Rita Houston
American radio broadcaster (1961–2020)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rita Houston (September 28, 1961 – December 15, 2020) was the program director of Fordham University's public radio station WFUV and the host of the show The Whole Wide World.[2]
Rita Houston | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 28, 1961[1] White Plains, New York, U.S. |
| Died | December 15, 2020 (aged 59) Valley Cottage, New York, U.S. |
| Partner | Laura Fedele |
| Career | |
| Show | The Whole Wide World |
| Station | WFUV |
| Country | United States |
Houston was considered a "tastemaker" in the radio world, helping guide WFUV's musical direction for decades.[3] She was instrumental in the Required Listening series of shows showcasing new and lesser-well-known artists at The Bottom Line club in Greenwich Village; she also interviewed songwriters for the club’s In Their Own Words series.[4] She anchored National Public Radio's coverage of the Newport Folk Festival for several years and helped NPR with their best-of-the-year lists, as well as sometimes appearing on Morning Edition.[4]
Houston came to WFUV in 1994 from WXPS, where she had worked since the late 1980s, hosting the program Starlight Express.[5] She was known for showcasing new talent, such as David Gray.[5] She began as a DJ in the midday slot, and launched her own Friday night program, The Whole Wide World, in 2001.[5] On this show she continued to showcase new talent including Joan Osborne, Adele and Brandi Carlile, who stated "Rita was the very first person to play my music on the radio".[5] Houston became program director in 2014.
Houston died of cancer in December 2020, having stepped down from her role at WFUV earlier in the month.[6] In March 2021, she was honored during the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards in memoriam segment.[7]
