Preserving Musical History: Teresa Knox on Tulsa's Legendary Church Studio

In this episode, host Neil Haley sits down with Teresa Knox, owner and curator of the iconic Church Studio in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Knox shares the remarkable story of how she impulsively purchased the historic building nearly a decade ago, transforming what was once Leon Russell's private recording sanctuary into a thriving community hub. The 110-year-old former Methodist church, which Russell converted into a recording studio in 1972, has been meticulously restored over six and a half years. Today, it serves not only as a fully operational analog and digital recording facility but also as a music museum housing a 6,000-piece archive, an audio engineering school, and a major tourist destination that welcomes thousands of visitors annually. Knox discusses the studio's legendary past, when artists like Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, J.J. Cale, Willie Nelson, Eric Clapton, and Stevie Wonder recorded within its walls during the 1970s. She explains how the studio continues to attract contemporary artists including Taj Mahal (who won a Grammy for an album recorded there), Kenny Loggins, Elle King, and Tedeschi Trucks Band. The conversation explores Tulsa's rich musical heritage, from Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys to its position as the epicenter of Route 66, and how the Church Studio's unique "vibe"—combining historic atmosphere with museum-quality vintage equipment—continues to inspire musicians. Knox also reveals her extensive research process for documenting the building's complete history in her book, having interviewed approximately 400 people to preserve stories that had never been formally recorded.