Rita Reys

Rita Reys, hailed as "Europe's First Lady of Jazz," was a legendary Dutch jazz singer whose career spanned over six decades. Born in Rotterdam in 1924, Reys' velvety vocals and captivating stage presence made her one of the most renowned jazz singers in Europe from the mid-1950s until the turn of the millennium. Her journey took her from the vibrant jazz clubs of Amsterdam to the prestigious stages of the North Sea Jazz Festival, where she performed multiple times. Reys collaborated with numerous jazz legends, including Art Blakey and Oliver Nelson, and her discography boasts hundreds of recordings, with standout albums like "The Cool Voice of Rita Reys." Her personal life was also intertwined with her music, marrying twice—first to Wes Ilcken and later to pianist Pim Jacobs. Reys' contributions to jazz earned her the Edison Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006, cementing her status as one of the greatest jazz vocalists from the Netherlands.