Rosa Rio – At The Senate (2024) [CD]

A previously unreleased recording at the Senate Theatre in Detroit from 1990.

This new release was recorded on the Wurlitzer in the Senate Theatre in Detroit, Michigan.
It was recorded when she was a mere 88 years old. She gave her final concert on her 105th birthday!
She passed away in 2010 at the age of 107.

Released: 2024.
Running Time: 57.41
Code: OK44.

Everything’s Coming Up Roses
That Old Black Magic
You Made Me Love You (I Didn’t Want To Do It)
Can You Read My Mind (Love Theme from Superman)
Give Me The Simple Life
If Ever I Would Leave You
Stompin’ At The Savoy
Liebestraume No.3
Misty / Rhapsody in Blue
The Song Is You
Blue Skies
Always
Secret Love
Moonlight Cocktail
Spring Is Here
Between The Devil & The Deep Blue Sea
Love Is Here To Stay
Angel’s Chorus
Träumerei (Dreaming)
St. Louis Blues

THE DOWNLOAD VERSION IS AVAILABLE HERE.

NOTES FROM ALAN ASHTON

I wish this great recording had been around when I was broadcasting because it deserves the widest publicity. That gal at 88 years of age extracts so many beautiful and often unheard tone colours from that superb installation. Her arrangements are delightful and even the departures from the written compositions are done in the best possible taste.

I would also add to the sleeve notes the fact that every artist who plays at the Senate is given a copy of their performance which is professionally recorded from microphones within the chambers. This (a) cuts out all audience reactions and (b) allows the more subtle sounding ranks (which she does use to great effect) more clearly.

SLEEVE NOTES:

Rosa Rio: A Pioneering Virtuoso of the Organ

Rosa Rio was born in New Orleans in 1902 and showed a prodigious musical talent at an early age. She exhibited an aptitude for the organ early on and, encouraged by her family, she began formal training at the age of six. By the time she reached her teenage years she was already captivating audiences and demonstrating the gift that would go on to shape a truly remarkable career.

Rosa’s concerts covered a wide range of musical styles, including classical, jazz improvisations and popular tunes, infusing each performance with her unique blend of technical brilliance and sensitivity. Her performances earned her widespread praise, establishing her as one of the finest organists of her time. In 1922 her popularity increased when she joined the burgeoning world of radio broadcasting. Recognising her talent, radio executives quickly recruited her to perform on-air, where her music reached millions of listeners across America. As a pioneering female artist in a male-dominated industry, she blazed a trail for generations of aspiring female musicians.

Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, her star continued to ascend, as she became a fixture of the golden age of radio. She appeared on various shows including, “The Kate Smith Hour” and “The Shadow,” earning her widespread recognition and acclaim. Her innovative approach to the organ, coupled with her charismatic personality, made her a beloved figure in American households.

Beyond her radio work, Rosa’s talents extended to the cinema, as she composed scores for numerous films, including “The Beast of the City” and “The Bowery”.

In addition to her music, Rosa was also a passionate advocate for social causes, using her platform to champion equality and justice. She spoke out against discrimination, using her influence to promote inclusivity and diversity within the industry.

This new release was recorded on the Wurlitzer in the Senate Theatre in Detroit, Michigan. It was recorded by Rosa’s husband Bill Yeoman in 1990 when she was a mere 88 years old. Rosa continued performing for another 17 years, giving her final concert on her 105th birthday! She passed away in 2010 at the age of 107.

This recording was passed on to Ken Mellor by Bill Yeoman for a potential release in the 1990s which never came to pass. It is released here for the first time, 34 years after the recording.

Rosa Rio’s pioneering spirit and talent continue to resonate in the hearts and minds of music lovers around the world. Her music lives on and she remains a true icon of the musical world, with her legacy destined to endure for generations to come.