We are "Rita Hosking and Cousin Jack". Cousin Jack includes Sean Feder on banjo/guitar/bass/vocals, Bill Dakin on bass/guitar/vocals, and Andy Lentz on fiddle. Other folks known to be occasional guest Cousin Jacks are Bill Edwards, Florie Brown, Larry Graff, and Joe Craven.
Influences
Well, Mom and Dad decided to stay in the mountains, and then they encouraged me to go to college where I met all these freaky people that made me want to play music.
I think the strongest influence for me is the old home-place, history and people. (At least that's what I feel when I'm playing.)
Musicians or types of music I can list are: The Mountaineers (old-time band from when/where I grew up), all sorts of country--Loretta Lynn, Emmylou, even Olivia Newton John's old country stuff, Bobby Gentry, the Man in Black, bluegrass, Hazel Dickens, Alice Gerrard, the Cornish Carol Choir/Grass Valley Singers, Rory Block, Buffy Saint-Marie, Stevie Nicks, Tim O'Brien, most of the folks listed on my friend Aamir's myspace page, Qur'anic recitation, Qawwali music, Gnawa music, Ralph Stanley, Janis Joplin, Northern Plains Indian music, Roscoe Holcomb, Carter Family, Pandit Jasraj, John Denver, Swapan Chaudhuri, Led Zepplin, Kate Wolf, Mary McCaslin, Gillian Welch, Aretha Franklin, Dave Carter, ..... Really, just about all the music that I've heard and enjoyed. That's so vast I can't comprehend trying to make a fair list. The spirit of music is grand and generous.
Sounds Like
"Rita Hosking is an up and coming songbird with a style of her own, combining the best of Gillian Welch, Hazel Dickens and Iris DeMent with a delivery that calls for an encore every time."
--Dennis Brunnenmeyer, host of KVMRs Nevada City Limits
"Rita Hosking has one of those perfectly imperfect voices necessary to do folk music right. An overtrained or flawless vibrato can ruin a good tune about broken lives or crossing over or prison wardens who are happiest when the jailhouse is full. But Hosking keeps it beautifully raw and real in the pitchy tradition of Emmylou Harris or Lucinda Williams. Musically, her bluegrass-tinged performances hearken back to the best of American music without mimicking the greats.
Close harmonies and strong backup provided by her band, Cousin Jack, round out a sound rooted firmly in traditional music but distinct to an artist with a particular lyrical love for the mountains and the lives they envelop." --Adrienne van der Valk for the Eugene Weekly
"Hosking's two biggest assists are her singular voice (a soulful howl from the mountains) and quality songwriting. Between tunes she talked a bit about her upbringing near Hatchet Mountain (Fall River area). She talked about the devastating Fountain Fire prior to playing her great bluegrass tune "Kitchen Table and Chairs." This combination of quality storytelling, genuine personality, super songs and that voice have put Hosking into the big leagues. After a full weekend of amazing performances, I woke up Tuesday morning with her tune "Are You Ready" playing in my head," Jim Dyar of Redding's D.A.T.E. Magazine, on Rita's performance at Spring Strawberry Music Festival, 2007.
Rita Hosking and Cousin Jack (Sean Feder, Bill Dakin, and Andy Lentz)
hi Rita, thanks so much for the kind words. I enjoyed listening to you alot. try the siskiyou brew pub in ashland. if that doesnt work i can put you in touch with a good house concert up here. let me know when you are coming thru and if i make it i will come see you play. many blessings, alice
btw, I posted a new song with Tim O'Brien and Dirk Powell for free download on my site. My blog talks about the tune a bit too. Hope all is well Sincerely, Todd
I was so excited to talk with you last night! It's amazing how time has flown by. I went onto Itunes and bought you latest cd. WOW! I really enjoyed it. I haven't listened to bluegrass since we lived in stockon! So I don't know how much traveling you are planning to do and when, but give me a heads up if you are remotely close to Kansas! Send me some pictures of the girls. I would love to see them! Love ya, Vernita
Thank you so much for playing at KVMR's birthday party. We were honored and your set was truly inspired. I LOVE the new songs we heard! Here's to an amazing year for you and another superb album! Love, Evangeline PS-thanks for the hat too! You'll be receiving something in the mail from me...if you'll tell me your mailing address. ;)
Now playing: SOUPYGATO SHOW, THE WHITE CROW, JULY 2008 EDITION -- , featuring music by RITA HOSKING!! Check out MYSPACE.COM/WHITECROWCONSERVATORY!!!
There are several ways to listen to the SoupyGato Show – the easiest is to visit our website: www.soupygato.com – or subscribe to the show by visiting http://www.gcast.com/u/soupygato/main -- and it will download to your Itunes, Ipod, etc.
SoupyGato Show, July Edition of the WHITE CROW CONSERVATORY SHOW
The Dixie Bee-Liners -- Lord Lay Down My Ball & Chain Suisan -- call in MJ Bishop -- My Train Song Matt & Shanon Heaton -- Giant of the Road Fresia & the Offspring -- Honey Mike Stephens -- Looking For A Boy Bobby Pennock -- call-in Bobby Pennock -- Round Peg In A Square World
Legacy -- Anathea Eric Noden -- Big Dog Little Dog Rita Hosking -- Lay Down My Old Guitars Scott Baker & The Universal Expressions -- Exit Dixie Bee-Liners -- Roses Are Gray
Suisan O'Rourke & Ziggy Zeitler -- 8 Days A Week
Please let us know what you think of the show by voting and commenting here: http://www.podcastalley.com/one_vote2.php?pod_id=21268 . If you are interested in submitting your own music please get in touch with us!
Rita, Thanks for the ADD! You got me chewin' tabaky and slappin' my knee. Down home stuff here. Great pickin too. Love it. It is a pleasure to share LimboSpace with you. Stop by my site if you need to "Get Down" with some real Limbo Music. Your new friend, the LimboManBand, Buckeye Ocean, Ohio. PEACE/LOVE/HOPE
Can you believe it? We're finally taking pre-release orders on RoseBud Blue's debut album, “Depending on the Glass"! ... You may be asking yourself, "why do I need to get my copy of this hot new album now, a couple of weeks before it's actually out??" Well friends, let me tell you...pre-release sales will not only be delivered to your very own doorstep the day it is out in June but your rockin' package (addressed, licked and sealed by the girls themselves!) will also include an autographed picture of the RBB girls!
As you can imagine, we are very excited about completing this album and know that we couldn’t have done it with out all of the support we received along the way. We sincerely want to thank you for being a part of our journey.
So, head on over to RoseBudBlue.com and pick up your very own copy today...before it becomes the “cool” thing to do.
Thanks for being our friend :) ...we post arts events, opportunities, workshops, resources & arts news on our blog, bulletins & website www.broward.org/arts
