LaRita (Rita) Shelby is already a veteran performer in radio, TV and film. Most know her smooth and rich voice from having worked with radio giants Lee Bailey (RadioScope), Tom Joyner, Tavis Smiley or the Worldspace Digital Network. A deeper probe reveals her early radio days at WDIA, KGFJ & AFRTS and her TV and film appearances in A Different World, Martin, Walk By Faith or the classic South Central. Rita Shelby is also a vibrant entertainer, song stylist and songwriter with a life long passion for music. Her mother (the late Florence Hawkins) was a gospel musician who taught her to sing and play while at her side. Rita has studied various forms of music and she has further developed her skills over the past several years. The result is her debut album A Date With A Song which features ten songs written by Rita Shelby and her long time musical comrade Willie Daniels. Miss Rita has been praised for her slick and catchy lyrics & melodies that are enveloped by infectious chords constructed by Mr. Daniels. Of course Rita counts among her many influences the usual suspects such as Ella Fitzgerald, Betty Carter, Angela Boefil, Sarah Vaughn, Billy Holiday, Vanessa Rubin and Abby Lincoln.
The debut single is a jazzy urban composition titled Holding Down This Forty! It is an ode to the working class driven by a bass line from Smitty Smith whose short list includes stints with Anita Baker, Natalie Cole and more. On keys is co-composer Willie Daniels who enlisted newcomer Arthur Washington on drums. Meanwhile producer Michael Wells supplies the rhythm guitar and Warren Conner puts in the rich baritone vocals on the hook. Smooth jazz stations will get a taste of “Sour Citrus” for their first dose of Rita Shelby.
Also on the A Date With A Song album is production by Willie Daniels, Stafford Floyd, Michael Wells and the Grammy Award winning Andre’ Fischer. Bobby Watson from Rufus sat in on the tunes Old Man’s Girl and Sour Citrus along with John Kiodini on guitar and the legendary Mike Melvoin, who is a former chairman of NARAS. Sax man Aaron Fletcher also adds flavor to the title track while Gene Van Buren (who worked with Luther Vandrosss) on background vocal arrangements in Cherish The Moment is stellar. For eight years Rita has hosted the Starlight Jazz Serenade benefit concert at the Los Angeles Academy of TV Arts & Sciences where she performed on the same venue with Gerald Albright, Norman Brown, Dave Koz, Boney James, Everett Harp, Brian Culbertson, and more. It was there that L. A. Times Jazz critic Don Heckman predicted that Rita had star potential!
A Date With A Song reveals Rita’s sultry style that ranges from warm & witty notations like those in Sour Citrus, Holding Down This Forty, Old Man’s Girl and Drink U Some Act Right to the heart felt and poignant tunes like Cherish The Moment and This Is Where I Draw The Line. The classic appeal of the title track A Date With A Song is one is sure to stand the test of time. Shelby’s voice is tinged in melodies that hint of jazzy tones from days gone by. Rita Shelby is a new lady for a new day! A Date With A Song is released on SB Music and distributed digitally by Latin Cool Recordings. The CD is available at www.RitaShelby.com