BIOGRAPHY

Rita Engedalen

Norway’s definitive Blues Queen!

She is a blues artist extraordinaire creates and she performs her own music and is thoroughly genuine.

Rita is a genuine artist with a very original and natural expression, inspired by raw Mississippi Blues and a wide range of American roots music.

An absolutely honest musician, and because of that she gained respect and admiration on her trips to Mississippi from well-known Mississippians like Big Jack Johnson,

Super Chikan and the legendary Jessie Mae Hemphill. Jessie Mae soon became very impressed by Rita’s natural talent and they quickly developed a good friendship.

Rita Engedalen has won the Norwegian Grammy Award for the album Heaven Ain’t Ready for Me Yet and she has numerous Norwegian Grammy nominations for previous recordings.

Great albums which demonstrate Rita’s unique talent in a wide range.

The combination of natural talent, a beautiful voice, solid song writing skills, original music and her outstanding musicians makes Rita’s live shows an amazing experience.

Rita is a full range artist, both on CD and as a live performer.

In 2010 Rita Engedalen was the recipient of the Notodden Blues Festival’s prestigious annual Blues Award.

The same year Rita also received the prestigious “Gammleng Prize” awarded by the Fund for Performing Artists in Norway.

In 2011 Rita Engedalen, as the 3 woman in history, was awarded “Kongsberg City of Merit” by the Kongsberg Jazz Festival.

And in 2012, Engedalen and her band took top honors in the annual European Blues Challenge in Berlin.

For her musical achievements and great commitment, Rita Engedalen has received many prestigious awards:

Winner of  European Blues Challenge (2012)

Photo: Roald Jungård

Awards

Norwegian Grammy for the blues album «Heaven ain’t ready for me yet» in 2006.

The Blues Award from Notodden Bluesfestival (2010)

The Rolf Gammleng Price (2010)

The city of Kongsberg Honorary Medal (2011)

Buskerud County Councils Artist award (2012)

Winner of  European Blues Challenge (2012)

Blues Walk of Fame / Notodden Bluesfestival (2016)

Norwegian Grammy Winner (2006)

Photo: Pål Nordseth