In February 2020, a group of Tulsa musicians travelled to Leon Russell’s famed Paradise Studio at Grand Lake to record the first album tracked there since 1978. Tulsan Rick Huskey has spent the last 30 years preserving and restoring the space, honoring its history while preparing for a new chapter.
The narrow, winding road one must travel to reach the compound provided time for reflection. Some of the biggest names in the history of music traveled the same path years before. That realisation was both inspiring and daunting. Entering the studio for the first time, the musicians were awestruck. Decades later, the vibe is still alive. Seventeen tracks were recorded over the course of four days – mostly live, with very few overdubs.
While there was a core group of players throughout the session, a grand total of 20 Tulsa musicians participated in the recording. The Oklahoma songs chosen for the album represent the famous to the obscure, and everything in-between.
This recording honors those who came before and made it possible for Tulsa musicians to have an identity and a music scene today.
