The Grease Band: Shelter Records’ Unsung Rock Heroes

Shelter Record Artists: The Grease Band While the connection to Joe Cocker is nearly inseparable, The Grease Band was formed in the mid-1960s, with Chris Stainton on bass but who later switched to keyboards, Henry McCullough on lead guitar, Alan Spenner on bass, Bruce Rowland on drums, Neil Hubbard on rhythm and slide guitar, and…

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Steve Ripley – Boy Rocking Part 5

After a successful decade of The Tractors most of the original members took off in different directions (see Part 4). In 2001, Steve Ripley partnered with Audium Records and Koch Entertainment to launch Boy Rocking Records. Tulsa musician, author, and keeper of unofficial Tulsa music archives, John Wooley asked me whether I was familiar with…

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Steve Ripley – The Tractors Are a Powerful Engine Part 4

Steve Ripley: The Tractors Are a Powerful Engine Ripley always kept a large Rolodex full of numerous friends and contacts. According to Charlene, “Steve was great at remembering people and keeping them around and often involved. This was before social media and cell phones. He stayed in touch with everyone. And if he wanted to…

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Meet the Team: Church Studio Sound Engineer, Mike Prado

For all intents and purposes, Mike Prado is a native Tulsan. Born at St. Francis in Tulsa, Oklahoma and reared in Owasso, Oklahoma. Mike had a very typical high school experience between skateboarding and his heavy metal band. His passion for music led him to Orlando and Full Sail University, where he pursued a degree…

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Casii Stephan Records “A Song For You” at The Church Studio

Casii Stephan, a soul pop/rock artist originally from Minnesota and now based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is known for her emotive vocals and intricate melodies. Casii’s music, often compared to artists like Florence Welch and Fiona Apple, is characterized by its theme of hope. Her success includes multiple awards and recognition in the music industry, and…

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Mike Prado, Audio Engineer, Joins The Church Studio Team

Q&A with Mike Prado 1. What was your first impression of The Church Studio? I was blown away by the revitalization of The Church Studio.  During my career; I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to work in a lot of commercial studios, cutting-edge educational studios and unique home studios. I even tracked at The Church with…

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The Benefits of Recording in a Professional Studio

In today’s music industry, recording has evolved significantly. With the rise of home recording, many artists now have the opportunity to create music in the comfort of their own homes. However, there are undeniable advantages to recording in a professional studio. Let’s explore the benefits of working in a professional studio setting and why it…

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A Journey Through Time: The Enchanting History of Reverb

A Journey Through Time: The Enchanting History of Reverb  by Nancy Ruth  Reverb is one of the most intriguing and vital effects in the world of music production. This amazing auditory phenomenon may take listeners to otherworldly regions while adding depth, texture, and a feeling of space to musical compositions. This blog takes us on…

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Steve Ripley’s Red Dirt Roots Part 1

Steve Ripley: 1950-2019 Oklahoma Music Legend, Owner of The Church Studio, member of The Tractors It’s comforting to know that after you’re gone, a part of you will remain. Steve Ripley left behind an artistic legacy that will have an impact long after his passing. Many people were impacted by his compassion and ingenuity. Red…

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GUEST BLOG: Rusty Russell’s Recording Studio Experience

The genesis of our project at The Church Studio was a bit different than most; four high school friends from Wichita (classes of ’73, ’74), and ’75) had spent years in the big music-center cities of Nashville & L.A. Between us, we’d toured with many “name” artists, recorded a great deal (as players and/or engineers),…

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THE CHURCH STUDIO NAMED TO NATIONAL REGISTER

  Less than a year after the devastating passing of Leon Russell, The Church Studio has earned a respected, unique and highly desired designation to the National Register of Historic Places. The designation became effective Sept. 8, 2017 as reported by the National Park Service. Although it wasn’t certain, It was expected after its National…

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New to The Church Studio Team: Entrepreneur Ronnie Carlson

My name is Ronald (Ronnie) Carlson and I’m the new operations team member at The Church Studio. I am so excited to meet everyone. Most recently I was the President and Owner of Jenks Beauty College from 2017-2022. When I  took over the college, there were less than 10 students. When I retired, there were…

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Leon Russell: ‘Going Back To Tulsa One More Time’

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…

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EPISODE 7 – Grady Nichols

If you haven’t heard of today’s guest, then we are thrilled to be able to introduce you to this exceptionally talented artist and all-around nice guy! Grady Nichols is an award-winning jazz instrumentalist known by most for his signature, lyrical approach to playing the saxophone.

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A Conversation with Chris Boosahda, Audio Engineer

The Church Studio is known for its impressive stone facade, multi-million dollar restoration, rare analog gear, and legendary history. The studio is also known for assembling an extraordinary team of dedicated professionals. We’d like to introduce you to one of the newest team members of The Church Studio; Chris Boosahda, Audio Engineer.    Chris!  Welcome…

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EPISODE 3 – HORTON RECORDS

Today in the podcast studio, we are exposed to an emerging business model for the music industry; a non-profit record label called Horton Records.   Two signed artists–music heroes Jesse Aycock and Paul Benjamin– along with founder and President; Brian Horton join the From the Chamber team to discuss a plethora of relevant topics including a very special new project, “BACK TO PARADISE: A Tulsa Tribute to Okie Music.”

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OKIES ON RECORD #1

By Steve Todoroff We are starting a new monthly series here on the Church Studio Blog, where we will cover some of the early releases from the past where Oklahoma musicians appeared together in the studio, more often than not on other artist’s records. Starting us off is a popular rockabilly artist and songwriter from…

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Eric Clapton Gets Arrested!

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…

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VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT – BILL AVERY

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…

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