Artist description There are not many woman singers in Canada who can handle the blues - and it's close cousin, powerhouse rock and roll - with Rita Chiarelli's understanding, authority and sheer party time attitude. If you need a little demonstration, check out Breakfast at Midnight!

Music Style Electric Blues

Musical Influences SRV, Walter Trout, BB King, Muddy Waters

Similar Artists SRV, Walter Trout, BB King, Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, John Hiatt, Eric Clapton

Artist History Rita Chiarelli may very well be the most powerful new singer to emerge in Canada in years. Bringing her brand of rock and blues to an ever-increasing audience since she was 15 years old, Rita finished high school in Hamilton Ontario and formed the band Battleaxe, a nine piece R&B band which toured Canada and the US. She then joined the Ronnie Hawkins school of rock and roll for a year and in 1981 left Canada on a trip to Italy, staying six years, touring and working in studios. Back in Canada in the late '80s she released a succession of independent singles and had one of her most powerful songs, Have You Seen My Shoes? used on the soundtrack of Bruce McDonald's Canadian-made movie Roadkill, now a cult favourite. The success of the first Stony Plain album Road Rockets helped cement Chiarelli's solid reputation on the club circuit as an exciting, powerhouse performer with a stunning 3 octave range and a no holds barred delivery that rocks audiences across North America and Europe. Her second album was co-produced with John Switzer, best known for his work with Jane Siberry, featured guest appearances by Juno Award winning guitarist and songwriter Colin Linden and members of country rock band Prairie Oyster. All songs with the exception of the Elvis Presley hit Love Me were written by Rita, who has developed her songwriting skills to the point that other artists are paying attention; Long John Baldry recorded Rita's song Midnight in Berlin on his album, Right To Sing The Blues.

Group Members Rita Chiarelli-Guitar, Vox Al Cross-Drums Pat Kilbride-Bass Colin Linden-Electric Guitars Jackie and Shirley Richardson-Backing Vocals Richard Bell-Piano

Albums Woman in Blue, What a Night (live), Road Rockets, Just Gettin' Started

Press Reviews "Rita's spent the last year and a half crafting a mature, confident statement that may well be career-defining." - Scene Magazine Summer 2001/"Gutsy songs by a gutsy singer who writes from the heart." - Richard Bourcier www.jazzreview.com

Location Toronto, Ont - Canada

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