Rita Bell

Rita Bell (, Bell; after first marriage, Crittenden; after second marriage, Redlich; December 16, 1893 – January 8, 1992) was an American lyric soprano A singer-songwriter, Bell wrote many of her songs.

Early life and education Marguerite (nickname, "Rita") Hughes Bell was born in Stratton, Nebraska, December 16, 1893. Her parents were S. Warren Bell and Alice Hughes.

Her early education was in the public schools of Nebraska and Iowa.

Bell won distinction in Iowa City singing the part of "Hebe" in Gilbert and Sullivan's H.M.S. Pinafore, a part which her mother, then Miss Alice Hughes, had sung 20 years before opposite the same basso, Frank Sueppel. From that time on, no production in the vicinity was considered complete without Bell. Though she was a pupil of Marie de Santo Riedel at the University of Iowa's School of Music at the time, her practice did not take up all her energy. Bell organized a quartet including Grace Pfannebecker, Nita Stamp, Esther Thomann, and herself, touring Iowa on chautauquas and winter concerts. She was booked for a leading role in Gus Edwards "Sunbonnet Sue" and "No, No, Nonette", but retired. She also performed in Shanghai and Hong Kong. in 1939, she was a pianist-singer at a restaurant in Brooklyn.

Around 1940, Bell began appearing in USO shows. By 1972, she had made more than 2,000 benefit performances.

In her later years, Rita Bell remained on Long Island and made her home in Great Neck, where she died January 8, 1992.