Leon Russell's historic Church Studio in Tulsa makes comeback to be 'living, breathing archive'

TULSA — The stone façade of the more than century-old church conceals an array of sights: stained-glass portraits, an ornately carved 19th-century chair, a reflective echo chamber that resembles a funhouse mirror maze.

And don't forget the upstairs bathroom where the avocado-green bidet is surrounded by black-and-white wallpaper patterned with topless women and paisley swirls.

"Leon had some pretty risque wallpaper. ... I was able to locate and interview the gentleman who put in the bathroom for Leon, who'd just got back from a European tour. Leon told him, 'Every Oklahoma redneck needs a bidet,'" Teresa Knox said with a grin.

For the past year, Knox has relished showing off the sights and sounds of the refurbished Church Studio, the musical haven founded in 1972 by the late Oklahoma native and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Leon Russell.

"Probably the most famous artist to be discovered here was Tom Petty. But anyone who was anyone in the music industry descended upon Tulsa during that time ... like Eric Clapton, Kansas, Stevie Wonder, Bob Marley, Bob Dylan. The list goes on and on. And not everyone recorded, but Leon was the musician's musician. So, that was a really magical time in Tulsa's history — and I think Leon was at the center of it," Knox said from the stately staircase inside the historic studio.

A Tulsa music fan and entrepreneur, Knox bought the dilapidated converted church at 304 S Trenton Ave. in 2016 and spent more than five years renovating it. She reopened The Church Studio as a National Register of Historic Places landmark, museum and recording studio on March 1, 2022, the 50th anniversary of Russell's original purchase of the building.

"I saw that place when she first bought it, and I didn't know how she was going to take it and do what she was trying to do. She has exceeded all expectations," said Danny Boy O'Connor, executive director of the nearby Outsiders House Museum. "She's done a wonderful thing for Tulsa. She put her money where her mouth was, and it's a passion project for her."

Who was Leon Russell and what iconic hits did he help create?

Just outside The Church Studio doors, a bronze likeness of Russell (1942-2016), complete with his long beard and top hat capping his equally long hair, greets musicians, tourists and fans.

Born Claude Russell Bridges on April 2, 1942, in Lawton, Leon Russell was studying piano before he even started grade school. At age 14, he began playing Tulsa nightclubs with some musician pals and kept at it until graduating from Will Rogers High School in 1959. Jerry Lee Lewis was so impressed with Russell that he hired him and his band for two years of tours.

Russell took the influential Tulsa Sound — a mix of genres like gospel, blues and country that he helped pioneer — with him when he moved to Los Angeles. That's where Russell joined the famed studio musicians known as the Wrecking Crew, who helped Phil Spector develop his signature “Wall of Sound” and played on countless pop albums of the 1960s.

The pianist contributed to many of the decade’s top singles, from the Righteous Brothers’ “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’” to the Byrds’ “Mr. Tambourine Man." He also began writing songs.

After Joe Cocker scored a 1969 hit with Russell’s “Delta Lady,” the Tulsan became ringmaster of Cocker’s legendary “Mad Dogs & Englishmen” tour, donning his top hat and developing a mystical stage persona as “The Master of Space and Time.”

In 1969, Russell established his own label, Shelter Records, with producer Denny Cordell, and released his self-titled solo debut, which featured Beatles John Lennon, Ringo Starr and George Harrison. In 1971, Russell played with George Harrison and Friends at the Concert for Bangladesh, the trailblazing benefit that was chronicled with an album and concert film, and won a Grammy for his performance.

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What legends made music at The Church Studio?

The next year, Russell bought a historic church in Tulsa to turn into a studio and home-state office for Shelter Records.

Originally built in 1915 as Grace Methodist Episcopal Church, Russell's studio brought a veritable constellation of stars to Tulsa: Jimmy Buffett, Willie Nelson, Asleep at the Wheel, Michael Bolton and Wolfman Jack all hung out or recorded there.

Fellow Oklahomans like the Gap Band, J.J. Cale, Jimmy Markham, Dwight Twilley, Jamie Oldaker and David Teegarden also made music in The Church Studio.

"He wanted to create a workshop where singers, songwriters, musicians, producers could come together in a stress-free environment and create great music," Knox said.

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What Grammy-nominated Okie next took over The Church Studio?

Russell remained with Shelter Records until 1976, when he and Cordell decided to part ways. The label closed in 1981, but “The Master of Space and Time" continued to write, play and record music with an array of collaborators, including Barbra Streisand, New Grass Revival and Elton John. 

