Priscilla Coolidge

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Priscilla Coolidge (1941 – October 2, 2014)[1] was an American recording artist and sister of singer Rita Coolidge.

Life and career[]

Coolidge was born in Lafayette, Tennessee. Between 1969 and 1979, she was married to Booker T. Jones, who produced Coolidge's first solo album, 1970's Gypsy Queen.[2] Then the pair collaborated as a duo on three albums: 1971's Booker T. & Priscilla; 1972's Home Grown; and 1973's Chronicles, which included the song "Time", written by her sister Rita, which was allegedly "borrowed" by drummer Jim Gordon (formerly of Eric Clapton's band Derek and the Dominos and Rita's former boyfriend) and became the famous instrumental piano coda at the end of "Layla"). Jones produced Priscilla's final solo album, Flying, in 1979; their marriage ended that year.[3]

In 1981 Coolidge married TV journalist/broadcaster/reporter Ed Bradley.[4] Her marriage to Bradley ended in divorce, and she later married Michael Seibert.

Walela[]

In 1997, Coolidge was one of the founding members of Walela, a Native American music trio, that also included Coolidge's sister Rita, plus 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.[5] Walela means hummingbird in Cherokee. Coolidge considered this group important not only in honoring her Cherokee ancestors, but also in bringing their culture to others.[citation needed]

Death[]

Seibert and Coolidge were found dead in their home in Thousand Oaks, California. On October 2, 2014,[1] in what the local police later described as a murder–suicide, after the couple were heard by neighbors in a heated argument. Seibert shot Priscilla in the head, and soon after killed himself.[6]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "Albums by Priscilla Coolidge: Discography, songs, biography, and listening guide". Rateyourmusic.com. 2014-10-02. Retrieved 2015-06-12.
  2. ^ "Gypsy Queen - Priscilla Coolidge | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-06-12.
  3. ^ Megan Diskin (2014-10-04). "Murder-suicide victim was sister of Rita Coolidge". Vcstar.com. Retrieved 2015-06-12.
  4. ^ Steinberg, Jacques (November 10, 2006). "Ed Bradley, TV Correspondent, Dies at 65". The New York Times. Retrieved August 1, 2015.
  5. ^ Steve Leggett (2007-08-14). "Best of Walela - Walela | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-06-12.
  6. ^ Whitnall, Becca. "Murder-suicide shocks Sunset Hills neighborhood". Toacorn.com. Archived from the original on 2015-06-03. Retrieved 2015-06-12.
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