*“Eunice, Eunice Moseley is that you,” said Jazzy Rita during her Jazzy Rita’s Jive and Jazz show at the Barbara Morrison’s Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles recently when I went to review it for my column, which was exceptional in talent and variety.
Born LaRita Shelby, Jazzy Rita had lovely songstress Marshella Griffin Larry as her opening act. Jazzy Rita’s Jive and Jazz showed her wide range of talents. She was a stand-up comedian, a Jazz vocalist, and an outstanding actress in a couple of variety show skits (Color Purple) that kept the audience, which included me, very entertained. Even when her music director left for a minute she adlibbed until his return like a seasoned professional.
Her band was exceptional as well. This is a band she has performed with for many years that included her music director and keyboardist James D. C. Wilson; lead guitarist Michael Wells; drummer Jerrell Ballard; the infamous Mike Phillips on bass; on sax sounding exquisite was Gerald Spikes and her featured vocalist Philip Bell sang with her on the selection “I want to get next to you.”
The small intimate room was full of Jazzy Rita fans. Some were included in her show as she called them on stage, she even let one or two sing. Her sparking personality and comedic abilities is the reason why she has so many supporters (fans). She and her band are constantly on tour which is a testament of the show’s popularity.
Rita started in entertainment in 1990 when she was contracted by the Department of Defense to host a radio show called “The LaRita Shelby Show for the Armed Forces.” It was aired in 57 countries and had a long run until 1997. In 1997 she joined EURweb.com, a digital magazine launched by an Air Force radio host turn civilian syndicated radio show host Dr. Lee Bailey (RadioScope), as Vice President of Marketing and she still holds that position today, which also includes her overseeing business development and special projects.
As an actress Shelby’s credits include South Central (1992), Woman Thou Art Loosed (2004), Walk By Faith (2006), Wizards of Waverly Place (2009), Ellen Bond Secret Agent (2018), and Foster’s Law (2023). She is an author, playwright, and owner of SB Media and Shall Be Productions. Jazzy Rita has a large catalog of original songs as well, such as her album “A Date with a Song” (2008) which I interviewed her for; her single “Mr. President’s Girl” (2012), “Goodbye” single (2020), and her “Real Holiday Love” project (2023).
The winner of the Entertainment Journalism Award (2020), Shelby is a graduate of Loyola Marymount University. Reach out to Rita and learn more about where Jazzy Rita’s Jive and Jazz will be performing next at www.LaRitaShelby.com.
SYNDICATED COLUMN: Dr. Eunice Moseley has an estimated weekly readership of over one million with The Pulse of Entertainment. She is also a Business Management/Public Relations Strategist and Consultant at Freelance Associates and is Promotions Director (at-large) for The Baltimore Times. www.ThePulseofEntertainment.com. EVENTS: “Uplifting Minds II” Entertainment Conference (ULMII), founded by Eunice in 1999, is in its 25th year. The next events are coming to Baltimore via Zoom on Saturday, April 20, 2024, presented by Security Square Mall and The Baltimore Times, and Los Angeles via Zoom on Saturday, November 9, 2024. The ULMII event is a free entertainment conference offering a Professional Panel Q&A Session, a Professional Talent Showcase, and a National Talent Competition (vocal, songwriting, dance, and acting) where aspiring artists have a chance to receive over $19,000 valued in prizes/product/services. Log onto www.UpliftingMinds2.com and RSVP for Zoom Access at EventBrite.com or email [email protected].
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