We’re proud to announce the signing of worldwide publishing deals with two acclaimed writer/artists, Roberta Flack and Rita Coolidge.
Four-time Grammy award winner Roberta Flack released a series of critically and commercially acclaimed pop/soul albums through the 1970’s and ‘80s, landing 21 singles on the Billboard charts including #1’s “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face”, “Killing Me Softly” and “Feel Like Makin’ Love”. Throughout her award-winning career, she has earned as much respect as a pianist as a vocalist, playing and arranging all of her often complex jazz, soul and blues influenced recordings and live performances. She’s also taken every opportunity to advocate for social justice and income equality through her music and in her public life. While she did not write the great majority of her chart singles, she brings to Mojo a tasty collection of songs from her heyday including “And So It Goes” (a collaboration with poet Maya Angelou), “Mood” (an evocative piano instrumental recorded by Donny Hathaway) as well as their duet “Only Heaven Can Wait”, “Ballad For D” from the 1981 Richard Pryor/Cicely Tyson film Bustin’ Loose and several collaborations with Peabo Bryson including “Can We Find Love Again” and “Make This World Stand Still”.
Working prolifically across the same two decades, two-time Grammy winning artist Rita Coolidge released 14 studio albums which yielded 17 Pop singles including her 1977 covers of Jackie Wilson’s “(You’re Love Has Lifted Me) Higher And Higher” and Boz Scaggs’ “We’re All Alone” as well as “All Time High”, from the 1983 James Bond film Octopussy. Among the best known of Rita’s own compositions are “Fallen Angel”, a 1979 collaboration recorded by her then-husband Kris Kristofferson and “Cherokee Morning Song”, an interpretation of a traditional Native American song recorded with Robbie Robertson. In the 90’s, Rita returned to her Cherokee roots forming Walela with her sister, Priscilla, and niece, Laura Satterfield. Their two albums released in 1997 and 2000 feature such standout tracks as “Circle Of Light”, “Cherokee Rose” and “Bright Morning Stars”. Her published works also include an original Christmas song, “Circle Of Light” and a beautiful adaptation of “Amazing Grace”.
According to Mojo’s Founder and CEO Mark Fried, “I often say that our roster reflects our record collections. This couldn’t be more true in the case of Roberta Flack and Rita Coolidge, two pioneering songwriters, musicians and activists whose music left an indelible mark on music of the last half century. While most everyone knows the songs they made famous, we’re excited to have the opportunity to shine a light on their own unique and powerful compositions.”
Said Joan Martin, Roberta Flack’s Business Manager, “Mark Fried and the Mojo Team were highly recommended by trusted songwriter colleagues. After years of self-administration, we are thrilled to work with an experienced and motivated group of heartfelt music lovers and savvy music business folks for both business tidiness and optimal music placement.”
Said Rita Coolidge, “I am excited to be working with Mark and the amazing team he’s built at Mojo and honored to be a part of this musical family”. Added her manager, Nelly Neben of Axis Management, “I welcome the new energy and creativity that the Mojo staff will bring to Rita’s catalog. Rita is in great musical company on their roster!”