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Rita CoolidgeAmerican singer who worked in a variety of genres such as rock, pop, rhythm and blues, country and folk.
Country:
 USA |
Content:
- Biography of Rita Coolidge
- Early Success and Collaborations
- Solo Career and Success
- Collaboration with Kris Kristofferson
- Commercial Breakthrough and Continued Career
- Later Years
Biography of Rita Coolidge
Early Life and CareerRita Coolidge, an American singer who worked in various genres such as rock, pop, rhythm and blues, country, and folk, was born in 1945 in Lafayette, Tennessee, not far from the famous Nashville, the world center for country music. As a half-Indian girl, Coolidge first started singing in church, where her father was a priest. She studied at the University of Florida while continuing to sing and write songs. After completing her education, she decided to pursue a career in music before becoming a teacher.
Early Success and Collaborations
Upon moving to Memphis, Coolidge initially earned a living by recording jingles for commercials, sometimes with her sister Priscilla. She soon found another job and went on tour with Delaney & Bonnie as a backing vocalist. After some time, Coolidge moved to Los Angeles, where she participated in recordings with renowned musicians such as Eric Clapton, Stephen Stills, Leon Russell, and Joe Cocker.
Solo Career and Success
Upon returning from Joe Cocker's tour, Coolidge signed her own contract with A&M Records. Her debut self-titled album was released in 1971 and received positive reviews from music critics, but it did not achieve commercial success, just like her following album, Nice Feeling. Over the next few years, Coolidge worked in country rock and soft rock styles.
Collaboration with Kris Kristofferson
In 1973, Coolidge married country music singer-songwriter Kris Kristofferson. They released a duet album called Full Moon that same year, which topped the country music charts. Their song "From the Bottle to the Bottom" won a Grammy Award for Best Country Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group. The couple released their second album, Breakaway, in the following year, and their song "Lover Please" also won a Grammy in the same category.
Commercial Breakthrough and Continued Career
In 1977, Coolidge achieved a breakthrough with her album Anytime, Anywhere, which consisted of well-selected cover versions with a rhythm and blues sound. The single "(Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher," originally performed by Jackie Wilson, reached the second position on the country's most popular charts, regardless of genre. The songs "We're All Alone" and "The Way You Do the Things You Do" also became successful. The album sold over a million copies.
Later Years
In 1979, Coolidge and Kristofferson released their last duet album, Natural Act, but their marriage was threatened, and they divorced by the end of the year. Coolidge was not able to replicate the success of Anytime, Anywhere in terms of popularity, but in the 80s, she recorded several songs that made it onto the charts of mature music. After releasing the album Inside the Fire in 1984, Coolidge left A&M Records and took a break from music for some time. In the late 90s, she recorded several albums with small labels. In the early 2000s, a few collections of her old recordings were released. In 2005, Coolidge released a jazz standards album titled And So Is Love.
