Rita's father, Denzil, was born on a homestead near Unity, Saskatchewan. When he was 15, he road the rails East, stopping whenever he saw smoke rising out of a hobo's shack. He'd jump off the train and offer to do chores in return for some of the hobo's fare.
Back on the homestead, Denzil (who went by his middle name, "Howard") learned how to play harmonica while waiting with the horses and wagon while his hard-working father went into the local watering hole for a little recreational drinking. During those long hours Howard learned to "comp" and play melodies at the same time--creating a kind of harmonica one-man-band.
Howard settled in Hamilton, Ontario, where he drove cab and ran a gas station and later worked in the steel factories. He met a beautiful Italian woman, Maria Gliori, who had recently emigrated with her sister to Hamilton. After Rita was born, the family decided to head to the west coast, USA, to make a better life, but they stopped in Chicago to visit family and didn't venture any further.
In Chicago, Rita's father drove cab and was a chauffeur, transporting luminaries that included The Beatles, Lorne Green, and Bill Cosby. A music lover, he frequented the jazz clubs and both he and Maria encouraged all the children (there were eventually 5) to play music. Howard bought Rita a clarinet and brother, Mark, a trumpet.
Rita's first stage show was at age 8 when she tap danced to Ramsey Lewis in a big Chicago theatre.
When Rita was 15, she followed her father's footsteps and left home to wander.