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{{short description|American singer (born 1945)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
{{Infobox musical artist
|Name = Rita Coolidge
|Img = | name = Rita Coolidge
|Img_capt = | image = Rita Coolidge, 2002 - cropped.jpg
| caption = Coolidge performing at an outdoor concert in ] in September 2002
|Img_size =
|Background = solo_singer | background = solo_singer
|Birth_name = Rita Coolidge | birth_name =
|Born = {{birth date|1945|5|1|mf=y}} | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1945|05|01|mf=y}}
|Origin = ] | birth_place = ], U.S.
| spouse = {{marriage|]|1973|1980|end=divorce}}<br>{{marriage|Tatsuya Suda|2004| 2012|end=divorce}} {{marriage|Joe Hutto|2018}}
|Instrument = ]
| instrument = {{flatlist|
|Genre = ], ], ], ]
*]
|Occupation = ]
*]}}
|Years_active = ]&ndash;Present
|Label = ] | genre = {{flatlist|
*]
|Associated_acts = ], ], ]
*]
|URL =
*]
*]
*]
*]<ref name="allmusic.com"/>}}
| occupation = {{flatlist|
*Singer
*songwriter}}
| years_active = 1969–present
| label = {{flatlist|
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
}}
| associated_acts = {{flatlist|
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]}}
| website = {{Official URL}}
}} }}


'''Rita Coolidge''' (born May 1, 1945) is an American recording artist. During the 1970s and 1980s, her songs were on '']'' magazine's ], ], ], and ] charts,<ref name=allmusic.com>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/rita-coolidge-p3961/biography|title=Rita Coolidge - Music Biography, Streaming Radio and Discography - AllMusic|first=Steve|last=Huey|work=AllMusic}}</ref> and she won two ]s with fellow musician and then-husband ].<ref name=:2>{{Cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/rita-coolidge|title=Rita Coolidge|website=Recording Academy Grammy Awards|date=19 November 2019}}</ref> Her recordings include "]," "]", "]", and the theme song for the 1983 ] film '']'': "]".
'''Rita Coolidge''' (born ], ], in ]) is a ] Award winning ].


==Early career== ==Life and career==
Rita Coolidge's early career was as a backing vocalist, for artists such as ], ], and ]. Her performance of "]" on the Cocker/Russell '']'' album helped gain her attention.


==The Delta Lady== === Early life ===
Coolidge was born in ].<ref>Abjorensen, Norman (2017). ''Historical Dictionary of Popular Music''. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 113. {{ISBN|9781538102152}}.</ref> She is the daughter of Dick and Charlotte Coolidge, a minister and schoolteacher, with sisters Linda and ], and brother Raymond.<ref>, '']'', August 23, 2012. Retrieved April 22, 2014.</ref> Her father was a full-blooded Cherokee and her mother half Cherokee and half Scottish. <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.biography.com/musicians/rita-coolidge | title=Rita Coolidge - Songs, Albums & Age | date=27 May 2020 }}</ref> She attended Nashville's ] and was graduated from ] in ]. Coolidge is a graduate of ], and a member of ] sorority.<ref name=":3" />
She became known as "The Delta Lady" and inspired Leon Russell to write a song of the same name for her. She is also the "sweet little Indian girl" mentioned in ]'s song "]" released on his album '']''. It was during this time that she met ]; the two married in 1973. With him, she recorded several duet albums which sold well, and earned them a ] in ] for ''From the Bottle to the Bottom'', and in ] for ''Lover Please''.


==Solo career== === Early career ===
After singing around ] (including a stint singing ]s), Coolidge was discovered by ], who worked with her in Los Angeles.<ref name=":3" /> There, she became a backing singer<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theuncool.com/journalism/rita-coolidge-biography/|title=Rita Coolidge Biography|work=theuncool.com}}</ref> for artists including ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ].<ref name=Palisin>{{cite news|url=http://www.topix.com/city/myrtle-beach-sc/2014/04/rita-coolidge-shares-myrtle-beach-area-memories-and-more-ahead-of-concert-in-brunswick-county|title=Rita Coolidge shares Myrtle Beach area memories and more ahead of concert in Brunswick County|last=Palisin|first=Steve|work=]|date=April 17, 2014}}</ref> She was featured in Joe Cocker's '']'' tour and album, singing Russell's and ]'s song "]". Coolidge did not receive songwriting credits for "Superstar" which later became a hit for ].<ref name=:4>{{Cite web|url=https://relix.com/articles/detail/delta_spirit_rita_coolidge_reflects_on_delaney_bonnie_mad_dogs_englishmen_layla_and_more/|title=Delta Spirit: Rita Coolidge Reflects on Delaney & Bonnie, Mad Dogs & Englishmen, "Layla" and More|date=October 25, 2016|website=Relix Media|language=en-US}}</ref>
She had several solo hit singles during the late 1970s with cover versions. Her first hit, "(Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher," a cover of the Jackie Wilson song, was also her highest seller, reaching number two on the U.S. charts in 1977. She followed that with Boz Skaggs's "We're All Alone" which reached number seven later that same year.


She became known as "The Delta Lady" and inspired Russell to write a song of the same name for her.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/song/delta-lady-t2531510|title=Delta Lady - Leon Russell - Song Review|first=Matthew|last=Greenwald|work=AllMusic}}</ref>
Other hits were "One Fine Day" (written by Carole King and a hit for the 1960s girl group the Chiffons, "We're All Alone" (originally recorded by Boz Scaggs and also covered by Frankie Valli), "I Don't Want to Talk About It" (written by Danny Whitten), "The Way You Do the Things You Do" (The Temptations), and "I'd Rather Leave While I'm in Love" (Carole Bayer Sager). In 1980 Coolidge also was the voice of Melissa Raccoon in the Christmas Raccoons,and reprised this role for a subsequent special The Raccoons on Ice in 1981. Both of these specials served as a predecessor to the critically-acclaimed Canadian animated series the Raccoons


==="Layla"===
She scored her last hit in 1983, with "All Time High" for the James Bond film Octopussy. Another well-known movie song, although not really a hit for Coolidge, was the love theme from the movie Splash, entitled "Love Came For Me".
Coolidge also did not receive songwriting credits for the ] of the 1971 single "]" by ]'s band ].<ref name=":0" /> In 2016, Coolidge stated that she recorded a demo with her boyfriend, the band's drummer ], before they went to England to record with Clapton. Once they met with Clapton, Coolidge played the piece she composed for him and she gave him a cassette.<ref name=":4" /> Clapton, impressed by the piece, used it as part of the song in the ending section which she found out by hearing the song over a ] a year later. She tried to contact Clapton, but was told by his manager ], "What are you gonna do? You're a girl. You don't have money to fight this. Let it go." She has not heard from Clapton himself but believes he is aware of the situation.<ref name=":4" />


