Introducing Rita McDade..
Offering up fresh original compositions and classic covers she is complimented by her four piece band "The Smokin' Cats". Veteran Victoria B.C. musicians David Gray on drums/vocals, Bruce Davies on bass guitar and Charlie Fox on keyboards/vocals. Co-writer and husband Kevin McDade on guitars/vocals.
Offering up fresh original compositions and classic covers she is complimented by her four piece band "The Smokin' Cats". Veteran Victoria B.C. musicians David Gray on drums/vocals, Bruce Davies on bass guitar and Charlie Fox on keyboards/vocals. Co-writer and husband Kevin McDade on guitars/vocals.
Her recent move to Victoria B.C. and her new band "The Smokin' Cats" are linked with the Victoria Blues Society. Sponsored by CFUV radio, the Bluestravaganza in March 2019 invited her to grace the stage. The group is making appearances at the Queens Sunday jam in Nanaimo and Victoria Blues Society jam at the Red Lion V-Lounge.
Her first original album "Train Home" with the Fusion Blues Band, recorded in 2014, had two nominations ("Stop What Ya Doin To Me") and ("Train Home") in the Edmonton Music Awards for Blues Recording of the Year (2015). "How Long Will It Take" is available on the 2016 "Women of Song" compilation disk produced by DanLyn Studios in Sherwood Park, Alberta. In 2018 a final studio visit in Alberta recorded "Fire and Ice" and "Joan's Song". Rita's journey in composition continues and will be returning to the recording studio in 2019 with her Victoria band.
In the early days of her career she appeared in local TV and Radio specials such as CBC presentations with Tommy Banks, Edmonton Musical Theatre, Klondike Days extravaganzas, Spirit of Edmonton in Montreal, as well as various recording studios cameos. In the last 12 years she feels blessed to have performed with many outstanding Canadian musicians at Festivals, Theatres and Fund Raising events. She is honored to be among The Legends of the Edmonton Music Scene (2016) produced by The Shoebox at CJSR Radio 88.5. Canada's Chautauqua 150 (2017) events at Festival Place Theatre in Sherwood Park, Alberta. For six years (2013 - 2018) the "Women of Song" successful fundraising event for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation www.yegwomenofsong.ca
Rita's infectious crowd connecting stage energy, combined with sultry vocals steeped in raw emotion bring electricity to all the stages she graces. Blues, Jazz, Rock & R&B music styles inter-twine her performance and unique phrasing style.
Introducing the band..
Guitar and Vocals
 
Drums and Vocals
Bass Guitar
Keyboards and Vocals
 
Edmonton Music Awards
Nominees for Blues Recording of the Year - "Stop What Ya Doin' To Me" and "Train Home"
2015
Album: "Train Home" Rita McDade & the Fusion Blues Band
Festival Place
2014
Album: "Train Home" Rita McDade & the Fusion Blues Band
 
"CJSR Radio FM88 Edmonton, Alberta" CJSR Radio FM88 Edmonton, Alberta
 
Producer/Engineer Dan Sinasac & Jerry Woolsey
"If anyone knows how the human voice works, it is Rita McDade. One story comes to mind, I recently recorded Rita singing in the recording studio and in this modern era we have pitch correcting software to adjust less than perfect performances, and believe it or not 99% of singers need a little help in this department. I have to say I am more than impressed with Rita's vocal stylizing, tone and pitch. She is the only vocalist I have worked with that required ZERO editing, very impressive control"
 
Besides performing at this "close to her heart" fundraiser event Rita was instrumental in the organizational planning and implementation. Upwards of $10,000.00 was raised in 2017 alone
 
Fundraiser for Edmonton Food Bank
On the guest list for 6 years straight.
 
Edmonton Women of Song
2017
Edmonton Women of Song
2016
Annual Cancer Fundraiser
Bluestravaganza
CFUW
Victoria Blues Society
2019
Choir at the Album Release for "Train Home"
2014
CD release party was held at Festival Place Sherwood Park, AB
2017 Performance at the Christmas Bow
2017
Annual Christmas Show at the Blues on Whyte
Edmonton Blues Society
Edmonton Blues Society
2015
Rita McDade and The Fusion Blue Band
with Sugarfoot and Dan Sinasac
Rita McDade and The Fusion Blues Band
Edmontons First Lady of the Blues