Featured in a new gospel album
The voice that has thrilled and inspired millions at the world famous The Carolina Opry show in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, is now available on this all-gospel album. From such timeless favorites as Peace In The Valley and The Old Rugged Cross, to new releases from the pen of Grammy award-winning songwriter Archie Jordan, this heartfelt collection is a brilliant and intensely personal statement by one of the most powerful and unique voices in gospel music today.
Songs: All I Could Say Was Jesus; Peace In The Valley; Farther Along; Amazing Grace; How Great Thou Art; The Old Rugged Cross; What A Friend We Have In Jesus; Sweet, Sweet Spirit; Lay Your Troubles Down; Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
"Amazing Grace" click here to download -- 424K wave file
"Amazing Grace" album available in cassette or CD -- Cassette $12.00 / CD $17.00
To order Rita's "Amazing Grace" album call 1-800-394-RITA (1-800-394-7482).
To see Rita LIVE at The Carolina Opry call 1-800-843-6779.
Rita Gumm's love of Gospel music and with it her deep Christian roots go back to her grandfather, Reverend Lanco Ard, a preacher whose church was in Latta, South Carolina. Rita says, "I was five years old when I first started singing at his church. My grandpa told me that Gospel is what I'm here for." Rita's father, F.L. Ard, a professional Bluegrass and Gospel musician, played a major role in his daughter's musical development. From early on he encouraged Rita to sing and play piano, bass, and guitar, to perform regularly at church, on local TV and radio, and at every possible local function.
The hardships that Rita endured growing up in rural North Carolina have brought a depth of life experience to her musical career. Her family struggled financially when her father became disabled. By the time she was seventeen, Rita had dropped out of eleventh grade, was married, and was expecting a child. A few years later, Rita was divorced, working her way through several jobs, obtaining her G.E.D. through night school, and raising her daughter on her own, but the love of singing had never left her. Whenever Rita was able to save a few dollars she would travel to Nashville to meet with a record executive, try out for an agent, and eventually record a tape of her favorite Country songs.
On a May evening in 1986, Rita's life changed as she drove down to Surfside Beach, South Carolina to audition for a country music show. This show became the world-famous The Carolina Opry show produced by Calvin Gilmore. Rita has been performing at The Carolina Opry for 13 years and is considered The Carolina Opry's "first lady" by her fans and co-workers. Since then, her life has not been the same. Due to The Carolina Opry show, many doors have opened for Rita. She has appeared in two television specials: Country Music Spotlight and Great American Music: A Salute to Fast Cars, which were produced by and aired on The Family Channel. And now, she has a gospel album that was recorded in Nashville.
It is through her Gospel music and strong Christian beliefs that Rita finds her strength and peace. She can't talk about her experiences without talking about her God. Rita serves on the Board of Family Outreach, an organization to support young girls in abstaining from sex and support for young women who become pregnant, and is a volunteer for Elder Care and Mercy Hospice. Rita was also honored in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina as a guest speaker at the Cameo Awards, an organization which helps unwed mothers. At the awards banquet she shared her moving story of early pregnancy and single parenthood. In this, as in all things, she gives God the glory for leading her, guiding her, providing her strength and comfort as she climbed the long hill to where she is now. Rita says the success of her professional life is "a dream come true."
It seems most fitting that her first solo album was to entitled "Amazing Grace." To promote her album, Rita has appeared on CBN's 700 Club, Jerry Falwell's "Old Time Gospel Hour," and has made numerous appearances on Trinity Broadcasting Network.
To learn more about Rita Gumm and Calvin Gilmore Productions, use the navigator bar below.