Though only Gordon has been officially credited with writing the section, the band's keyboardist ] said: <blockquote>Jim took that piano melody from his ex-girlfriend, Rita Coolidge. I know because in the ] days, I lived in John Garfield's old house in the ] and there was a guest house with an upright piano in it. Rita and Jim were up there in the guest house and invited me to join in on writing this song with them called "Time". … Her sister Priscilla wound up recording it with her husband, ]. … Jim took the melody from Rita's song and didn't give her credit for writing it. Her boyfriend ripped her off. I knew but nobody would listen to or believe me. I have told this story for years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.whereseric.com/eric-clapton-news/303-layla%E2%80%99s-40th-where%E2%80%99s-eric-interview-bobby-whitlock|title=Layla's 40th: The Where's Eric! Interview With Bobby Whitlock|work=Where's Eric!|access-date=2015-06-09|archive-date=2020-10-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024151834/https://www.whereseric.com/eric-clapton-news/303-layla%E2%80%99s-40th-where%E2%80%99s-eric-interview-bobby-whitlock|url-status=dead}}</ref> </blockquote>
In 1997, Coolidge was one of the founding members of Walela, a Native American music trio, that also includes Coolidge's sister Priscilla and Priscilla's daughter Laura Satterfield. The trio released albums in 1997 and 2000. Waleli means hummingbird in Cherokee, not Walela.


"Time" ended up on the 1973 album ''Chronicles'' by Booker T. and Priscilla.
Although Coolidge claims Cherokee heritage, she is not legally a Cherokee. Native Americans are the only ethnic group who have to carry cards issued by the U.S. Government to prove they are members of federally recognized tribes, and Rita Coolidge does not meet the criteria as set forth by law to call herself a Cherokee.


=== Kris Kristofferson ===
It is also a violation of the Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990 to market or sell merchandise as Native American or to use the name of a tribe if you are not a member of that tribe. A first time offense is punishable by up to a $1000,000 fine and/or time in jail.
]'s 4th of July Picnic in 1972]]
In November 1970, she met ] at the Los Angeles airport when they were both catching the same flight to Tennessee. Instead of continuing to his intended destination in ], he got off in Memphis with her. The two married in 1973, had a child in 1974, and recorded several duet albums, which sold well and earned the duo a ] in 1974 for "From the Bottle to the Bottom", and in 1976 for "]".<ref name=":2" />


She also had a credited role as Maria in the ] directed Western film '']'' in 1973, where Kristofferson played the role of Billy the Kid.
]'' advertisement, June 25, 1977]]


Coolidge's greatest success on the pop charts came during 1977–1978 with four consecutive top 25 hits, remakes of ]'s "]", ]'s "]", ]' "]", and ]'s "]".<ref name=:5>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rita-coolidge|title=Rita Coolidge Chart History|magazine=Billboard}}</ref> Coolidge and Kristofferson divorced in June 1980.
Coolidge claimed in a Native American magazine article which is on her http://www.walela.com/ page that her family was not a minority in the neighborhood, but they were the only Indians in the neighborhood.


=== Later career ===
Coolidge contradicts herself in the next paragraph saying she was raised on the reservation. Now, if she was froma reservation how could her Cherokee family be the only Indian family in the neighborhood? And there is no Cherokee reservation in Tennessee. Why did Rita Coolidge make this up? Doesn't she know real Cherokees know she isn't telling the truth?
In 1992, Coolidge sang joint lead vocals with ] on the title track of his album '']''.


She also was among the first hosts on ], a US cable network. In 2006, she recorded a ] album, ''And So Is Love'' with artwork by Clifford Bailey.<ref name="Palisin" />
In 2004, Coolidge released an anthology of her complete career, entitled Delta Lady — The Rita Coolidge Anthology.


=== Walela ===
In 2006, Coolidge released a jazz CD, And So Is Love. That same year, she toured the United Kingdom on the "Once in a Lifetime Country Tour" with Don Williams and Kenny Rogers.
In 1997, Coolidge was one of the founding members of ], a ] music trio, that also included her sister Priscilla and Priscilla's daughter Laura Satterfield. The trio released studio albums in 1997 (''Walela'') and 2000 (''Unbearable Love''), a live album and DVD (''Live in Concert'') in 2004 and a compilation album (''The Best of Walela'') in 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/walela-p215987|title=Walela - Music Biography, Streaming Radio and Discography - AllMusic|first=Steve|last=Huey|work=AllMusic}}</ref>

Walela means ] in ]. Coolidge considered this group important, not only in honoring her , but also in bringing their culture to others. The trio performed at the ] in Atlanta.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Walela Biography, Songs, & Albums|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/walela-mn0000228273/biography|access-date=2021-09-06|website=AllMusic|language=en}}</ref>

=== Books ===
Her autobiography, ''Delta Lady: A Memoir'', was published in April 2016.<ref>{{cite book | title=Delta Lady: A Memoir | first1=Rita | last1=Coolidge | first2=Michael | last2=Walker | year=2016 | publisher=Harper | location=New York|isbn = 978-0062372048}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
] at the private party after the premiere of the movie '']'', on the third floor of Dillon's Disco,<!-- ] 1081 Gayley Avenue --> ], on December 18, 1976]]

=== Relationships ===
Coolidge had romantic liaisons with ] and ]. Coolidge leaving Stills for Nash has been cited as a contributing factor behind the initial 1970 breakup of ].<ref>Zimmer, Dave, and Diltz, Henry (1984). ''Crosby Stills & Nash: The Authorized Biography'' (First edition), St. Martin’s Press, {{ISBN|0-312-17660-0}}.</ref> She was the "sweet little Indian girl" named "Raven" in the song "Cowboy Movie" on ]'s album '']''.<ref>Browne (2019). ''Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young: The Wild, Definitive Saga of Rock's Greatest Supergroup'' (First edition), Da Capo Press, {{ISBN|978-0306903281}}.</ref>

Coolidge was also involved with ] and ]. During the '']'' tour, Coolidge's boyfriend at the time, ], assaulted her, resulting in a black eye for the rest of the tour. Coolidge ended the relationship and never spoke to him again.<ref name=":0" /> Gordon was later diagnosed with ] and convicted of murdering his mother.<ref name=":0" />

