LATEST BLOG POSTS
We love our volunteers and appreciate the valuable role they play in the operations of The Church Studio. We could not be more excited to introduce you to one of our very first volunteers, Willis Allen. If you have attended one of our Studio Tours, you have probably met or visited Willis. Willis shines as a Docent when he leads a private or group tour. Learn more about Willis below and you’ll understand why we are lucky to have him on our volunteer team. I was born and raised in Tulsa and have lived here most of my life,…
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The stone building at 3rd and Trenton first caught my attention in December of 2019. I had just moved into an apartment on the east side of downtown Tulsa, and I began to regularly pass by what is now (or rather, again) the Church Studio. During that time amid restoration, each subtle change prompted me to speculate what it would become. A boutique hotel? A community center? A unique structure with evident history in an up-and-coming part of the city-I just hoped it wouldn’t be another national chain or storage facility. After a few months, I finally pulled over to…
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Leon Russell’s distinctive style, both vocally and instrumentally, made him one of the great singer-songwriters of all time. A unique pianist, composer, singer, song craftsman, and showman. He collected a lot of items and the most well-known were his canes and of course his hats. Those items certainly became a big part of his great showmanship in life and on stage. In his biography, Leon Russell in His Own Words, shares a story of being shamed at the age of four. An aunt embarrassed him in front of other relatives, and he never forgot it. It was the onset of…
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Every once in a while, you get hit with something big that you never saw coming. Such is the case with my discovery of Leon Russell. As I’ve come to find out, Leon’s music has always been part of my life. I just didn’t know it. And I’m not alone. Each year, I’m fortunate to have the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day off, so I’d been planning a day trip to Tulsa, OK – about 120 miles west of my home in Bentonville, AR. I’m always thirsting for a deep dive into some facet of music history, and my original plan…
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The Church Bulletin We’re getting so close, the wait is nearly over! Drywall is up, the greenspace to the west has a landscape plan, 22 miles of wiring is in place – every board is screwed into position – no nails for The Church Studio! The oversized elevator will hold your grand piano, and several of your friends. The digital and analog control room is state-of-the-art, including a Neve 8068 console, Studer tape machine and acoustical treatment at every angle. Green Rooms, Listening Room, Bar, Outdoor Courtyard, Belfry – it’s all nearly ready. RECORDING STUDIO AUDIO ENGINEERING SCHOOL (ENROLLING SOON) ARCHIVE AND EXHIBITS…
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We met with Johnny Blues McDonnell; New Yorker, old-school LeonLifer, die hard Leon Russell fan, and The Church Studio supporter and promoter to talk about all things Leon! Johnny! Can you tell us a little about yourself? I’m a New Yorker! I was in retail for 38 years and have been retired 10 years. I’m not married. I am very close to my niece Nora, who is a music teacher and her husband Patrick who is a writer, my nephew Brendan McDonnell and his wife Rachel whom are both lawyers, my sister-in-law, Patty McDonnell, and Patrick’s father Lewis Boyton and…
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There are several local sites of importance in Tulsa that are Leon-friendly. Step back for an hour or two and follow your heart walking (driving) in Leon’s footsteps.
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Bill Avery, Leon Lifer and a Church Studio volunteer, is a dedicated, knowledgeable, and fun-loving ambassador for the Church and for Leon’s legacy. Although he lives in New Jersey, we have been fortunate to have Bill travel to Tulsa, Oklahoma, and assist with concerts and book signings. Tell us about yourself. My name is Bill Avery. I’m 65 years old and was born in Staten Island New York. I live in New Jersey now. I worked fo the Rail Road for 41 years and now I work for a nonprofit called, “Fulfill” which is the food bank of Monmouth and…
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In 1974, Dwight Twilley was signed to Shelter Records and returned to his hometown of Tulsa Oklahoma. Once in Tulsa, Twilley and his bandmate, Phil Seymour, recorded at The Church Studio and had great connections and relationships with Leon Russell, Denny Cordell, and artists like Tom Petty. Dwight shares his insight in regards to the public image Leon Russell projected versus who he really was in person as well as his strategy behind his studio in the 1970’s. Please enjoy this LEGENDS video of the singer, songwriter, and artist Dwight Twilley, as he shares more stories of his time recording at The…
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The year was 1975. Eric Clapton had just flown into Tulsa, Oklahoma to perform. News of Eric’s arrival was quickly known for he had gotten arrested! The Church Studio talked with John Southern, a photojournalist and local musician, that captured the infamous photo of Eric Clapton in Jail. From a first-hand perspective, check out what John had to say with our recent interview. Before taking your legendary photo of Eric, what did you think about Eric Clapton and his working with the Tulsa boys…Jamie Oldaker, Dicky Simms, and Carl Radle among others? “I had been a Clapton fan since the…
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