Rita Hill is a rockin’ lady who has fulfilled many titles over the course of her life: abuelita, mom, law enforcement public information officer, photojournalist, business owner, and, what brought me to interview her, singer/songwriter. I met with her and her husband in downtown Nampa at Whiskey River. They were having their weekly open mic night, and I was eager to check it out. Rita and her husband, Mike, greeted me warmly upon entering the lively bar. We got right into the thick of living life and the thrill of a musical existence…while Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” played overhead. Fitting, somehow.
Rita and her husband moved to the Boise area two years ago from Lodi, California. They had fallen in love with Idaho years ago while on an RV trip and decided it would be their retirement destination. When they arrived in Boise, Rita connected with the music community immediately by joining the Idaho Songwriters Association and attending local open mics.
Music inspired Rita from a young age, spurred by a musically talented family. Her father was a musician in the local Tejano scene, and her brothers formed their own band. She recalled observing her two older brothers’ band practice while hiding under their bed to listen. She later found a beat-up guitar in an alleyway that those same brothers helped her restring and repair. She then taught herself how to play at the local library. By junior high and high school, Rita was writing songs regularly. She won a talent contest with one of those songs. It ended up being featured within the cheerleaders chant routine at games.
As life progressed, Rita grew into the ever-shifting life roles of mother and wife, setting her music aside to give her energy to her family. A writer’s mind can never lie completely dormant, however. Rita jotted down lines of songs between the demands of life and work that she would eventually revisit. When writing, her inspirations come in many forms. Movies or life events will spark ideas that come to her sometimes in the middle of the night. She loves feel-good songs but can spin a heartbreaker just as well.
After witnessing the terror of 9/11/2001, Rita felt compelled to write a song about the national tragedy. The very next day, she had a heartfelt tribute about being strong in light of the attacks. “Got to Be Strong” was picked up by the Fox network, and it was featured against a montage of footage alongside Rita performing it live within the news studios.
Rita met her current husband, Mike, while working for the sheriff’s department in Madera. She was hired to photograph his band, and the rest is history! He inspired her to continue writing and performing. She looks to him for encouragement and reassurance in times of self-doubt. Support like that goes a long way!
I was so happy we were in a setting where I could also see her perform. Her friendly personality comes alive onstage. She has a natural-born ability to weave words together in catchy melodies. Her lyrics flow in and out of English and Spanish, adding a distinctive sound and unexpected highlight when listening. I loved her unapologetic song, “Mama’s Rockin.” It’s a genre I’m deeming “classy mama wine rock.”
She is starting to take her songs more seriously, entering songwriting contests and looking to perform more throughout the Treasure Valley. She played in an all-female band called the ‘Cover Girls’ in Lodi. She would love to start something like this in Idaho (shoutout to any lady rockers looking for a band). Her heart is set on performing original songs, as covers feel a little foreign to her songwriter’s mind. Most recently, she has been playing at Nazca Coffee on the occasional Sunday. Rita also frequents Treasure Valley open mics.
When I asked Rita what advice she would have for someone wanting to follow in her footsteps, she quickly responded. “Write from the heart. Don’t try to be like someone else.” We discussed how authenticity is important when writing and performing. Audiences connect to lyrics that have been felt by the artist.
Rita is a gem of a human with a warm personality and a playful perspective on life and music. You can find her music on YouTube and follow her on Facebook to stay up to date on what’s in store!
Follow Live Treasure Valley Music to stay informed on where all the live music is happening!
Interested in being featured in a “Deep Dive”? Contact us HERE!