Coolidge was married to ] from 1973 to 1980.<ref name="allmusic.com" /> Their daughter and her only child, Casey Kristofferson (also a musician) (born March 21, 1974). Their marriage deteriorated after she miscarried her second child in 1977. In her memoir, ''Delta Lady'', Coolidge described her marriage to Kristofferson as volatile due to his alcoholism and infidelity.<ref name=:0>{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/rita-coolidge-s-tales-of-pain-and-hedonism-from-rock-s-inner-circle-1.2603553|title=Rita Coolidge's tales of pain and hedonism from rock's inner circle|last=Conroy|first=Catherine|date=April 12, 2016|newspaper=The Irish Times}}</ref> She revealed he was also ] and would belittle her talent.<ref name=":0" /> When they divorced she did not ask him for anything.<ref name=":0" /> However, in 2016 Coolidge told '']'' that she and Kristofferson still shared a bond.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://people.com/books/rita-coolidge-talks-kris-kristofferson-marriage-in-new-memoir-delta-lady/|title='70s Songbird Rita Coolidge on Her Former Husband Kris Kristofferson: We Still 'Have a Bond That Is Beyond Any Kind of Understanding'|last=Dodd|first=Johnny|date=March 23, 2016|website=People}}</ref>

Coolidge married Tatsuya Suda, a world leader in ] research, on June 19, 2004, in the ].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://americanprofile.com/articles/rita-coolidge-singer/|title=Rita Coolidge Marriage|date=2005-08-07|work=American Profile|access-date=2018-07-14|language=en-US}}</ref> Suda, a Japanese citizen, retired in 2010 after a long tenure as a professor at the ] (]), when allegations of professional misconduct against him surfaced. Coolidge divorced Suda in 2012. In 2014, he pleaded guilty to a felony charge of receiving illegal payments.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://voiceofoc.org/2014/02/former-uci-professor-pleads-guilty-to-felony-conflict-of-interest/|title=Former UCI Professor Pleads Guilty to Felony Conflict of Interest |website=Voice of OC |date=27 February 2014 |access-date=2018-07-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.utsandiego.com/uniontrib/20040715/news_lz1w15rita.html |title=Vocal supporter - The San Diego Union-Tribune|work=utsandiego.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150530091243/http://www.utsandiego.com/uniontrib/20040715/news_lz1w15rita.html |archive-date=May 30, 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Coolidge had lived in ], where she painted and exhibited her work until 2017.<ref name="Palisin" />

In 2017 Coolidge rekindled a romantic relationship with Joe Hutto, a former college boyfriend. They married in 2018<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://abcnewsradioonline.com/music-news/2018/7/6/rita-coolidge-launching-series-of-us-concerts-tonight-in-sup.html|title=Rita Coolidge launching series of US concerts tonight in support of new album - Music News - ABC News Radio|website=ABC News Radio|language=en|access-date=2018-07-14|archive-date=2018-07-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180714194047/http://abcnewsradioonline.com/music-news/2018/7/6/rita-coolidge-launching-series-of-us-concerts-tonight-in-sup.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.tallahassee.com/story/life/2017/03/11/rita-coolidge-joe-hutto-join-authors-apalach/99060402/|title=Rita Coolidge, Joe Hutto join Authors in Apalach event |work=Tallahassee Democrat|access-date=2018-07-14 }}</ref> and moved back to Tallahassee.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.wfsu.org/post/rita-coolidge-will-call-tallahassee-home-again|title=Rita Coolidge Will Call Tallahassee Home. Again.|last=Flanigan|first=Tom|access-date=2018-07-14|language=en}}</ref>

=== Family ===
In October 2014, Coolidge's sister, Priscilla, was murdered by her husband, Michael Siebert, in a murder-suicide.<ref name=":0" /> The pain of that loss was exacerbated when Siebert's ashes were delivered to Rita's home and she had to dispose of them.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.irishnews.com/lifestyle/2016/05/09/news/70s-star-rita-coolidge-talks-music-and-mourning-after-sister-s-murder-507592/|title='1970s star Rita Coolidge talks music and mourning after sister's murder'|last=Stephenson|first=Hannah|date=May 9, 2016|website=The Irish News|access-date=November 10, 2018}}</ref>

== Awards and nominations ==

Coolidge was inducted into the Southern Museum of Music Hall of Fame in 2015.<ref name=:3>{{Cite web|url=http://www.southernmuseumofmusic.com/Spotlight/00-C/Rita-Coolidge.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190107164924/http://southernmuseumofmusic.com/Spotlight/00-C/Rita-Coolidge.htm|url-status=usurped|archive-date=January 7, 2019|title=Rita Coolidge - Southern Museum of Music Artist Hall of Fame Spotlight|website=Southern Museum of Music|access-date=2019-11-10}}</ref>

=== Grammy Awards ===
Coolidge has won two Grammy Awards from her three nominations.<ref name=":2" />{{awards table}}
|-
| 1974
| "From the Bottle to the Bottom"
| ]
| {{win}}
|-
| 1975
| "]"
| Best Country Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group
| {{nom}}
|-
| 1976
| "]"
| Best Country Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group
| {{won}}
{{end}}

== Discography ==
===Studio albums===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of studio albums, with selected chart positions, sales figures and certifications
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:11em;" | Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:18em;" | Album details
! scope="col" colspan="8" | Peak chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:15em;" | ]
|-
! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;" | ]<br><ref name=USAlbums>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/rita-coolidge/chart-history/tlp/|title=Rita Coolidge Album Chart History: Billboard 200|magazine=]|access-date=January 12, 2020}}</ref>

! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;" | ]<br><ref name=UScountryalbums>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/rita-coolidge/chart-history/clp/|title=Rita Coolidge Album Chart History: Top Country Albums|magazine=]|access-date=October 15, 2018}}</ref>

! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;" |]<br><ref name=aus/>

! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;" | ]<br><ref name=CANalbums>{{cite web|url=https://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm|title=CAN Charts > Rita Coolidge|work=]|access-date=January 12, 2020}}</ref>

! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;" | ]<br/><ref name=jap>{{cite book|title=Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970-2005|publisher=Oricon Entertainment|location=Roppongi, Tokyo|year=2006|isbn=4-87131-077-9}}</ref>

! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;" | ]<br><ref name=netAlbums>{{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Rita+Coolidge|title=Dutch Charts: Rita Coolidge|work=]|access-date=January 12, 2020}}</ref>

! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;" | ]<br><ref name=NZalbums>{{cite web|url=https://charts.nz/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Rita+Coolidge|title=New Zealand Charts: Rita Coolidge|work=]|access-date=January 12, 2020}}</ref>

! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;" | ]<br><ref name=UKalbums>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/16317/rita-coolidge/|title=United Kingdom Charts: Rita Coolidge|work=]|access-date=January 12, 2020}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | '']''
|
* Released: February 1971
* Label: ]
* Formats: ]
| 105 || — || — || 71 || — || — || — || —
|
|-
! scope="row" | '']''
|
* Released: November 1971
* Label: A&M Records
* Formats: LP
| 135 || — || — || — || — || — || — || —
|
|-
! scope="row" | '']''
|
* Released: October 1972
* Label: A&M, MFP
* Formats: LP
| 46 || — || — || 27 || — || — || — || —
|
|-
! scope="row" | '']''<br> <small>(with ])</small>
|
* Released: September 1973
* Label: A&M
* Formats: LP
| 26 || 1 || 40 || 7 || — || — || — || —
|
*RIAA: Gold<ref name=RIAA>{{cite web | publisher=] (RIAA)| title=Searchable Database: Rita Coolidge|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=Rita+Coolidge#search_section|access-date=January 12, 2020}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | '']''
|
* Released: April 1974
* Label: A&M Records
* Formats: LP
| 55 || — || 96 || 41 || — || — || — || —
|
|-
! scope="row" | '']''<br> <small>(with ])</small>
|
* Released: December 1974
* Label: Monument Records
* Formats: LP
| 103 || 19 || 99 || 81 || — || — || — || —
|
|-
! scope="row" | '']''
|
* Released: November 1975
* Label: A&M Records
* Formats: LP
| 85 || — || — || — || — || — || — || —
|
|-
! scope="row" | '']''
|
* Released: March 1977
* Label: A&M Records
* Formats: LP
| 6 || 23 || 9|| 4 || — || 15 || 40 || 7
|
*]: Platinum<ref name="RIAA"/>
*]: Platinum<ref name="aus81">{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/80s/1981/CB-1981-02-07.pdf|title=Awards from Oz|magazine=]|via=World Radio History|page=31|date=February 7, 1981|access-date= December 4, 2021}}</ref>
*]: Gold<ref name=BPI>{{cite web | publisher=] (BPI)| title=Searchable Database: Rita Coolidge|url=https://www.bpi.co.uk/brit-certified/|access-date=January 12, 2020}}</ref>
*]: Platinum<ref name=MC>{{cite web | publisher=] (MC)| title=Searchable Database: Rita Coolidge| date=8 December 1989|url=https://musiccanada.com/gold-platinum/?_gp_search=rita%20coolidge|access-date=January 12, 2020}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | '']''
|
* Released: May 1978
* Label: A&M Records
* Formats: LP
| 32 || — || 26 || 39 || — || — || — || 51
|
*RIAA: Gold<ref name="RIAA"/>
*ARIA: Gold<ref name="aus81"/>
*BPI: Silver<ref name="BPI"/>
*MC: Gold<ref name="MC"/>
|-
! scope="row" | '']'' <br><small>(with ])</small>
|
* Released: December 1978
* Label: A&M Records
* Formats: LP
| 106 || 24 || 87 || — || — || — || — || 35
|
|-
! scope="row" | '']''
|
* Released: September 1979
* Label: A&M Records
* Formats: LP
| 95 || — || 59 || 58 || 65 || — || — || —
|
*MC: Gold<ref name="MC"/>
|-
! scope="row" | '']''
|
* Released: August 1981
* Label: A&M Records
* Formats: LP
| 160 || — || — || — || — || — || — || —
|
|-
! scope="row" | '']''
|
* Released: October 1983
* Label: A&M Records
* Formats: LP
| — || — || — || — || — || 15 || — || —
|
|-
! scope="row" | '']''
|
* Released: 1984
* Label: A&M Records
* Formats: LP
| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —
|
|-
! scope="row" | ''Fire me Back''
|
* Released: 1990
* Label: Attic
* Formats: LP, ]
| — || — || — || — || — || 75 || — || —
|
|-
! scope="row" | '']''
|
* Released: July 21, 1991
* Label: Attic
* Formats: CD
| — || — || — || — || 16 || — || — || —
|
|-
! scope="row" | ''Love Lessons''
|
* Released: 1992
* Label: Caliber Records, Critique
* Formats: CD
| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —
|
|-
! scope="row" | ''For You''
|
* Released: 1993
* Label: ]
* Formats: CD
| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —
|
|-
! scope="row" | ''Behind the Memories''
|
* Released: 1995
* Label: ]
* Formats: CD
| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —
|
|-
! scope="row" | ''Out of the Blues''
|
* Released: 1996
* Label: Beacon
* Formats: CD
| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —
|
|-
! scope="row" | ''Cherokee''
|
* Released: 1996
* Label: Indelible Records
* Formats: CD
| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —
|
|-
! scope="row" | ''Thinkin' About You''
|
* Released: 1998
* Label: Innerworks
* Formats: CD
| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —
|
|-
! scope="row" | ''And So Is Love''
|
* Released: 2005
* Label: ]
* Formats: CD
| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —
|
|-
! scope="row" | ''A Rita Coolidge Christmas''
|
* Released: 2012
* Label: 429 Records
* Formats: CD
| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —
|
|-
! scope="row" | ''Safe in the Arms of Time''
|
* Released: 2018
* Label: ]
* Formats: CD
| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —
|
|-
|}

===Compilation albums===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of compilation albums, with selected chart positions, sales figures and certifications
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:11em;" | Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:18em;" | Album details
! scope="col" colspan="7" | Peak chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:15em;" | ]
|-
! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;" | ]<br><ref name="USAlbums"/>

! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;" | ]<br><ref name="UScountryalbums"/>

! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;" | ]<br><ref name="CANalbums"/>

! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;" | ]<br/><ref name=jap/>

! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;" | ]<br><ref name="netAlbums"/>

! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;" | ]<br><ref name="NZalbums"/>

! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;" | ]<br><ref name="UKalbums"/>
|-
! scope="row" | ''All About Rita Coolidge''
|
* Released: 1979
* Label: A&M Records
* Formats: LP
| — || — || — || — || — || — || —
|
|-
! scope="row" | '']'' <br> (released as ''Fool That I Am'' in Australia)
|
* Released: 1980
* Label: A&M Records
* Formats: LP
| 107 || — || — || 20 || — || — || —
|
|-
! scope="row" | ''The Very Best of Rita Coolidge''
|
* Released: 1981
* Label: A&M Records
* Formats: LP
| — || — || — || — || — || — || 6
|
*BPI: Gold<ref name="BPI"/>
|-
! scope="row" | ''Love from Tokyo''
|
* Released: 1984
* Label: A&M Records
* Formats: LP
| — || — || — || 48 || — || — || —
|
|-
! scope="row" | ''Classics Volume 5''
|
* Released: 1987
* Label: A&M Records
* Formats: LP
| — || — || — || — || — || — || —
|
|-
! scope="row" | ''A&M Gold Series''
|
* Released: 1989
* Label: A&M Records
* Formats: CD
| — || — || — || — || — || — || —
|
|-
! scope="row" | ''All Time High: Best of Rita Coolidge''
|
* Released: 1994
* Label: A&M Records
* Formats: CD
| — || — || — || — || — || — || —
|
|-
! scope="row" | ''The Collection''
|
* Released: 1995
* Label: ]
* Formats: CD
| — || — || — || — || — || — || —
|
|-
! scope="row" | ''Master Series''
|
* Released: 1999
* Label: A&M Records
* Formats: CD
| — || — || — || — || — || — || —
|
|-
! scope="row" | ''20th Century Masters – The Millenium Collection''
|
* Released: 2000
* Label: A&M Records
* Formats: CD
| — || — || — || — || — || — || —
|
|-
! scope="row" | ''Universal Masters Collection''
|
* Released: 2001
* Label: A&M Records
* Formats: CD
| — || — || — || — || — || — || —
|
|-
! scope="row" | ''Delta Lady – The Rita Coolidge Anthology''
|
* Released: 2004
* Label: A&M Records
* Formats: CD
| — || — || — || — || — || — || —
|
|}

