Rita Warford
Rita was brought into the AACM, the Advancement of Creative Musicians by violinist Leroy Jenkins in 1969. As a member of the National Task Force of CORE, the Congress of Racial Equality she also worked with ACT on the westside of Chicago. There she was discovered by Camile Landry, who knew Leroy was looking for a singer. At that time Rita was lead singing for the movement’s rallies, sit-ins, marches and parties. She grew up listening to Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn and Billie Holiday from her mother’s collection. In addition, she listened to uncle’s recordings; Earl “Fatha” Hines, Art Tatum and Louis Armstrong. Her formal training in music started at Holy Angels Elementary School with piano and violin. She further studied music at Loop College (Harold Washington), Columbia College, the AACM School of Music and one on one with Muhal Richard Abrams, Kelan Philip Cohran and Dr. Zilner T. Randolph (arranger for the Louis Armstrong Orchestra). She has a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Indianapolis. Rita has performed through the United States, Europe, Japan and Cuba with various ensembles and musicians including Steve McCall, Douglas Ewart and Kahil El ‘Zabar and as a duo with pianist Jodie Christian. She has recorded with Kalaparusha Ara Difda, Edward L. Wilkerson, Jr. and solo work with multi layered tracks at Experimental Sound Studio. With Shanta Nurulllah at the helm, she cofounded Sojourner, the mother of Samaana. She has performed throughout the United States and in Holland with her one woman show, Womansong: A Musical Tribute to Female Jazz Vocalists. Warford also served as band leader for the Rita Warford Ensemble, the Warford/Bowden Ensemble with Mwata Bowden, Transsource and Shout, her nine-piece band. She is listed in five books; As Serious as Your Life, Jazz Files, Famous Black Quotations, Music Stronger than Itself and Stormy Weather.
