Casey Van Beek and the Tulsa Groove will release their new album, “The Route 66 Sessions,” on May 30. Recorded and mixed at the legendary Church Studio in Tulsa, the project was created in celebration of the 100th anniversary of Historic Route 66.
Featuring 10 original songs inspired by the Mother Road, the album pays tribute to the highway that helped shape Oklahoma’s identity and America’s musical landscape.
Timed to Tulsa’s Route 66 Capital Cruise on May 30, fans will be able to purchase “The Route 66 Sessions” directly from producer Walt Richmond at his booth during the city’s landmark Route 66 celebration.
Produced by Richmond and executive-produced by Teresa Knox, “The Route 66 Sessions” brings together a celebrated group of Tulsa musicians whose roots run deep through Oklahoma music history. Musicians include:
- Casey Van Beek, vocals
- Walt Richmond, piano
- Jared Tyler, dobro and harmony vocals
- John Fullbright, harmonica, accordion, and harmony vocals
- Paul Benjaman, guitar
- Charles Tuberville, guitar
Track listing
- “Boogie on 66” (Van Beek, Richmond)
- “Main Street U.S.A.” (Van Beek, Richmond)
- “Headed West” (Webb, Richmond)
- “She’s My Mother Road” (Webb, Richmond)
- “The Road of Dreams” (Van Beek, Richmond)
- “Do It In My ’40 Ford” (Van Beek, Richmond)
- “Ridin’ on the Mother Road” (Van Beek, Richmond)
- “Rollin’ Down 66” (Van Beek, Richmond)
- “Leavin’ in the Mornin’” (Van Beek, Richmond)
- “We Gonna Ride Ride Ride” (Van Beek, Richmond)
The album was recorded and mixed at The Church Studio by engineers Gary Laney and Mike Prado.
Richmond said, “New music had to be part of celebrating Route 66’s centennial. Tulsa has always played an important role in the history of the Mother Road, not just geographically, but musically, too. These songs were written to honor that spirit. Tulsa musicians have always followed that Mother Road to California. Tulsa was the training grounds. We might play a Bob Wills song, a Chuck Berry song, then a Frank Sinatra song … we were ready for anything.”
Knox said, “It is an honor for The Church Studio to be involved with such an iconic project. Walt Richmond has a decades-long connection to this building, from his Shelter Records days to co-founding The Tractors during Steve Ripley’s ownership of The Church Studio.
“What many people don’t realize is that our building on East 3rd Street sits within the historic Route 66 corridor and along an early alignment of the Mother Road that once served as a designated truck route bypassing downtown Tulsa. I also absolutely loved working with Walt and Casey on this project. They are incredibly kind, talented, joyful people, and you can feel that spirit throughout the entire record.”
Pre-orders for “The Route 66 Sessions” are available through The Church Studio Store. The album will officially be released on May 30 and will also be available at select Route 66 centennial events, including Tulsa’s Route 66 Capital Cruise.
(Courtesy image of “The Route 66 Sessions” cover)