Hornby Island Blues Workshop

Rita is an accomplished singer songwriter, a gifted vocalist and a skilled musician. Add to that a warm persona and a fine sense of humour and you have all the ingredients for an outstanding performer. Rita's style defies definition. Dubbed "the goddess of Canadian blues" by CBC's Shelagh Rogers, she is equally comfortable belting out the blues, delivering her own original material, crooning an Italian folk song or wailing R&B or an Elvis Presley cover tune. At first listen it's her voice - that three octave range - that garners all the attention but Rita's songwriting is also outstanding. Three of her four JUNO nominations have been for albums consisting largely of original material. Long John Baldry recorded Rita's song Midnight in Berlin on his album, Right To Sing The Blues and IndieFilms director, Bruce McDonald added Have You Seen My Shoes to the soundtrack of his cult classic film Roadkill. There are not many female singers in Canada who can handle the blues and it's close cousin, powerhouse rock and roll, with Rita's understanding, authority and sheer attitude. Known for her raspy, sensual voice, Rita has been wowing Blues fans around the world with her soulful singing and pure expression. Performing since the age of fifteen, Rita continues to tour constantly, appearing at festivals and theatres across North America and throughout Europe.