Two-time Grammy-winning singer Rita Coolidge visits the Egyptian Theatre to perform songs from her new album—and the classic tracks. KPCW’s Emily Means has more.
Rita Coolidge released her 18th solo album, “Safe in the Arms of Time,” in May 2018, after years away from the studio. With a career spanning nearly five decades, Coolidge decided now was the moment to skip the record companies’ artistic direction and make an album that was true to herself.
“Real personal record. I spent two and a half, close to three years choosing songs and finding the musicians and my producers and formulating this whole record," Coolidge said. "It really has been the most important record in my career and certainly the one that I’ve spent the most time working on.”
Coolidge partnered with blues artist Keb’ Mo’ for two of the songs on the record. She has known Keb’ Mo’ for decades—he and his wife even attended Coolidge’s wedding last year—and she says that, many years ago, Keb’ Mo’ predicted he and Coolidge would make music together someday.
“He told me one time, when we were working on some music, Keb said, 'When you were at A&M and you were riding high on those big hits, I was working at A&R doing ranging, and I’d see you walk across the lot and I’d say someday I’m going to work with her,'" Coolidge said. "So when we went to Nashville two summers ago and wrote music together, it was just a dream come true for me.”
Coolidge will be performing the hits as well as songs from the new album. She’s bringing a live band with her to the Egyptian Theatre, with performances Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. For ticket information, visit parkcityshows.com.