Russell was inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame in 2006, joined the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriter's Hall of Fame in 2011 and was posthumously ushered into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 2022. His signature tune, "A Song for You," was named to the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2018, two years after Russell died at age 74 at his home in Nashville, Tennessee.

Back in Tulsa, Grammy-nominated Oklahoma musician Steve Ripley, leader of the country-rock band The Tractors, and his wife, Charlene, bought Russell's former studio in 1987 and owned it for nearly 20 years.

Musicians who recorded at The Church Studio under the tenure of the Ripleys or subsequent owners Randy and Debbie Miller included Roy Clark, Hanson, Ronnie Dunn and even Russell himself.

"I was always really impressed that Leon Russell and J.J. Cale, David Gates and Elvin Bishop ... and so many famous artists came out of Tulsa," Knox said. "I was familiar with The Church when I was younger. When I was really young, I thought I'd see someone famous coming out of the doors ... but I eventually gave up on that."

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Who is recording in The Church Studio nowadays?

Several years ago, Knox purchased a property near The Church Studio and noticed how rundown the Pearl District landmark was becoming. So, she contacted the owner, bought the building and started restoring it.

"The floor's completely floating, so we can make all types of sounds down here and there's no transfer of sound. ... It looks the way it did during Leon's time, but you'll definitely see that it's new," Knox said while escorting a media tour through the lower level.

"First and foremost, The Church is a recording studio. That was really important to me."

With both analog and digital capabilities, the studio boasts a piano that belonged to the late Dan Fogelberg and a console purchased from producer Daniel Lanois.

"Dylan's 'Time Out of Mind' was recorded on the console, along with the first three U2 albums. Emmylou Harris, Willie (Nelson), Neil Young all recorded on our console," Knox said.

Since The Church reopened last year, Kenny Loggins, Dropkick Murphys, Elle King, Tommy Emmanuel, Lukas Nelson and hall of fame songwriter and Elk City native Jimmy Webb have all recorded at the revamped studio.

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How is The Church Studio inviting the public to celebrate its founder?

Knox is finally seeing famous people going in and coming out of The Church: Musicians like Journey's Jonathan Cain, Ashley McBryde and Oklahoman Zach Bryan have toured the restored landmark, along with Olivia Harrison, George Harrison's widow.

"We didn't realize how much of a tourist attraction we would be. The first week that we opened in March (2022), we had 4,200 visitors, and I was like, 'Goodness,'" Knox said.

So, The Church doubles as a recording studio and museum.

"I have this collection that has been growing over the years — a Leon Russell collection, Shelter Records and Tulsa Sound artifacts and items," Knox said, standing amid gold records, guitars and Russell's only known self-portrait.

"And it's really great for tourists and locals alike because they can see it, and then they can see how a real, working recording studio works vs. something like RCA Studio B or Motown ... where you just go in and look at the history. We want to be a living, breathing archive, where new memories and music are being made every day."

To celebrate Russell's legacy and the landmark's history, The Church Studio will host its inaugural Carney Fest music festival from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. April 15 outside on Trenton Avenue. Named for Russell's hit 1972 album "Carney" and planned during his birthday month, the event will feature food trucks, circus performers, art booths, a children's area, a beer tent and live music from 10 acts, including headliner Reverend Horton Heat.

"All of the artists have recorded with us, so we wanted to support those artists ... while paying tribute to Leon Russell and creating something new," Knox said.

"During Leon's time, you had to know someone to get into The Church. ... Unless you were a certain musician, or an attractive person, you probably weren't getting in. So, it's been really great to let people into this place now."

THE CHURCH STUDIO

• Where: 304 S Trenton Ave., Tulsa.

• Hours: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

• Admission: $15 for adults; $12 for seniors, veterans and students; $25 for a private tour scheduled with a docent. Members admitted free.

• Information: https://thechurchstudio.com.

CARNEY FEST

• When: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. April 15.

• Where: Outside The Church Studio.

• Tickets: $35 for adults, $25 for members and $150 for VIP passes. Children 10 and younger admitted free.

• Information: https://carneyfest.com.

Brandy McDonnell covers Oklahoma's arts, entertainment and cultural sectors for The Oklahoman and Oklahoman.com. Please support work by her and her colleagues by subscribing at oklahoman.com/subscribe. Contact her at bmcdonnell@oklahoman.com, www.facebook.com/brandybammcdonnell and twitter.com/BAMOK.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Leon Russell's historic Church Studio makes a comeback in Tulsa