=== Singles ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! rowspan="2" | Year
! rowspan="2" | Single
! colspan="8" | Peak chart positions
! rowspan="2" |Certification
! rowspan="2" | Album
|-
! style="width:45px;"|<small>]</small><br><ref name=":5" />
! style="width:45px;"|<small>]</small>
! style="width:45px;"|<small>]</small>
! style="width:45px;"|<small>]</small>
! style="width:45px;"|<small>]</small>
! style="width:45px;"|<small>]</small>
! style="width:45px;"|<small>]<br><ref name=BritishHSA>{{cite book| first= David| last= Roberts| year= 2006| title= British Hit Singles & Albums| edition= 19th| publisher= Guinness World Records Limited| location= London| isbn= 1-904994-10-5| page= 119}}</ref></small>
! style="width:45px;"|<small>]</small><ref name=aus>{{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6|page=73}}</ref>
|-
| 1969
| "Turn Around and Love You"
| style="text-align:center;"| 96
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|
| single only
|-
| 1971
| "]"
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| 38
| style="text-align:center;"| 16
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|
| ''Rita Coolidge''
|-
| 1972
| "]"
| style="text-align:center;"| 76
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|
| rowspan="3" | ''The Lady's Not for Sale''
|-
| rowspan="3" | 1973
| "My Crew"<sup>A</sup>
| style="text-align:center;"| flip
| style="text-align:center;"| 38
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|
|-
| "Whiskey, Whiskey"
| style="text-align:center;"| 106
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|
|-
| "A Song I'd Like to Sing" <small>(w/])</small>
| style="text-align:center;"| 49
| style="text-align:center;"| 12
| style="text-align:center;"| 92
| style="text-align:center;"| 53
| style="text-align:center;"| 3
| style="text-align:center;"| 54
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| 97
|
| rowspan="2" | ''Full Moon''
|-
| rowspan="3" | 1974
| "]" <small>(w/Kris Kristofferson)</small>
| style="text-align:center;"| 86
| style="text-align:center;"| 25
| style="text-align:center;"| 98
| style="text-align:center;"| 83
| style="text-align:center;"| 9
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| 96
|
|-
| "Mama Lou"
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| 94
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|
| ''Fall Into Spring''
|-
| "Rain" <small>(w/Kris Kristofferson)</small>
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| 44
| style="text-align:center;"| 87
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| 40
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|
| rowspan="2" | ''Breakaway''
|-
| 1975
| "]" <small>(w/Kris Kristofferson)</small>
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| 42
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1977
| "]"
| style="text-align:center;"| 2
| style="text-align:center;"| 5
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 3
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| 48
| style="text-align:center;"| 6<sup>B</sup>
|
* RIAA: Gold<ref name="RIAA"/>
| rowspan="4" | ''Anytime...Anywhere''
|-
| "]"
| style="text-align:center;"| 7
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 82
| style="text-align:center;"| 5
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| 6
| style="text-align:center;"| 32
|
* RIAA: Gold<ref name="RIAA"/>
|-
| rowspan="6" | 1978
| "]"
| style="text-align:center;"| 20
| style="text-align:center;"| 9
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| 16
| style="text-align:center;"| 6
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| 74
|
|-
| "]"
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| 25
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|
|-
| "]"
| style="text-align:center;"| 25
| style="text-align:center;"| 3
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| 17
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|
| rowspan="5" | ''Love Me Again''
|-
| "The Jealous Kind"
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| 63
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|
|-
| "Love Me Again"
| style="text-align:center;"| 68
| style="text-align:center;"| 20
| style="text-align:center;"| 83
| style="text-align:center;"| 73
| style="text-align:center;"| 35
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|
|-
| "Slow Dancer"
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| 60
|
|-
| rowspan="3" | 1979
| "Hello, Love, Goodbye"
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| 27
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|
|-
| "]"
| style="text-align:center;"| 66
| style="text-align:center;"| 15
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| 89
| style="text-align:center;"| 4
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| 68
|
| rowspan="2" | ''Satisfied''
|-
| "]"
| style="text-align:center;"| 38
| style="text-align:center;"| 3
| style="text-align:center;"| 32
| style="text-align:center;"| 87
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 24
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|
|-
| rowspan="3" | 1980
| "]" <br /> <small>(w/])</small>
| style="text-align:center;"| 42
| style="text-align:center;"| 39
| style="text-align:center;"| 60
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| 36
| style="text-align:center;"| 23
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|
| ''Somethin' Bout You Baby I Like'' <br /> <small>(Glen Campbell album)</small>
|-
| "Fool That I Am"
| style="text-align:center;"| 46
| style="text-align:center;"| 15
| style="text-align:center;"| 72
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| 52
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|
| ''] soundtrack''
|-
| "We Could Stay Together" <small>(w/])</small>
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| 60
|
| ''The Best of You'' <small>(Booker T. Jones album)</small>
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1981
| "Let's Go Dancing" <small>(w/Booker T. Jones)</small>
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| 60
|
| ''Satisfied''
|-
| "]"
| style="text-align:center;"| 103
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| 16
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|
| ''Heartbreak Radio''
|-
| rowspan="3" | 1983
| "Lake Freeze"
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|
| '']''
|-
| "]"
| style="text-align:center;"| 36
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| 38
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| 75
| style="text-align:center;"| 80
|
| '']''
|-
| "]"
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| 37
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|
| ''Never Let You Go''
|-
| 1984
| "Something Said Love"
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| 15
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|
| ''Inside the Fire''
|-
| 1990
| "I Stand in Wonder"
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| 49
| style="text-align:center;"| 21
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|
| ''Fire Me Back''
|}
* <sup>A</sup> B-side of "Fever"
* <sup>B</sup> Charted as a ] in Australia backed with "]"

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website}}
* {{IMDb name}}
*

{{sequence|
prev=]<br><small>'']'', 1981</small>|
list='']'' title artist<br><small>'']'' ("]"), 1983</small>|
next=]<br><small>'']'', 1985</small>
}}
{{Rita Coolidge}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Coolidge, Rita}}
Coolidge married Kris Kristofferson in 1973. Her marriage to Kristofferson ended in 1980.
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Latest revision as of 11:04, 8 January 2025

