Rita B: News & Reviews

"'Country singer Rita B has won the UKCountryRadio.com Listeners' Club Award for 2011 in recognition of her song, Got Caught When Your Guard Was Down. Rita was presented with the award at UKCountryRadio.com's Fourth Birthday Party on September 17th. Accepting the trophy from UK Country music legend, John Aston, rita said, 'I am absolutely gobsmacked at everything. Thank you to everyone who has voted for me and thank you to UKCountryRadio.com which is doing a great job in promoting UK artists'. Rita is the third artist to win the online radio station's annual award, following in the footsteps of Jonny Williams in 2010 and inaugural winners, Richard Plank & Guy Charles in 2009......'"

“White Buffalo CMC Bourne: 'We had a very entertaining night of country music from solo artist, Rita B. She has a wide range of music for everyone with some of her own work included. The highlight of the evening was when Rita performed an excellent tribute to Patsy Cline. Her all round performance and attitude towards the guests were first class. She is a very friendly person who puts her heart and soul into every song Rita started with country music at a very young age but didn't feel the opportunity was right to hit the big arena until a few years ago. Since then she has not looked back. She is certainly an artist to look out for'.”

"GOT CAUGHT WHEN YOUR GUARD WAS DOWN" is in the European Hotdisc Top 40 at No. 29 and is also in the British & Irish Independent Hotdisc Charts at No. 9 as at 30 January 2011.

'In My Own Wor(l)ds' - This is Rita's first original album, with all the lyrics on the 10 tracks being written by Rita herself and the music is provided by songwriter, John Holt from North Wales. 

Rita has always loved singing and now family life allows her to express herself in music and song with the greatest of ease. She has a crystal clear voice and her way with words cannot be faulted as she weaves her way through songs such as 'Then Love Was Young', 'Mirror Mirror Why?' and my favourite, 'Hometown Kentucky'.

'Dance in my Fire'

Nov 2010: No. 23 - Hotdisc Top 40 Chart and at

 No. 6 for the Hotdisc British & Irish Chart Top 10

Margueriteville CMC 25 September 2010

Rita B and her new music partner Lee Hodgson, forming ‘Kentucky Cousins’ gave an excellent performance at the Margueriteville with Rita and Lee alternating (and occasionally dueting) many country favourites. 

Kicking off with Always On My Mind Rita sung a number of  Patsy Cline standards such as Crazy and Have You Ever Been Lonely? along with some of her own songs  - Then Love was Young, Dance in my Fire, Rita’s Song and Hometown Kentucky all from her new album In my own Wor(l)ds which is receiving some good reviews and is being played on various radio stations around the UK as well as overseas in The Netherlands, Austria and Kentucky. 

Many dance favourites featured throughout the night with Billie Jo Spears’ Blanket On The Ground and Gretchen Wilson’s California Girls and Redneck Woman to name just a few. Mary Chapin-Carpenter was also represented with Down At The Twist And Shout and her Passionate Kisses were directed at Rita’s fans!

Lee Hodgson sang solo on several dance favourites such as Sweet Caroline, The Eagles’ Peaceful, Easy Feeling, Achy Breaky Heart, ‘If Tomorrow Never Comes and a sensational guitar solo accompanying his rendition of Country Boy. Lee certainly looks and sounds the part as he belted out some fine Country numbers, and looks to have a secure future on the circuit on this evidence. 

Club secretary Darrell Binding said “Its always a pleasure to see Rita perform, and she has found a great partner in Lee; it sounded as though they had been singing together for years instead of the first time tonight!”...

Album Review: Rita B   In My Own Wor(l)ds   10 Tracks

*Hometown Kentucky *Wasted Tears *Sleepless Nights *Got Caught When Your Guard Was Down *Then Love Was Young *Rita’s Song *Vibrating Violins *Dance In My Fire *Mirror Mirror Why

How good to review another UK artist and what a good find this one is. All tracks are self-penned by Rita; the lyrics are performed with love and passion and are beautiful. Track 5 Then Love Was Young is a strong ballad I enjoyed it. Track Vibrating Violins has had a dance choreographed for the line dancers I felt this track was perhaps a little more folk but still most enjoyable, There are a few tracks with a good strong beat. Rita has a very clear country voice with the advantage being you can hear all the words to a song you may not be familiar with. Enjoyable Album.                                                                                                                                               Ann Hinder

NEW ALBUM FROM RITA B

Earlier this year we featured “Wasted Tears” and “Then Love Was Young”. Well, I am pleased to report that Rita has just brought out her brand new album which includes these tracks.

The album is called “In My Own Wor(l)ds” and, as the name implies, is Rita’s first album of self-penned material. Rita wrote the songs with North Wales songwriter John Holt, after he answered Rita’s advert for a songwriting partner in Cross Country Magazine.

The album is now available from our Online Music Store and this month we will be featuring several tracks from the album.

Rita regularly entertains for the elderly at Elim Church, Laindon. Every Monday, Elim Church invites the local community and residents from local nursing homes for alternative craft days with Sandy and singalong sessions with Rita. At their Christmas Party 2010, Deputy Mayor Livesey for Basildon (Essex) came along to meet the organisers and spent quality time with all the folk joining in with a celebratory 'Happy Birthday' singalong to Yvonne who celebrated her birthday today.