Rita plays in variable configurations, but most often as the quartet, "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, Jon O'Brien, Samantha Olson, 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
Hi, I'm Rita. Thank you for stopping by! I hope you'll visit my website at www.ritahosking.com for more info and song samples, but in the meanwhile, here are a couple quotes from some kind folks:
"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)
Hello, it's me, Ruby Jane.To those who don't know me, I am a 14 year old fiddler, songwriter. I have some songs posted that are fresh out of the studio. Let me know if you like the new songs..be one of the first to hear, even before they are released!Thanks! new videos too! Ruby Jane
Who: The Paige Capo What: Introducing the newest model, The Clik When: Summer NAMM 2009 Where: Nashville, Tennessee/Booth 1406 Why: Because you asked for it.
Hey girl! I heard you were at Strawberry but I never saw ya! Wasn't it great!? See you in July! Eric sez the new song is AMAZING...I missed it on his show...:( Love, Evangeline
Cool! Got to hang out with Fur and Steve at Topanga on Sunday. They're so great, and they just love you. Looking forward to seeing you again sometime, any plans to come back to LA?
I think you get a amazing future in front of you with your music, because you have a amazing, beautiful and wonderful song voice and you have real good and amazing songs:):)
Hey, it's Dave Clupper. If I haven't told you thank you for your support yet, thank you! Check out my profile to view a video of a live clip shot from Downtown Tulsa with my daughter Ellen. Also, you can listen to a majority of my new record "Letting Go" released earlier this month until June 1st. If you want to own a copy, look for the Buy Now Button on my profile or to just own a track it's available on iTunes and many other digital retailers. Talk soon!
Online Now!
