ICYMI “Thank You, Rita Houston” Re-Airs Sunday

Tributes to the late Rita Houston continue to pour in. Definitely worth a listen are two specials produced by WFUV, and both re-air Sunday 1/3…

By Paul Marszalek
TheTop22.com

The late Rita Houston, who programmed iconic New York FM WFUV, was given a fine tribute Wednesday by The New York Times.

It’s a must-read for anyone who knew Rita.

Friends and fans should also take in Thank You, Rita Houston, a three hour special program that features music, remembrances, and anecdotes from DJs, friends, and musicians — including Brandi Carlile, Amy Ray, Citizen Cope, Brittany Howard and Joseph Arthur.

The program originally aired Friday, but there is an encore presentation at 6 p.m. Eastern, on Sunday, January 3. Says FUV’s Delphine Blue: “It’s the ‘Whole Wide World’ of honoring a woman who was not only a DJ and the face of FUV, but its heart and soul.”

Following, at 9 p.m., WFUV will air a retrospective of just some of her work: Rita’s Words and Music.

The special shares Rita’s gift and love for talking music with artists. Included are conversations with John Prine, Mavis Staples, Sharon Jones, Tom Jones, Joan Osborne, and Gomez. Producer Sarah Wardrop observes that Rita made artists feel “appreciated, supported, and seen.”

The specials combine for some great radio.

Stream at WFUV.org.