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The Church Studio

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Coordinates: 36°9′21″N 95°58′11″W / 36.15583°N 95.96972°W / 36.15583; -95.96972
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This article is about the American recording studio. For the English recording studio, see The Church Studios.
The Church Studio
The Church Studio
Location304 S. Trenton Ave., Tulsa, Oklahoma
Coordinates36°9′21″N 95°58′11″W / 36.15583°N 95.96972°W / 36.15583; -95.96972
ArchitectChris Lilly (renovation)
Architectural styleGothic Revival
WebsiteThe Church Studio
NRHP reference No.100001595[1]
Added to NRHP8 September 2017

The Church Studio is a recording studio in Tulsa, Oklahoma established in 1972 by musician, songwriter, and producer Leon Russell. Located in a converted church building, the studio has since been cited as being the heart of the Tulsa Sound.[2]

History

Originally built in 1915 as Grace Methodist Episcopal Church, the stone structure located at 304 South Trenton Avenue in Tulsa's Pearl District was converted to a recording studio in 1972 by Leon Russell, who bought the building and adjoining properties for his diverse recording activities and as a home for Shelter Records, the company he had previously started with partner Denny Cordell.[3][4] Russell eventually sold the building. Tulsa musician Steve Ripley, leader of The Tractors and partners bought it in 1987[5] and retained ownership until 2006.[6]

Numerous musicians recorded at The Church Studio during Russell's ownership, including Willie Nelson, Eric Clapton, Bonnie Raitt, Dwight Twilley, Dr. John, Charlie Wilson, JJ Cale, The Gap Band, Freddie King, Phoebe Snow and Peter Tosh. Tom Petty, with his early band Mudcrutch, signed his first record deal with Shelter Records.[7][8] The studio's equipment includes a NEVE 8068 mixing console purchased from Daniel Lanois that is pictured on the album cover of the Bob Dylan album Time Out of Mind.

Leon Russell ultimately was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Songwriters Hall of Fame, and Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame. Following Russell's death in 2016, flowers, paintings, memorabilia, and notes left by fans covered the church steps as a memorial.[9][10]

Restoration and reopening

In 2009, new owners Jakob and Randy Miller declared their intention to revive The Church Studio as a music facility.[6][11] The following year, the Pearl District Association and the city of Tulsa collaborated to rename the section of East Third Street where the church is located as "Leon Russell Road."[6]

In 2016 the building was purchased by Tulsa entrepreneur Teresa Knox and her husband Ivan Acosta, who expressed their intention to renovate the building (a process that was expected to take two years), seek registration on the National Register of Historic Places, and use it as a recording studio and community facility.[12]

Leon Russell bronze statue located in front of The Church Studio.

In 2022, after five years of renovation, The Church Studio reopened to the public on March 1, 2022, the 50th anniversary of Leon Russell's purchase of the building. The facility serves as a tourist attraction and includes a recording studio, concert and event venue, home of The Church Studio Archive, and audio engineering school.[13] A series of highly curated concert events included performances by Bill Champlin and Kenny Loggins.[14] Various musicians and bands have visited the newly-restored recording studio, which offers both analog and digital recording techniques, including Joe Bonamassa, 38 Special, Air Supply, Tommy Emmanuel, and Ray Wylie Hubbard. In 2022, Dropkick Murphys recorded their album, This Machine Still Kills Fascists, at the studio. The lyrics on the album are written by Oklahoma native Woody Guthrie.

A life-sized bronze statue of Leon Russell as he appeared in 1972 when he purchased the church, including his Wrangler denim jacket, snake-skinned boots, cross necklace, and signature top hat, stands at the new entrance of The Church Studio. The statue, which took three years to complete, was created by artist Jim Franklin of Perry, Oklahoma, was commissioned by Teresa Knox, who also owns the copyright.[15][16]

The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2017 due to its significance to American music culture and being the heart of the Tulsa Sound.[17]

References

  1. ^ "Oklahoma's National Register Handbook". State Historic Preservation Office, Oklahoma Historical Society, Oklahoma History Center. 1 October 2021. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  2. ^ Wenger Watson, Julie (28 July 2015). "Leon Russell Has Home Sweet Oklahoma on his Mind". nodepression.com. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  3. ^ "Oklahoma Music Trail: The Church Studio". TravelOK.com. Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  4. ^ Richert Jones, Jamie (20 August 2013). "A sanctuary of sound". Tulsa People. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  5. ^ Wooley, John (3 February 1989). "Making Music Tulsa Style: Musicians Come Home To Church Studio". tulsaworld.com. Tulsa World. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  6. ^ a b c Kuykendall, Lindsey Neal (9 May 2012). "The Making of Leon Russell Road". This Land Press. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  7. ^ "Conversations With Tom Petty". Billboard. 4 January 2006. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  8. ^ Zollo, Paul (1 November 2005). "Tom Petty: Purity and Passion". americansongwriter.com. American Songwriter. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  9. ^ Wofford, Jerry (14 November 2016). "Renowned Tulsa musician Leon Russell has died". tulsaworld.com. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  10. ^ The Oklahoma News Report: Leon Russell. PBS. 18 November 2016. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
  11. ^ Howell, Chris (8 December 2009). "Tulsa's Church Studio to Reopen and Revive Historic Musical Roots". News on 6. KOTV-DT. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  12. ^ Wofford, Jerry (27 October 2016). "With new owners, The Church Studio aims for recognition". Tulsa World. TulsaWorld.com. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  13. ^ Terrell, Ron. "Tulsa's famous Church Studio close to reopening". FOX23 News. Cox Media Group. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
  14. ^ Tramel, Jimmie. "Bill Champlin, Kenny Loggins bringing music back to Church Studio". Tulsa World. Retrieved 2021-10-25.
  15. ^ "Life-size sculpture of Leon Russell installed at historic Tulsa recording studio". KTUL. 27 September 2021. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
  16. ^ Griffin, David. "Life-Sized Leon Russell Sculpture To Arrive In Tulsa For Installation". www.newson6.com. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
  17. ^ National Register of Historic Places - Weekly Lists 2017 (PDF) (Report). National Park Service. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
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