Rita Remington Biography
Rita hails from Rural Route #2, Galva, Kansas. She grew up playing guitar and singing along with Loretta Lynn’s records on the radio. “I always wanted to sing just like her and people kept encouraging me to keep practicing.” said Rita, then adding “Actually, my father influenced me more than anyone. He is a musician and always kept a band and played in and around our hometown. He played fiddle and guitar and let me sing on his shows.”
Rita studied music throughout high school. As a freshman at Canton High, she entered a local talent contest that is held each year there. “My first time I entered I placed in the top ten, the second I entered, I came in second,” said the determined young lady. “My junior year I entered once more and won first place. The prize was a trip to Nashville and an appearance on Bill Anderson’s syndicated television show. I loved Nashville and wanted to make it my home after I finished high school because Nashville is where it all happens to become a star.”
Rita soon met Don Powell who was a disc jockey in Wichita, Kansas and they became friends. After graduating from high school, she headed for Nashville. Powell was now living in Nashville and working with a talent agency owned by Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty. The Powell Family invited Rita to live with them and pursue her career.
Powell arranged a meeting with Shelby Singleton to hear Rita sing. He liked what he heard and her personality. Shelby signed Rita to a recording contract with Plantation Records, his country label.
A song by Conway Twitty titled “You’ve Never Been This Far Before” was dominating the radio stations. Shelby decided Rita could sing the girl’s version of the song and a few days later recorded it. They titled it “I’ve Never Been This Far Before.”
DJ copies were in the mail immediately. WKDA Radio in Nashville gave it fantastic air play. The station arranged for Conway Twitty to call in and sing the “Boom, Boom, Boom” part of the song along with Rita’s record and she in turn did the same with his record. It was a good first record for her and received plenty of air play all over the country.
After “I’ve Never Been This Far Before,” she followed it with “Welcome Home”, “Days of Autumn Gold,” and recorded an album of Loretta Lynn’s hits for Pickwick Records titled “Rita Remington Sings Loretta Lynn.” Her new release on Plantation Records “How Can I See Through These Tears In My Eyes.” is the one that is expected to establish her singing career.
Rita is still considered a member of the Smokey Valley Playboys, her father’s band, even though her appearances with the band are limited to her visits home.
She said, “From the first time I ever sang it was just fun and that’s the way it will always be for me…fun.”
