The Oklahoma Department of Commerce recently awarded a grant of nearly $400,000 so that a giant egg sculpture — symbolizing the logo for Leon Russell’s Shelter Records — can be put near Church Studio in Tulsa.
News on 6 in Tulsa reported that the sculpture will be on Third Street, diagonally from the studio.
The studio stands at 304 S. Trenton Ave., one block south of an old alignment of Route 66 near downtown.
Teresa Knox, CEO of Church Studio, said they’re considering infrastructure that will support the egg, which will weigh thousands of pounds.
Knox also said the egg will be lit at night, providing a photo-op to tourists at all hours.
The Church Studio reopened in 2022 after millions of dollars in renovations and improvements. In addition to being a working music studio again, it also serves as a performing arts space and a museum.
Russell, a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member who grew up in Tulsa and cut his teeth musically there, moved to Los Angeles in the late 1950s and became a session musician. He played on thousands of recording sessions, becoming part of the legendary “The Wrecking Crew” group of studio musicians.
He branched out on his own, wrote several hit songs (“Superstar,” “Delta Lady” and “A Song for You” among them) and collaborated with music artists such as George Harrison, Joe Cocker and Elton John.
Russell returned to his hometown in 1972 to buy the church, originally built in 1915 as Grace Methodist Episcopal Church. He converted the structure to a studio. It became a home for Shelter Records, which he launched with Denny Cordell.
Those who previously recorded at Church Studio included Willie Nelson, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Eric Clapton, Bonnie Raitt, Dwight Twilley, Dr. John, JJ Cale, The GAP Band, Michael Bolton, Kansas, Freddie King, Phoebe Snow, Wolfman Jack and Peter Tosh.
Russell’s ownership of the building came to an end in 1978. Local musician Steve Ripley also owned the building that was Church Studio for about 20 years.
Russell died in 2016 at age 74.
(Screen-capture image from News on 6 video of an artist’s rendering of the giant egg coming to Church Studio in Tulsa and the original Shelter Records logo)