American singer (born 1945)
Rita Coolidge
Coolidge performing at an outdoor concert in Seattle in September 2002Coolidge performing at an outdoor concert in Seattle in September 2002
Background information
Born (1945-05-01) May 1, 1945 (age 79)
Lafayette, Tennessee, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Instruments
Years active1969–present
Labels
Spouse(s) Kris Kristofferson ​ ​(m. 1973; div. 1980)​
Tatsuya Suda ​ ​(m. 2004; div. 2012)​ Joe Hutto ​(m. 2018)​
Websitewww.ritacoolidge.com Edit this at Wikidata
Musical artist

Rita Coolidge (born May 1, 1945) is an American recording artist. During the 1970s and 1980s, her songs were on Billboard magazine's pop, country, adult contemporary, and jazz charts, and she won two Grammy Awards with fellow musician and then-husband Kris Kristofferson. Her recordings include "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher," "We're All Alone", "I'd Rather Leave While I'm in Love", and the theme song for the 1983 James Bond film Octopussy: "All Time High".

Life and career

Early life

Coolidge was born in Lafayette, Tennessee. She is the daughter of Dick and Charlotte Coolidge, a minister and schoolteacher, with sisters Linda and Priscilla, and brother Raymond. Her father was a full-blooded Cherokee and her mother half Cherokee and half Scottish. She attended Nashville's Maplewood High School and was graduated from Andrew Jackson Senior High School in Jacksonville, Florida. Coolidge is a graduate of Florida State University, and a member of Alpha Gamma Delta sorority.

Early career

After singing around Memphis (including a stint singing jingles), Coolidge was discovered by Delaney & Bonnie, who worked with her in Los Angeles. There, she became a backing singer for artists including Leon Russell, Joe Cocker, Harry Chapin, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Dave Mason, Graham Nash, and Stephen Stills. She was featured in Joe Cocker's Mad Dogs and Englishmen tour and album, singing Russell's and Bonnie Bramlett's song "Superstar". Coolidge did not receive songwriting credits for "Superstar" which later became a hit for The Carpenters.

She became known as "The Delta Lady" and inspired Russell to write a song of the same name for her.

"Layla"

Coolidge also did not receive songwriting credits for the coda of the 1971 single "Layla" by Eric Clapton's band Derek and the Dominos. In 2016, Coolidge stated that she recorded a demo with her boyfriend, the band's drummer Jim Gordon, before they went to England to record with Clapton. Once they met with Clapton, Coolidge played the piece she composed for him and she gave him a cassette. Clapton, impressed by the piece, used it as part of the song in the ending section which she found out by hearing the song over a PA system a year later. She tried to contact Clapton, but was told by his manager Robert Stigwood, "What are you gonna do? You're a girl. You don't have money to fight this. Let it go." She has not heard from Clapton himself but believes he is aware of the situation.

Though only Gordon has been officially credited with writing the section, the band's keyboardist Bobby Whitlock said:

Jim took that piano melody from his ex-girlfriend, Rita Coolidge. I know because in the Delaney & Bonnie days, I lived in John Garfield's old house in the Hollywood Hills and there was a guest house with an upright piano in it. Rita and Jim were up there in the guest house and invited me to join in on writing this song with them called "Time". … Her sister Priscilla wound up recording it with her husband, Booker T. Jones. … Jim took the melody from Rita's song and didn't give her credit for writing it. Her boyfriend ripped her off. I knew but nobody would listen to or believe me. I have told this story for years.

"Time" ended up on the 1973 album Chronicles by Booker T. and Priscilla.

Kris Kristofferson

Coolidge at Willie Nelson's 4th of July Picnic in 1972

In November 1970, she met Kris Kristofferson at the Los Angeles airport when they were both catching the same flight to Tennessee. Instead of continuing to his intended destination in Nashville, he got off in Memphis with her. The two married in 1973, had a child in 1974, and recorded several duet albums, which sold well and earned the duo a Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in 1974 for "From the Bottle to the Bottom", and in 1976 for "Lover Please".

She also had a credited role as Maria in the Sam Peckinpah directed Western film Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid in 1973, where Kristofferson played the role of Billy the Kid.

Cashbox advertisement, June 25, 1977

Coolidge's greatest success on the pop charts came during 1977–1978 with four consecutive top 25 hits, remakes of Jackie Wilson's "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher", Boz Scaggs's "We're All Alone", the Temptations' "The Way You Do The Things You Do", and Marcia Hines's "You". Coolidge and Kristofferson divorced in June 1980.

Later career

In 1992, Coolidge sang joint lead vocals with Roger Waters on the title track of his album Amused to Death.

She also was among the first hosts on VH1, a US cable network. In 2006, she recorded a standards album, And So Is Love with artwork by Clifford Bailey.

Walela

In 1997, Coolidge was one of the founding members of Walela, a Native American music trio, that also included her sister Priscilla and Priscilla's daughter Laura Satterfield. The trio released studio albums in 1997 (Walela) and 2000 (Unbearable Love), a live album and DVD (Live in Concert) in 2004 and a compilation album (The Best of Walela) in 2007.

Walela means hummingbird in Cherokee. Coolidge considered this group important, not only in honoring her ancestors, but also in bringing their culture to others. The trio performed at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.

Books

Her autobiography, Delta Lady: A Memoir, was published in April 2016.

Personal life

Coolidge with Kris Kristofferson at the private party after the premiere of the movie A Star Is Born, on the third floor of Dillon's Disco, Westwood, Los Angeles, on December 18, 1976

Relationships

Coolidge had romantic liaisons with Stephen Stills and Graham Nash. Coolidge leaving Stills for Nash has been cited as a contributing factor behind the initial 1970 breakup of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. She was the "sweet little Indian girl" named "Raven" in the song "Cowboy Movie" on David Crosby's album If I Could Only Remember My Name.

Coolidge was also involved with Leon Russell and Joe Cocker. During the Mad Dogs & Englishmen tour, Coolidge's boyfriend at the time, Jim Gordon, assaulted her, resulting in a black eye for the rest of the tour. Coolidge ended the relationship and never spoke to him again. Gordon was later diagnosed with schizophrenia and convicted of murdering his mother.

Coolidge was married to Kris Kristofferson from 1973 to 1980. Their daughter and her only child, Casey Kristofferson (also a musician) (born March 21, 1974). Their marriage deteriorated after she miscarried her second child in 1977. In her memoir, Delta Lady, Coolidge described her marriage to Kristofferson as volatile due to his alcoholism and infidelity. She revealed he was also emotionally abusive and would belittle her talent. When they divorced she did not ask him for anything. However, in 2016 Coolidge told People that she and Kristofferson still shared a bond.

