COOLIDGE, RITA
(*1944)
COOLIDGE, RITA (b. Nashville, Tenn., May 1, 1944) Somewhat of a marginal presence in country, Coolidge is best remembered for her 1970s marriage to KRIS KRISTOFFERSON and the duets they recorded together, and her middle-of-the-road hit, 1977's (Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher, a cover of the old pop tune by Jackie Wilson . Coolidge began performing nearly at birth as a member of her father's GOSPEL choir. Her parents also encouraged her to play gospel-styled piano. When she was a…