The Church Studio facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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The Church Studio
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The Church Studio
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| Location | 304 S. Trenton Ave., Tulsa, Oklahoma |
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| Architect | Chris Lilly (renovation) |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Website | The Church Studio |
| NRHP reference No. | 100001595 |
| Added to NRHP | 8 September 2017 |
The Church Studio is a famous recording studio in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It was started in 1972 by the musician, songwriter, and producer Leon Russell. This special studio is located inside an old church building. It is known as the heart of the unique Tulsa Sound music style.
Contents
The Studio's History
How The Church Studio Began
The building was first built in 1915 as the Grace Methodist Episcopal Church. It is a strong stone building in Tulsa's Pearl District. In 1972, Leon Russell bought the church and nearby properties. He turned it into a recording studio. It also became the home for Shelter Records, a music company he started.
Famous Musicians Who Recorded Here
Many well-known musicians recorded at The Church Studio when Leon Russell owned it. These artists include Kansas (band), Willie Nelson, Stevie Wonder, Eric Clapton, and Bonnie Raitt. Other famous names like JJ Cale, The Gap Band, and Freddie King also recorded there.
Mike Campbell (musician) and Tom Petty signed their first record deal at Shelter Records. They were with their early band Mudcrutch and later Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. The studio has special old equipment. This includes a mixing console that was pictured on a Bob Dylan album cover.
Leon Russell's Legacy
Leon Russell was a very important musician. He was honored in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. After he passed away in 2016, fans left flowers and notes at the studio. This showed how much he was loved.
Bringing The Church Studio Back to Life
Plans for Restoration
In 2009, new owners wanted to bring The Church Studio back to life. They planned to make it a music place again. The city of Tulsa even renamed the street where the church is located "Leon Russell Road." This happened in 2010.
In 2016, a Tulsa business owner named Teresa Knox bought the building. She planned to fix it up and use it as a recording studio. She also wanted it to be a place for the community. The renovation took over five years to complete.
Reopening and New Beginnings
The Church Studio officially reopened on March 1, 2022. This was 50 years after Leon Russell first bought the building. Today, it is a place where people can visit and learn about music history. It has a recording studio, a concert area, and an audio engineering school.
Many musicians have visited or recorded at the studio since it reopened. These include Joe Bonamassa, Air Supply, Lainey Wilson, and George Thorogood. In 2022, the band Dropkick Murphys recorded their album This Machine Still Kills Fascists there. The lyrics on this album were written by Woody Guthrie, who was from Oklahoma.
Taj Mahal recorded an album called Swingin' Live at the Church in Tulsa at the studio. This album was nominated for a Grammy award in 2024.
A Statue Honoring Leon Russell
A life-sized bronze statue of Leon Russell stands at the studio's new entrance. It shows him as he looked in 1972. He is wearing his denim jacket, boots, and famous top hat. The artist Jim Franklin created the statue. It took three years to finish.
Recognized as a Historic Place
The Church Studio was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2017. This shows how important it is to American music. It is truly the heart of the Tulsa Sound. The Grammy Awards organization has even listed The Church Studio as one of the top 10 studios that let fans see behind the scenes.