Coolidge married Tatsuya Suda, a world leader in computer architecture research, on June 19, 2004, in the Cook Islands. Suda, a Japanese citizen, retired in 2010 after a long tenure as a professor at the Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences (UC Irvine), when allegations of professional misconduct against him surfaced. Coolidge divorced Suda in 2012. In 2014, he pleaded guilty to a felony charge of receiving illegal payments. Coolidge had lived in Fallbrook, California, where she painted and exhibited her work until 2017.

In 2017 Coolidge rekindled a romantic relationship with Joe Hutto, a former college boyfriend. They married in 2018 and moved back to Tallahassee.

Family

In October 2014, Coolidge's sister, Priscilla, was murdered by her husband, Michael Siebert, in a murder-suicide. The pain of that loss was exacerbated when Siebert's ashes were delivered to Rita's home and she had to dispose of them.

Awards and nominations

Coolidge was inducted into the Southern Museum of Music Hall of Fame in 2015.

Grammy Awards

Coolidge has won two Grammy Awards from her three nominations.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1974 "From the Bottle to the Bottom" Best Country Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group Won
1975 "Loving Arms" Best Country Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group Nominated
1976 "Lover Please" Best Country Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group Won

Discography

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected chart positions, sales figures and certifications
Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
US
 US
Country
 AU
 CAN
 JAP
 NET
 NZ
 UK
Rita Coolidge 105 — — 71 — — — —
Nice Feelin'
  • Released: November 1971
  • Label: A&M Records
  • Formats: LP
 135 — — — — — — —
The Lady's Not for Sale
  • Released: October 1972
  • Label: A&M, MFP
  • Formats: LP
 46 — — 27 — — — —
Full Moon
(with Kris Kristofferson)
  • Released: September 1973
  • Label: A&M
  • Formats: LP
 26 1 40 7 — — — —
  • RIAA: Gold
Fall into Spring
  • Released: April 1974
  • Label: A&M Records
  • Formats: LP
 55 — 96 41 — — — —
Breakaway
(with Kris Kristofferson)
  • Released: December 1974
  • Label: Monument Records
  • Formats: LP
 103 19 99 81 — — — —
It's Only Love
  • Released: November 1975
  • Label: A&M Records
  • Formats: LP
 85 — — — — — — —
Anytime...Anywhere
  • Released: March 1977
  • Label: A&M Records
  • Formats: LP
 6 23 9 4 — 15 40 7
Love Me Again
  • Released: May 1978
  • Label: A&M Records
  • Formats: LP
 32 — 26 39 — — — 51
  • RIAA: Gold
  • ARIA: Gold
  • BPI: Silver
  • MC: Gold
Natural Act
(with Kris Kristofferson)
  • Released: December 1978
  • Label: A&M Records
  • Formats: LP
 106 24 87 — — — — 35
Satisfied
  • Released: September 1979
  • Label: A&M Records
  • Formats: LP
 95 — 59 58 65 — — —
  • MC: Gold
Heartbreak Radio
  • Released: August 1981
  • Label: A&M Records
  • Formats: LP
 160 — — — — — — —
Never Let You Go
  • Released: October 1983
  • Label: A&M Records
  • Formats: LP
 — — — — — 15 — —
Inside the Fire
  • Released: 1984
  • Label: A&M Records
  • Formats: LP
 — — — — — — — —
Fire me Back
  • Released: 1990
  • Label: Attic
  • Formats: LP, CD
 — — — — — 75 — —
Dancing with an Angel
  • Released: July 21, 1991
  • Label: Attic
  • Formats: CD
 — — — — 16 — — —
Love Lessons
  • Released: 1992
  • Label: Caliber Records, Critique
  • Formats: CD
 — — — — — — — —
For You
  • Released: 1993
  • Label: Alpha
  • Formats: CD
 — — — — — — — —
Behind the Memories — — — — — — — —
Out of the Blues
  • Released: 1996
  • Label: Beacon
  • Formats: CD
 — — — — — — — —
Cherokee
  • Released: 1996
  • Label: Indelible Records
  • Formats: CD
 — — — — — — — —
Thinkin' About You
  • Released: 1998
  • Label: Innerworks
  • Formats: CD
 — — — — — — — —
And So Is Love — — — — — — — —
A Rita Coolidge Christmas
  • Released: 2012
  • Label: 429 Records
  • Formats: CD
 — — — — — — — —
Safe in the Arms of Time — — — — — — — —

Compilation albums

List of compilation albums, with selected chart positions, sales figures and certifications
Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
US
 US
Country
 CAN
 JAP
 NET
 NZ
 UK
All About Rita Coolidge
  • Released: 1979
  • Label: A&M Records
  • Formats: LP
 — — — — — — —
Greatest Hits
(released as Fool That I Am in Australia)
  • Released: 1980
  • Label: A&M Records
  • Formats: LP
 107 — — 20 — — —
The Very Best of Rita Coolidge
  • Released: 1981
  • Label: A&M Records
  • Formats: LP
 — — — — — — 6
  • BPI: Gold
Love from Tokyo
  • Released: 1984
  • Label: A&M Records
  • Formats: LP
 — — — 48 — — —
Classics Volume 5
  • Released: 1987
  • Label: A&M Records
  • Formats: LP
 — — — — — — —
A&M Gold Series
  • Released: 1989
  • Label: A&M Records
  • Formats: CD
 — — — — — — —
All Time High: Best of Rita Coolidge
  • Released: 1994
  • Label: A&M Records
  • Formats: CD
 — — — — — — —
The Collection — — — — — — —
Master Series
  • Released: 1999
  • Label: A&M Records
  • Formats: CD
 — — — — — — —
20th Century Masters – The Millenium Collection
  • Released: 2000
  • Label: A&M Records
  • Formats: CD
 — — — — — — —
Universal Masters Collection
  • Released: 2001
  • Label: A&M Records
  • Formats: CD
 — — — — — — —
Delta Lady – The Rita Coolidge Anthology
  • Released: 2004
  • Label: A&M Records
  • Formats: CD
 — — — — — — —

