Lita Gaithers Owens

LITA GAITHERS OWENS is a singer/songwriter and a Tony Award nominated playwright and co-author of the Broadway musical, “It Ain’t Nothin’ But the Blues,” which opened at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre in Lincoln Center, and was nominated for four Tony Awards including Best Musical of 1999. Now licensed by Samuel French, the musical has been produced by several theatre companies nationally, including such theatre companies as: Seattle Repertory Theatre, Arizona Repertory Theatre, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Portland Center Stage, Theatre Works in Palo Alto, Virginia Sanford Theatre, Cumberland County Playhouse in Tennessee, and the New Stage Theatre in Mississippi. She penned the song, “Please Don’t Stop Him” for the musical, which was in honor of the female blues pioneer, Memphis Minnie.
Ms. Owens trained at the Los Angeles Music Center’s location of the American Center for Musical Theatre, under artistic director, Paul G. Gleason. In addition, she had the privilege of studying with legendary jazz musician, Phil Moore, at his jazz vocalist conservatory in West Hollywood.
After completing her studies, Lita went on to perform on legitimate stages in featured and leading roles at the Mark Taper Forum, Pasadena Playhouse, Cleveland Playhouse, Denver Center Theatre, and The Arena Stage in Washington, D.C., to name a few. She was co-founder/director of the multi-racial, “Friendship Choir” that performed with Celine Dion, Dianne Reeves, Luther Vandross, Gloria Estefan, Michael Bolton, Nelson Mandela, and for former President Ronald Reagan and his wife Nancy. At the personal request of Bill Cosby, the choir also had the privilege of appearing in the “Story Teller” episode of “The Cosby Show” with Mavis Staples.
Gospel music being her first love, Lita wrote music and lyrics for her gospel EP entitled, “In the Beauty of Holiness/The Naomi Project”, which has become an international success, reaching listeners on radio stations in more than 30 countries.
Most recently, Lita is a contributing author for the book, “Soul Sisters”, by Dr. Suzan Johnson Cook. Dr. Cook served during President Barack Obama’s administration, as the 3rd U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom. The book consists of uplifting personal stories and prayers designed to encourage the reader during life experiences that are challenging.
Lita is married to Elder Oscar Owens, Jr., who is the Director of Christian Education and the President of the West Angeles Bible College at West Angeles Church of God in Christ in Los Angeles, where Bishop Charles E. Blake is the Senior Pastor.