Rita Coolidge

Who Is Rita Coolidge?

Rita Coolidge is a versatile singer-songwriter who has made significant contributions to various musical genres, including folk, country, R&B, pop, rock, and jazz. Known for her rich and emotive voice, Coolidge first gained prominence as a backup vocalist before achieving solo success. Her breakout moment came in 1977 with the release of her solo album, Anytime … Anywhere, which solidified her status in the music industry. Among her notable hits is “All Time High,” the iconic theme song from the James Bond film Octopussy (1983). Throughout her career, Coolidge has been recognized with two Grammy Awards, highlighting her enduring impact on contemporary music.

Early Life

Born on May 1, 1944, in Lafayette, Tennessee, near Nashville, Rita Coolidge was raised in a musically inclined family, alongside her two sisters, Priscilla and Linda, who also possessed remarkable singing abilities. Coolidge recalled, “Since my father, mother, and grandmothers all sang, music was a natural part of our lives, just like sleeping and eating,” in an interview with Indian Artist magazine. At the age of 15, her family relocated to Florida, where she later attended Florida State University, initially focusing on art. During her university years, she formed a folk group called R.C. and the Moonpies. After graduating, Coolidge moved to Memphis, where she lent her voice to radio station IDs and commercial jingles at Pepper Sound studio. Her talent caught the attention of industry executives, leading to her first album, Turn Around and Love You. Although the title track enjoyed regional success, it failed to achieve national recognition.

Career Success

Following her relocation to Memphis, Coolidge connected with Delaney and Bonnie Bramlett and toured with them as a backup singer. She subsequently moved to Los Angeles, where her remarkable vocal skills earned her the opportunity to work with renowned artists, including Eric Clapton, Joe Cocker, Leon Russell, Graham Nash, Stephen Stills, Dave Mason, and Duane Allman, among others.

Her talents ultimately led to a solo contract with A&M Records. In 1971, she released a self-titled album that garnered critical acclaim, although it did not achieve significant commercial success. Coolidge’s personal and professional life intertwined when she married country singer-songwriter Kris Kristofferson. Together, they recorded several albums, earning a Grammy Award for their duet “From the Bottle to the Bottom” in 1974 for Best Country Vocal by a Duo or Group, followed by another Grammy for “Lover Please” in the same category two years later.

Songs and Albums

Rita Coolidge achieved significant acclaim with her 1977 album Anytime…Anywhere, which marked her breakout as a solo artist. The album showcased her distinctive R&B style through a series of cover songs, including Jackie Wilson’s iconic “(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher,” Boz Scaggs’ “We’re All Alone,” and The Temptations’ “The Way You Do the Things You Do.” Anytime…Anywhere achieved platinum status, solidifying Coolidge’s position in the music industry.

While subsequent albums did not replicate the commercial success of her debut, Coolidge continued to release charting singles throughout the 1980s. Notably, she recorded the hit “All Time High,” which served as the theme for the 1983 James Bond film Octopussy. Following this peak in her career, Coolidge took a step back from the public eye.

In the 1990s, she returned to the studio, releasing several albums under various labels. During this period, she further explored her Native American musical heritage by collaborating with family members Priscilla Coolidge and Laura Satterfield on Music for Native Americans, the soundtrack for TBS’s documentary series of the same name. The trio formed the singing group Walela, which translates to “hummingbird” in Cherokee, and recorded multiple albums until 2000.

After an extensive career spanning folk, country, R&B, rock, and pop genres, Coolidge released her first jazz album, And So Is Love, in 2005. In October 2012, she unveiled her holiday album, A Rita Coolidge Christmas.

Personal Life

Coolidge has embraced her mixed heritage throughout her musical journey. Her father was a full-blooded Cherokee, while her mother was half Cherokee and half Scottish. From 1973 to 1980, she was married to country singer-songwriter Kris Kristofferson, with whom she has one daughter, Casey.

In October 2014, Coolidge faced a tragic loss when her sister Priscilla was found deceased in her home alongside her husband, Michael Seibert, in what was ruled a murder-suicide, with Seibert being identified as the perpetrator.

Since 2012, Coolidge has been married to Tatsuya Suda, a retired professor of computer science at the University of California, Irvine. In April 2016, she published her autobiog