Rotten Rita

Rotten Rita (real name Kenneth Rapp), was an influential denizen of Andy Warhol's The Factory and was sometimes referred to as "The Mayor" there. Although he worked by day in a fabric store, he spent many nights at the Factory bringing his unique influences to encourage others to become artists. He was an opera afficionado but also an alleged amphetamine dealer (and user)[1], yet he still touched the lives of many members of Warhol's artist collective. He was particularly close to another member, Brigid Berlin.

Rapp's death in late 1991 (together with that of songwriter Doc Pomus by cancer) inspired Lou Reed, another famous Factory denizen, to compose his 1992 album Magic and Loss. Reed also makes mention of Rotten Rita in the song "Halloween Parade" on the 1989 album New York.

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