“Her name is Rhonda and she is funky.” Prince was a man of few words, but everything that came out of his mouth had a deep gravity and intention behind it, which is why that statement is just about the perfect intro you could deliver for the great Rhonda Smith. Upon meeting Prince in 1995, she instantly gained his respect and admiration and went on to hold down the low end for him for over a decade. After that, she began working with guitar legend Jeff Beck, with whom she has been touring and collaborating for years. On top of that, her infectiously funky playing, deep grooves, nasty slap attack, and tastefulness as a writer have led to her playing with other music icons throughout her career: Chaka Khan, Beyoncé, Little Richard, Larry Graham, Patti Labelle, George Clinton, and many others. Most recently, Rhonda has released her single “Won’t Come Back,” a soulful hit that puts a serious spotlight both on her thund