LaRita Shelby is known popularly by jazz lovers throughout Los Angeles as “Jazzy Rita.” In addition to singing jazz for her supper, Shelby is also an actor, host, producer, publicist, and a radio and voice-over artist.
Shelby recently completed a lively jazz performance at the Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center. But oddly, to call a Jazzy Rita show a jazz show would almost be a disservice to what she is doing on stage.
She delivers a full Vaudevillian-style routine, which is more akin to a one-woman show. From sharing amusing stories and one-liners to encouraging full-on audience participation, a Jazzy Rita show has it all.
Related Stories:
https://lasentinel.net/kwame-brathwaites-artcenter-college-exhibit-was-well-worth-the-wait.html
https://lasentinel.net/branden-wellington-gets-personal-about-new-role-on-sistas.html
Shelby was accompanied at the Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center by her band, which included her musical director James “DC” Wilson on keys, Michael Wells on guitar, Mike Phillips on bass, Jerroll Ballard on drums, Gerald Spikes on saxophone, Marshella Griffen on supporting vocals, along with special guest Phil Bell.
The show could be a little more polished, but then again, the rawness is a part of its charm. The audience at the Morrison Performing Arts Center was a mature crowd but the performance could easily be enjoyed by all ages.
Shelby is at her vocal best when she sings songs with a comedic or storytelling delivery. Though some of the ballads selected were a little challenging for her at times, she made her way through each song with the confidence of a true pro.
Shelby’s audience was fully invested in her performance, and there were several loyal Jazzy Rita fans in attendance.
Besides performing live, Shelby is also a recording artist. Her first album release was “A Date With a Song,” and she composed nine of the 10 songs with Willie Daniels.
“I felt it was time to bring this music to life,” said Shelby, “and put it out there.”
Shelby also released two politically themed, although playful songs, “Mr. President’s Girl,” which was an anthem to Michelle Obama, and a farewell song to what Shelby described as a “monster of a year” entitled “Goodbye 2020.”
Shelby also released a Christmas song called “Real Holiday Love.”
“I am planning to record again,” said Shelby. “It’s time for another jazz-oriented album. It’s in the works.”
Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, Shelby spent much of her formative years in Washington, DC. She said her mother was a gospel musician, and Shelby fondly called her the original Jazzy Rita.
“She penned many noted gospel songs,” said Shelby. “I first heard music in the womb.”
Shelby continued, “She was my first music teacher, and music was always in our home.” While she was first introduced to gospel by her mother in Memphis, it was at Rabaut Junior High School in Washington, DC where she discovered jazz.
Musical great Roberta Flack was once a teacher at the school. “She taught there before I went there, but that’s the claim to fame there,” said Shelby.
Shelby said she moved back to Memphis for high school where she attended Overton High School, which was a performing arts school under the direction of Dr. Lulah McEwen Hedgeman.
From birth, Shelby said the performing arts was something she always wanted to do, and she was particularly enamored with Black actors. “I grew up at a time when you could point out the Black people on television,” said Shelby.
Shelby, too, is an actor. She is most well-known for her role as Carole in the urban crime-drama, cult classic film “South Central.”
When Shelby is not acting or singing, she enjoys writing and is actively shopping five screenplays.
For more information on Jazzy Rita, visit http://www.laritashelby.com.
