Elvis Singer Becomes Elvis Painter.

[presley31]

TUPELO - The "voice" of Elvis Presley spent five months rendering the image of Tupelo's favorite son.

"This painting, to me, says everything that needs to be said about Elvis," Ronnie McDowell said of his work, "Remembering the King."

Wednesday, he donated a framed print to the Elvis Presley Birthplace and Museum. The art depicts a 10-year-old boy holding a guitar and looking into a mirror in a room modeled after the Birthplace.

The reflection is considerably older with familiar black hair, purple shirt and a suggestive look in his eyes.

"The look says, Are you really sure we want to get into this and die at 42?'" said McDowell, a Hendersonville, Tenn., resident.

The painting was McDowell's way of marking the 30th anniversary of Elvis' death.

The country singer got his first taste of fame with "The King is Gone," which he wrote in 1977 after learning the music had died. The song helped jumpstart a career that's included hits like "Older Women" and "You're Gonna Ruin My Bad Reputation."

The connection with Elvis persists. When a television or movie company needs an Elvis song, Ronnie McDowell gets the call. It can cost "a blue fortune" to buy rights to original recordings, McDowell said.

"I've done 12 movies, 29 commercials and one Twilight Zone,'" McDowell said. "How cool can that be? I'm still getting royalty checks for Twilight Zone.'"

McDowell's never had an art lesson, but he's painted throughout his life. He began "Remembering the King" in April and finished in August.

"This painting is exactly what I saw in my brain," McDowell said. "I just wanted to do something special, something to honor Elvis."


2007/09/28 By M. Scott Morris - Daily Journal / www.epgold.com

[Diane]

Thank you for posting this article Jen. I always loved Ronnie's voice, closest thing to Elvis in my opinion and I can't wait to see his painting!

Diane