An exclusive interview with the legendary Rita Coolidge! In this video, Rita takes us on a journey back to her remarkable experiences working alongside iconic Tulsa musicians such as Jim Keltner, Carl Radle, Bob Neuwirth, and J.J. Cale. She delves into her unforgettable time as a part of the iconic Mad Dogs and Englishmen tour, led by Leon Russell and Joe Cocker. Rita vividly describes Leon's magnetic prowess as a band leader, while also shedding light on Joe Cocker's battle with drug addiction and path to recovery.
Rita Coolidge, in a career comprising five decades and millions of record sales, Rita captivated audiences with her signature hits “We’re All Alone,” “The Way You Do the Things You Do,” “All Time High” and “(Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher.” In a remarkable eight-year romantic and artistic marriage for the ages, she and former husband Kris Kristofferson earned multiple Grammy Awards. Along the way, she inspired numerous hit songs, including Leon Russell’s “A Song for You” and “Delta Lady,” and Stephen Stills' “Cherokee.” Furthermore, she co-wrote the iconic song “Superstar” and the piano coda to “Layla.” As one of the most famous rock and roll backup singers of all time, Rita sang for Eric Clapton, Joe Cocker, and Stephen Stills, before finding fame as a solo artist with such hits as “We’re All Alone” and “(Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher.”
Rita's “Delta Lady: A Memoir” follows her story from Lafayette, Tennessee to becoming one of the most sought after rock vocalists in LA in the 1970s, Delta Lady chronicles Rita Coolidge’s fascinating journey throughout the ’60s-’70s pop/rock universe.
The Church Studio is a historic studio that was built in 1915 as Grace M.E. Church. It came to life in 1972 when Leon Russell, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and Grammy Award-winning artist, purchased the old church and turned it into an analog recording studio and home office to Shelter Records. Teresa Knox, a Leon Russell fan and Tulsa native, purchased The Church Studio and has brought it back to life as a professional analog and digital recording studio, event center, audio engineering school, entertainment network, and home to The Church Studio Archive.
Names, locations, and artists mentioned in this video:
Jim Keltner
Carl Radle
Bob Neuwirth
J.J. Cale
Tulsa
Mad Dogs and Englishmen
Eric Clapton
Jim Gordon
Leon Russell
Joe Cocker
Tallahassee
Christine McVie
Songbird
Dean Parks
00:00 - Intro
00:14 - Tulsa Musicians
01:17 - Leon Russell
02:04 - Joe Cocker
03:28 - Mad Dogs Tour
04:12 - Looking Back
Location: Harwelden Mansion, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Artists: Rita Coolidge
Producer: Teresa Knox
Cinematography: Matthew Simonson, Ed Taylor
Editing: Garrison Marsh, Matthew Simonson
Archival photos from the Mad Dogs & Englishmen Tour are courtesy of Linda Wolf. The entire published collection can be seen in her book, "Tribute: Cocker Power."
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