Rita Wilson–aka Mrs. Tom Hanks–is an accomplished actress and a producer. Now she’s adding singer to her list of accomplishments. Rita has recorded an album and plans to release it, I am told, on February 7, 2012. She’s finishing up talks with Decca Records, part of the Universal Music Group. Wilson has been hiding her singing talents for a long time apparently. But well respected producer Fred Mollin has been working with her, and he’s helped bring in some special guests like Sheryl Crow, Faith Hill, Jimmy Webb, J.D. Souther, Jackson Browne, and Vince Gill. I’m told that Rita’s good pal, Patti Scialfa (aka Mrs. Boss) has wielded her might axe of a guitar on the album, which may be titled “AM/FM.” The songs are said to be covers that Wilson considers “the soundtrack of her life,” says a source. Some tracks may include “Wichita Lineman” with Webb on piano, and “Angel of the Morning.” Sounds cool. Sounds like the Wilson-Hanks family is really into music. Rita’s son with husband Tom Hanks, Chet “Haze” Hanks, a college student at Northwestern, has been putting out his own rap videos. They’re not bad…
PS Rita and her band will open for Sugarland this Friday in Indianapolis at Conseco Fieldhouse–it’s free, in memory of the victims of this summer’s stage collapse…
…On Monday night, Nile Rodgers and wife Nancy Hunt celebrated the 10th anniversary of their We Are Family Foundation with some lovely tributes–Valerie Simpson played a song in memory of recently deceased husband Nick Ashford, Fonzie Thornton performed for Luther Vandross, and Sister Sledge sang for Phoebe Snow. But there was a lot of life, too–Nile and Chic, Jackson Browne, Dionne Warwick, and Anita Baker--the latter did a song without rehearsal, and nailed it as usual. Nile has just published his memoir, too, so there’s lots to be happy about. More on the book tomorrow…