Singles

Year Single Peak chart positions Certification Album
US
 US
AC 		US
Country 		CA CA
AC 		CA
Country 		UK
 		AU
1969 "Turn Around and Love You" 96 — — — — — — — single only
1971 "I Believe in You" — — — 38 16 — — — Rita Coolidge
1972 "Fever" 76 — — — — — — — The Lady's Not for Sale
1973 "My Crew" flip 38 — — — — — —
"Whiskey, Whiskey" 106 — — — — — — —
"A Song I'd Like to Sing" (w/Kris Kristofferson) 49 12 92 53 3 54 — 97 Full Moon
1974 "Loving Arms" (w/Kris Kristofferson) 86 25 98 83 9 — — 96
"Mama Lou" — — 94 — — — — — Fall Into Spring
"Rain" (w/Kris Kristofferson) — 44 87 — 40 — — — Breakaway
1975 "Lover Please" (w/Kris Kristofferson) — 42 — — — — — —
1977 "(Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher" 2 5 — 1 3 — 48 6
  • RIAA: Gold
 Anytime...Anywhere
"We're All Alone" 7 1 82 5 1 — 6 32
  • RIAA: Gold
1978 "The Way You Do the Things You Do" 20 9 — 16 6 — — 74
"Words" — — — — — — 25 —
"You" 25 3 — 17 1 — — — Love Me Again
"The Jealous Kind" — — 63 — — — — —
"Love Me Again" 68 20 83 73 35 — — —
"Slow Dancer" — — — — — — — 60
1979 "Hello, Love, Goodbye" — — — — 27 — — —
"One Fine Day" 66 15 — 89 4 — — 68 Satisfied
"I'd Rather Leave While I'm in Love" 38 3 32 87 1 24 — —
1980 "Somethin' 'Bout You Baby I Like"
(w/Glen Campbell) 		42 39 60 — 36 23 — — Somethin' Bout You Baby I Like
(Glen Campbell album)
"Fool That I Am" 46 15 72 — — 52 — — Coast to Coast soundtrack
"We Could Stay Together" (w/Booker T. Jones) — — — — — — — 60 The Best of You (Booker T. Jones album)
1981 "Let's Go Dancing" (w/Booker T. Jones) — — — — — — — 60 Satisfied
"The Closer You Get" 103 — — — 16 — — — Heartbreak Radio
1983 "Lake Freeze" — — — — — — — — Lake Freeze – The Raccoons Songtrack
"All Time High" 36 1 — 38 1 — 75 80 Octopussy soundtrack
"Only You" — 37 — — — — — — Never Let You Go
1984 "Something Said Love" — 15 — — — — — — Inside the Fire
1990 "I Stand in Wonder" — — — 49 21 — — — Fire Me Back

References

  1. ^ Huey, Steve. "Rita Coolidge - Music Biography, Streaming Radio and Discography - AllMusic". AllMusic.
  2. ^ "Rita Coolidge". Recording Academy Grammy Awards. 19 November 2019.
  3. Abjorensen, Norman (2017). Historical Dictionary of Popular Music. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 113. ISBN 9781538102152.
  4. Charlotte Coolidge (obituary), Mendocino Beacon, August 23, 2012. Retrieved April 22, 2014.
  5. "Rita Coolidge - Songs, Albums & Age". 27 May 2020.
  6. ^ "Rita Coolidge - Southern Museum of Music Artist Hall of Fame Spotlight". Southern Museum of Music. Archived from the original on January 7, 2019. Retrieved 2019-11-10.
  7. "Rita Coolidge Biography". theuncool.com.
  8. ^ Palisin, Steve (April 17, 2014). "Rita Coolidge shares Myrtle Beach area memories and more ahead of concert in Brunswick County". The Sun News.
  9. ^ "Delta Spirit: Rita Coolidge Reflects on Delaney & Bonnie, Mad Dogs & Englishmen, "Layla" and More". Relix Media. October 25, 2016.
  10. Greenwald, Matthew. "Delta Lady - Leon Russell - Song Review". AllMusic.
  11. ^ Conroy, Catherine (April 12, 2016). "Rita Coolidge's tales of pain and hedonism from rock's inner circle". The Irish Times.
  12. "Layla's 40th: The Where's Eric! Interview With Bobby Whitlock". Where's Eric!. Archived from the original on 2020-10-24. Retrieved 2015-06-09.
  13. ^ "Rita Coolidge Chart History". Billboard.
  14. Huey, Steve. "Walela - Music Biography, Streaming Radio and Discography - AllMusic". AllMusic.
  15. "Walela Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic. Retrieved 2021-09-06.
  16. Coolidge, Rita; Walker, Michael (2016). Delta Lady: A Memoir. New York: Harper. ISBN 978-0062372048.
  17. Zimmer, Dave, and Diltz, Henry (1984). Crosby Stills & Nash: The Authorized Biography (First edition), St. Martin’s Press, ISBN 0-312-17660-0.
  18. Browne (2019). Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young: The Wild, Definitive Saga of Rock's Greatest Supergroup (First edition), Da Capo Press, ISBN 978-0306903281.
  19. Dodd, Johnny (March 23, 2016). "'70s Songbird Rita Coolidge on Her Former Husband Kris Kristofferson: We Still 'Have a Bond That Is Beyond Any Kind of Understanding'". People.
  20. "Rita Coolidge Marriage". American Profile. 2005-08-07. Retrieved 2018-07-14.
  21. "Former UCI Professor Pleads Guilty to Felony Conflict of Interest". Voice of OC. 27 February 2014. Retrieved 2018-07-14.
  22. "Vocal supporter - The San Diego Union-Tribune". utsandiego.com. Archived from the original on May 30, 2015.
  23. "Rita Coolidge launching series of US concerts tonight in support of new album - Music News - ABC News Radio". ABC News Radio. Archived from the original on 2018-07-14. Retrieved 2018-07-14.
  24. "Rita Coolidge, Joe Hutto join Authors in Apalach event". Tallahassee Democrat. Retrieved 2018-07-14.
  25. Flanigan, Tom. "Rita Coolidge Will Call Tallahassee Home. Again". Retrieved 2018-07-14.
  26. Stephenson, Hannah (May 9, 2016). "'1970s star Rita Coolidge talks music and mourning after sister's murder'". The Irish News. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  27. ^ "Rita Coolidge Album Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
  28. ^ "Rita Coolidge Album Chart History: Top Country Albums". Billboard. Retrieved October 15, 2018.
  29. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 73. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  30. ^ "CAN Charts > Rita Coolidge". RPM. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
  31. ^ Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970-2005. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
  32. ^ "Dutch Charts: Rita Coolidge". NET. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
  33. ^ "New Zealand Charts: Rita Coolidge". Official New Zealand Music Chart. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
  34. ^ "United Kingdom Charts: Rita Coolidge". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
  35. ^ "Searchable Database: Rita Coolidge". Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Retrieved January 12, 2020.
  36. ^ "Awards from Oz" (PDF). Cash Box. February 7, 1981. p. 31. Retrieved December 4, 2021 – via World Radio History.
  37. ^ "Searchable Database: Rita Coolidge". Official Charts Company (BPI). Retrieved January 12, 2020.
  38. ^ "Searchable Database: Rita Coolidge". Music Canada (MC). 8 December 1989. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
  39. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 119. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.

External links

Preceded by
Sheena Easton
For Your Eyes Only, 1981 		James Bond title artist
Octopussy ("All Time High"), 1983 		Succeeded by
Duran Duran
A View to a Kill, 1985
Rita Coolidge
Studio albums
Duet albums
Soundtrack albums
Compilation albums
Singles
Related topics
Categories: