Rita Coolidge

Rita Coolidge – Life, Career, and Memorable Quotes

Rita Coolidge (born May 1, 1945) is an American singer-songwriter celebrated for hits across pop, country, jazz and adult contemporary genres. Explore her biography, musical journey, collaborations, legacy, and her own words of wisdom.

Rita Coolidge (born May 1, 1945) is an American vocalist whose work in the 1970s and 1980s spanned multiple genres and earned her both critical acclaim and popular success. Her recordings include “(Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher,” “We’re All Alone,” and the James Bond theme “All Time High.”

Early Life and Family

Rita Coolidge was born in Lafayette, Tennessee, the daughter of Dick Coolidge (a minister) and Charlotte Coolidge (a schoolteacher).

She grew up singing in church and with her sisters (Linda and Priscilla), forming early musical bonds that would later bear fruit.

Coolidge attended Florida State University, where she studied art and graduated in 1967.

Musical Career & Achievements

From Backing Singer to Rising Solo Star

Rita Coolidge’s early career involved work as a backing vocalist. She sang backup for artists such as Joe Cocker, Leon Russell, Stephen Stills, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, Dave Mason, and Graham Nash. Mad Dogs & Englishmen tour, she was one of the vocalists featured.

She was affectionately dubbed “The Delta Lady,” and Leon Russell composed a song by the same name in tribute.

Her solo career began in earnest in the early 1970s, releasing albums that showcased her breadth as a singer across styles—pop, soft rock, country, adult contemporary, and even jazz.

Peak Success & Hits

Coolidge’s breakthrough commercial success came in the late 1970s:

• Her 1977 album Anytime…Anywhere yielded several hits:
   • “(Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher”
   • “We’re All Alone”
   • “The Way You Do the Things You Do”
   • “You”

• She also recorded the James Bond theme “All Time High” for Octopussy (1983).

• Over her career, her songs charted on Billboard’s pop, country, adult contemporary, and jazz charts—reflecting her genre versatility.

Coolidge won two Grammy Awards—first in 1974 for “From the Bottle to the Bottom” (duo with Kris Kristofferson) and again in 1976 for “Lover Please.”

Collaborations, Projects & Later Work

• Duets & marriage with Kris Kristofferson. Coolidge married Kris Kristofferson in 1973. Together they recorded duet albums (e.g. Full Moon, Breakaway) and toured with a combined band.

• Walela. In 1997, she co-founded the vocal trio Walela, with her sister Priscilla and Priscilla’s daughter, Laura Satterfield. The group drew on Native American themes (Walela means “hummingbird” in Cherokee).

• Throughout the 1990s, 2000s, and onward, Coolidge continued recording—venturing into jazz and standards (for instance her 2006 album And So Is Love) and performing.

• In 2017, she moved back to Florida and engaged in environmental and wildlife preservation work.

• Her memoir Delta Lady: A Memoir was published in 2016, recounting her life, relationships, and experiences in the music industry.

Context & Milestones

• Coolidge’s rise came in a time when crossover between pop, country, adult contemporary, and even jazz was less common. Her ability to traverse those genres helped broaden the musical palettes of radio and audiences.

• Her work in Mad Dogs & Englishmen and backing major rock and blues artists placed her at the heart of 1970s rock culture.

• The 1970s and ’80s were also a time when female vocalists were carving new space for interpretive and expressive voices in popular music—and Coolidge’s clear, emotive style and her interpretive sensitivity contributed to that shift.

• Her embracing of her Native American background (culturally, musically) via Walela added depth to her identity as an artist in a music world that often overlooked indigenous heritage in mainstream genres.

Legacy and Influence

• Genre fluidity: Coolidge showed that a singer could successfully move among pop, country, jazz, folk, and adult contemporary without losing coherence or audience.

• Artistry & interpretation: She is often celebrated not for flashy vocal acrobatics but for her emotional touch, phrasing, and ability to “inhabit” a song.

• Mentor and collaborator: Her work with other major artists, backing roles, and duet albums extend her influence beyond solo stardom.

• Cultural voice: Through Walela and her heritage, she gave voice to Native American musical and cultural identity within mainstream spaces.

• Endurance: Her career spans over five decades, with continued recording and performing well into her later years.

Personality and Artistic Philosophy

From interviews and statements, Coolidge comes across as reflective, open-hearted, and deeply musical. She has said she “chooses things by how they resonate in my heart.”

She described herself as an “open book” in her artistry:

“You know, I’m pretty much an open book.”

Coolidge has also remarked on the challenge and humility of working with jazz musicians:

“I think the challenges for me was to go into the studio with these incredible jazz players and come up to their level of excellence. That’s always a challenge.”

She expresses a deep love for jazz and her desire to explore that side of her voice:

“Possibly, I should have been a jazz singer from the beginning.”

On opportunity and the passage of time, she observes:

“Too often, the opportunity knocks, but by the time you push back the chain, push back the bolt, unhook the two locks … it’s too late.”

These quotes reflect her emotional honesty, humility in the face of great musicianship, and sensitivity to timing in life and career.

Famous Quotes of Rita Coolidge

Here are some of her well-known statements:

• “I choose things by how they resonate in my heart.”

• “You know, I’m pretty much an open book.”

• “I think the challenges for me was to go into the studio with these incredible jazz players and come up to their level of excellence. That’s always a challenge.”

• “Possibly, I should have been a jazz singer from the beginning.”

• “Too often, the opportunity knocks … by the time you push back the chain … it’s too late.”

• “I say what’s in my heart, and I do it in my concerts.”

• “I’ve got my whole life. There’s a lifetime of experience … it makes me a richer human being.”

Lessons from Rita Coolidge’s Journey

1. Let emotional resonance guide your choices. Coolidge’s own quote about choosing what resonates in her heart suggests that authenticity in one’s art (and life) often trumps external trends.

2. Be open and vulnerable. Her “open book” approach in her concerts and music allowed audiences to connect to her sincerity.

3. Challenge yourself with humility. Taking on jazz work with “incredible jazz players” shows she did not shy from pushing beyond her comfort zone.

4. Embrace late starts and shifts. Even though she began in supporting roles, she grew into a solo artist; also, her later turn into jazz and heritage music shows ongoing growth.

5. Timing matters—act when the door opens. Her quote about opportunity underscores the importance of readiness and responsiveness in life.

Conclusion

Rita Coolidge’s story is one of versatility, depth, and heartfelt expression. From gospel roots and backing vocals to hit tours and solo success, she has navigated the music world with grace and integrity. Her voice—at once warm, sensitive, expressive—remains a bridge across genres and eras.