Rita Dacosta

Rita DaCosta Turrentine, former wife of jazz giant saxophonist, the late Stanley Turrentine An internationally acclaimed star, Rita sang in several languages and performed with such jazz greats as Freddie Hubbard, Lonnie Liston Smith, Grady Tate, Bobby Timmons, Ron Carter, Jackie McLean, Jon Lucien, Harry Whitaker and the Monty Alexander, Cedar Walton and Danny Mixon trios. A plaque, honoring her achievements, is displayed at the Blacks in Wax Museum in Baltimore, Maryland. Rita semi-retired in the late 1980s and became a model, costumer, vocal and acting coach to such stars as Sarah Dash, Regina Belle, Diana Krall, Rhonda Ross, Nnenna Freelon, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Edna Holt, Cynthia Holiday, Gerre Samuels, Nina Lopez-Glenn and numerous other up and coming artists. Rita's last concert, hosted and directed by Roger Daniels, was Jammin On The Hudson at The Riverbank State Park in 2003. She was scheduled to perform with the orchestra in August. However, Rita died on July 12, 2004 after a brief illness.