Rondo ’56: Remembering St. Paul’s Black Main Street

Songs, Photos and History from St. Paul’s Rondo neighborhood, 1945 – 1956

With its four musical hosts – Dan Chouinard, T Mychael Rambo, Thomasina Petrus, and Charmin Michelle – Rondo ’56 paints a portrait in music, stories and archival photos of St. Paul’s thriving Black neighborhood in the decade before it was sliced down the middle to make room for I-94. Alive with oral histories and R&B and jazz and gospel hits from the years just after World War II, Rondo ’56 is a loving evocation of this vibrant and tight-knit community that was home to most of St. Paul’s Black residents. Written and created by Dan Chouinard in collaboration with T Mychael Rambo, Thomasina Petrus, and Charmin Michelle.

T. Mychael Rambo: Vocals and Narration

Thomasina Petrus: Vocals and Narration

Charmin Michelle: Vocals and Narration

Dan Chouinard: Piano and Narration

Daryl Boudreaux: Percussion

Walter Chancellor: Bari Saxophone

Scott Johnson: Tenor Saxophone

Dan Chouinard is a St. Paul based pianist, accordionist, sing-along enabler and occasional writer of shows for MPR, TPT, Theater Latté Da and others. At St. Joan of Arc church in Minneapolis he was curator and host of the annual MLK Holiday concert for 24 years. He wrote the first version of Rondo ’56 in 2010 with the help of Rondo elders, Rondo performers (including T Mychael Rambo) and the MN Historical Society.DanChouinard.com

Classically trained in piano, violin and flute, Charmin Michelle transitioned into singing in the early 1990s performing in jazz clubs throughout the Twin Cities. Though based in Minneapolis, she is no stranger to life on the road, and has toured internationally since 1986, performing at jazz festivals and clubs throughout Spain and France. charmsongs.com

Thomasina Petrus is a 30 year equity actor and premier jazz vocalist in the Twin Cities. She is a founding member of New Dawn Theatre, a company member of Penumbra Theatre and brownbody.org and founder of the new vocal ensemble SingHers. She is also creator of Thomasina’s Cashew Brittle, featured at the MN State Fair, local retailers and online. Thomasinascashewbrittle.com

T. Mychael Rambo is a two time Regional Emmy Award winning actor, vocalist, arts educator and community organizer. His credits include national and international film, commercials and performances. T. Mychael is an established recording artist, arts educator, motivational speaker and affiliate professor in the College of Liberal Arts, Theatre Arts and Dance at the University of Minnesota.