By Father Zachary (Zach Martin)
There are places where music is recorded, and then there are places where music is received. The difference is spiritual, architectural, and deeply human. The Church Studio in Tulsa, Oklahoma, belongs to the latter. For more than a century, this building has absorbed prayer, labor, rhythm, and revelation. Today, it stands as one of America’s most sacred musical spaces, not frozen in nostalgia, but alive with purpose.
I recently had the privilege of sitting down with Teresa Knox, the educator, preservationist, and visionary steward of The Church Studio, to discuss her forthcoming book, Sanctuary of Sound: The Church Studio Story (HK Publishing). What emerged from that conversation was not simply a history lesson, but a testimony—about sound, community, stewardship, and the enduring power of American music to gather people together.
From Sacred Ground to Sacred Sound
The story of The Church Studio begins long before tape machines, vinyl, or hit records. The land itself was originally granted by the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. In 1913, local citizens—without architects or blueprints—began building Grace Methodist Episcopal Church, completing it in 1915. They brought their own lumber, tools, and labor. The women of the congregation cooked chicken dinners to feed the builders. From its earliest days, music was central, used both for worship and for fundraising concerts that helped complete the sanctuary.
That sense of collective purpose never left the building.
In 1972, Tulsa native Leon Russell returned home after conquering the world stages of rock, soul, and pop. Already one of the most prolific and influential artists of his generation, Russell purchased the aging church and transformed it into a recording studio. Along with producer and partner Denny Cordell, he founded Shelter Records and turned The Church into a creative headquarters unlike anything else in American music.
Russell was already legendary. He had written “A Song for You,” later recorded by more than 200 artists, including Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Neil Diamond, Amy Winehouse, and Joe Cocker. In 1970, Russell and Cocker assembled the historic Mad Dogs & Englishmen tour, a 48-city, 60-day musical revival that culminated in legendary New York City performances later released as a live double album.
At The Church, Russell created space—not just acoustically, but spiritually—for artists to discover who they were.
A Who’s Who of American Music
During the 1970s and beyond, The Church Studio became one of the most important recording spaces in the country. Artists who recorded there include Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Willie Nelson, The Gap Band, Tom Petty (with Mudcrutch), Bob Marley, JJ Cale, Phoebe Snow, Ringo Starr, Bob Seger, Bonnie Raitt, Stevie Wonder, Kansas, and many more.
It was also here that Russell recorded under his alter ego Hank Wilson, pushing genre boundaries and redefining what an artist could be.
This was not a factory. It was a family.
Teresa Knox and the Calling to Preserve
When Teresa Knox acquired The Church Studio more than nine years ago, the building was in severe disrepair. Water damage, structural decay, and years of neglect threatened its future. What followed was a six-and-a-half-year restoration that balanced reverence with rigor. Eleven species of wood were preserved or restored, including cedar originally brought in by Leon Russell. The sanctuary—now the live tracking room—remains the heart of the building, its acoustics shaped by time, prayer, and song.
Knox does not describe herself as an owner. She calls herself a caretaker.
That philosophy informs everything: from the preservation of original analog equipment to the creation of a museum-quality archive containing thousands of artifacts, handwritten lyrics, and photographs. Artists recording today regularly step into the archive between sessions, encountering the creative ghosts of those who came before them.
Sanctuary of Sound: The Book
Out of hundreds of interviews and years of research came Sanctuary of Sound: The Church Studio Story. This deluxe 12×12-inch, 344-page volume is the first definitive, chronological account of the studio’s full history—from Indigenous land roots and early church builders to Leon Russell’s golden era and the modern renaissance under Knox’s stewardship.
Music historian Mark Bego writes that the book finally offers “a detailed, definitive, organized and thorough look at the historic Church Studio…which illustrates what made Leon Russell tick.”
The book features never-before-seen archival images, detailed session histories, and cultural context that places The Church alongside legendary American studios such as Motown, Sun, Stax, Muscle Shoals, and Capitol.
A Living Studio, Not a Museum
Today, The Church Studio is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, ensuring its protection for generations to come. Yet it remains fully operational and creatively vital. Recent sessions include Kenny Loggins, Dropkick Murphys, Tommy Emmanuel, George Thorogood, Elle King, Turnpike Troubadours, and Jordan Fisher.
In 2025, Taj Mahal won a Grammy for Swingin’ Live at The Church, recorded entirely within its walls.
Analog and digital coexist here. Vintage Neve consoles, tape machines, and museum-grade microphones sit alongside modern production tools. The result is not nostalgia, but continuity.
About NEWHD Radio
Sophia’s Mission is a purpose-driven nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering individuals with disabilities, veterans, and underserved communities by advancing sustainable employment, skills training, and economic inclusion. Inspired by the belief that everyone deserves access to meaningful work and financial independence, Sophia’s Mission focuses on bridging systemic gaps that often prevent talented and capable individuals from thriving in today’s workforce. Through innovative programs, employer partnerships, advocacy, and community engagement, the organization works to transform lives and build models of inclusion that other communities can replicate. Its mission reflects a deep commitment to dignity, opportunity, and practical solutions that help individuals overcome barriers and contribute to society with confidence and pride.
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