LEGENDS | Claudia Lennear -- Exclusive Interview, Part 1

Claudia Lennear is one of the most well-known and successful background vocalists of all time. Since the late 1960s, she has supported some of the era's most well-known musicians and performed at some of the most significant and life-changing musical events.

In 1967, she became a member of Ike and Tina Turner's backing choir, The Ikettes. In just three years, she was featured on dozens of TV shows, toured the world (including opening for The Rolling Stones on their 1969 American tour), and recorded eight albums, culminating in the Turners' all-time biggest song, #4 "Proud Mary."

Christened by the LeonLifers as "Music Royalty," she was a background vocalist for Joe Cocker’s Mad Dogs and Englishmen and George Harrison’s Concert for Bangladesh.  Claudia was a member of Leon Russell's Shelter People and the inspiration behind songs such as “A Song For You” and “This Masquerade,” written by Leon Russell, “Brown Sugar” by Mick Jagger, and David Bowie’s “Lady Grinning Soul.”  In 2019, Lennear was inducted in the Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame.  She is featured in the 2013 Oscar-winning Documentary 20 Feet from Stardom.

Claudia currently teaches Spanish, French, and English at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, California.

Names and Places mentioned in this video:

Paul Simon
Tina Turner 
Ike Turner
Ikettes
Gram Parsons
Leon Russell
Rita Coolidge
David Bowie
Mick Jagger
Rolling Stones
The Superbs
Magnificent Montague
Phil Spector
Gladys Knight
Etta James
Doré Records
Joe Cocker
Mad Dogs and Englishmen
Shelter People
Tulsa Sound
Tulsa
Carla Brown

Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma at the historic Harwelden Mansion
Interviewee: Claudia Lennear
Producer and Interviewer: Teresa Knox
Cinematography and Editing: Matthew Simonson, Austin Howerton
Stinger Music: Written and Recorded by Cade Roberts

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