in a production of Gordon Jenkins’ Manhattan Towers, where she co-starred alongside her father and notes that as the greatest experience ever. As time passed, she was enrolled into The Barbizon School of Modeling as Eleanor and her father agreed that this would advance her professional career and put a seal on her entertainment resume.
As time passed, she attended college and earned an A.A. A.S. and B.S in Business Administration with a minor in Marketing and Management. However, in April of 1983 Rhonda’s world was shattered after the sudden loss of her father to a heart attack. As she began to put the pieces of her life back together, she met and married a Navy Ship Serviceman and from that brief union she created her most prized possession, her daughter Toni Dion. Still with music on her mind she started co-writing, co-producing, and recording music with Kenneth “FM” Andres of TWC Music Inc. while maintaining a full-time job as a grant writer, city clerk, and whatever jobs were available to make ends meet. She continued to keep music close to her heart. “I Caught a lot of hell, on those jobs and knew that I was not paid what I was worth, but thankfully there was a God watching over me and falling in love with Jesus was the best thing I ever did.” She openly admits being a single mother life was not always easy and financially she stayed in the toilet. Something that she clearly was not accustomed to growing up a racketeer’s daughter who watched money flowing like a river and shopping whenever she wanted. But she managed to put her daughter completely through college debt free just as her father and grandmother had done for her and she and her daughter never missed a meal.
Bolita King
Thinking back on her childhood she remembers that her father spoke of writing a book about his life as a numbers runner, bolita king, and racketeer. However, that book never came to fruition as God stopped by and took his child home. But never forgetting this Rhonda set out on a mission to fulfill his dream and she did. She entitled the book Numbers 35& 53 The Case of the Brown Paper Bag.
In her epoch story, she tells the unvarnished truth of the life and times of her father Frank Price “Chico” Baker. She gives the reader an up close and personal look as she travels back over fifty years and tells of when his dream of becoming a catcher in major league baseball closed another door opened. She gives vivid details of a world of unimaginable wealth, women, fast cars, and a mound of legal trials and tribulations. She gives the reader an opportunity to feel her father’s actual heartbeat as she tells this riveting tale of right, wrong, and the American Justice System.
The Bolita Princess
Never giving up on her dreams of singing she created a Pseudonym, “The Bolita Princess” and out of that The Bolita Princess & The Black Notes were formed. The R&B Jazz band consist of John “Flip” Taylor as musical director, and lead keyboard player, Jeremey Taylor, drums, Ryan Sinclair lead percussionist, Jarvis Brazwell, keyboard, Dami Lipede, Guitar, Pablo Israel Elijah Duque, Tenor Saxophone, Strother “Smooth Stone” Davis IV, trombone, trumpet, and keyboard, Casique Jarkyn, guitar always there when he is needed and Rhonda Baker-Stansberry, lead vocalist. She say’s is engaged in a union as what she describes as the be best musicians there are and is truly blessed to have such a talented group of gentlemen.
Rhonda attends Life Point Church of Jacksonville and spends her free time with her daughter hanging out at Neptune Beach, Florida being walked by her friend lovely Tibetan Mastiff “ Mo-Mo”
Rhonda’s mantra: I do not follow patterns I set them. — direct quote from: Daddy
Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.
(Psalm 34:7).
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been a smooth road at all. People were not interested in what I was doing. Why at this age would you like to pursue a career?
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
She quickly gained much success as the curly headed little girl with the big voice. Influenced by her daddy as he picked out what was then called “sheet music” her songs for the weekly voice lessons. But there was some resistance as she favored Dakota Staton, Billie Holiday, and Frank Sinatra. But she said there was no one like Nancy Wilson. She was enamored by her style, grace, vocal range, and her ability to captivate the audience. However, she was taught that as a professional musician, when asked what type of music you sing: “Just tell them, I can do it all.” Per her father you should never pigeon hold yourself as an artist always be prepared to sing on que. Her lessons continued for nine years and during that time she was cast in a production of Gordon Jenkins’ Manhattan Towers, where she co-starred alongside her father and notes that as the greatest experience ever. As time passed, she was enrolled into The Barbizon School of Modeling as Eleanor and her father agreed that this would advance her professional career and put a seal on her entertainment resume.
Numbers 35 & 53 The Case of the Brown Paper Bag was written in honor of my daddy, and I am proud to tell his story. I am set apart from other because I set my own patterns and let others follow them. I love being original
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
I love working with other musicians and authors. We just bounce ideas off each other. And attend jam sessions– to display your talents. I will let musicians, poets and all take the stage, I will not hog it for myself. There is a lot of space out there and a lot of talent just waiting to be heard.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: bolita _princess35
- Facebook: Rhonda Stansberry
