Tuesday 22 November 2022

Rita Williams Queen of the covers a forgotten voice 1920-71.


 Rita Williams is just a memory today? her voice was hailed as the queen of the covers, first with Crown records 1936 and later with Embassy both labels cheap covers sold at Woolworths too.

A friend long gone sent me a note about Rita, saying he met her all 4ft 7 of her she was quite tiny and wore pixie kind of clothes. The interesting bit for me is her long affair with Teddie Holmes, Gracie Fields pianist at one time.

Philip Green used Rita and her smooth vocals on quite a number of Columbia red 78rpms in the late 40's, she also acted with Hattie Jaques and Eric Sykes, In Sykes and A 1964.

Rita below 1957. Band Of Gold for Embassy 1956 again a cover of a US cover the British Singer was Rosemary Squires...


Rita also did jingles to for Radio Luxembourg.

Top  left Teddie Holmes with Gracie Fields South Africa 1945.





Rita recorded two Gracie Fields numbers Now Is The Hour 1947, and Popa Won't You Dance With Me 1948.  The Rita Williams singers performed on record with Shirley Bassey and Gracie Fields among the many other artists. 

A selection of Rita's records for Embassy can be found on You Tube, so do take a listen.

The last record Rita Made was for Gemini records Your Nearer in 1970 it sounds very plush indeed.

Chris Rogers music historian 2022.



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