the elvis artist

Posts tagged “Country Music”

FLASHBACK: SPECIAL TIMES, LORETTA LYNN

I had the good fortune of meeting Loretta Lynn in July 1969 where she was performing at the county fair in Mayfield, Ky. She was on the back of a flatbed truck, playing a guitar, barefoot, and the crowd loved her.

Over the next year we ran into each other in different towns as we were both traveling, her with concerts and me with my artwork.  In the early 70s we moved to Nashville.  Johnny Cash was doing his television show and we were back stage during the taping of an upcoming show that featured Loretta along with a number of other performers like Chet Atkins and Rick Nelson. At that time she was also still doing the Wilburn Brothers Show and the tapings were  at a local television studio  where  we were able to visit and watch. That was pretty exciting for a young 24 year old, and a music lover like me.

It was during one of these tapings that she and Mooney invited my husband and I to go with them on their next concert tour. I learned a lot about life on the road and had a wonderful time getting to know Loretta better. She is a marvelous, wonderful human being and a pleasure to spend time with. I have lived a blessed life and along the way encountered many wonderful people and Loretta is definitely one of those individuals I truly treasure, and consider myself very fortunate to have known.

Thought I would share with you some of the art I have done of Loretta Lynn and for her along with a few photos from my personal collection.

In 1972 I had my fourth child and named her, what else, Loretta Lynn Harper.

May 15, 2011 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , | Leave A Comment »

NASHVILLE: STUDIO B

Nashville’s Studio B

“HONOR THY MUSIC”

As Music City’s only historic studio tour, RCA’s Studio B provides a glimpse into the heart of Nashville music-making during one of its most exciting and classic periods. It was originally call RCA Studios and In the 60s it became famous for being a part of what was referred to as The Nashville Sound. The studio was built in 1957 at the request of Chet Atkins and Steve Sholes and Chet said the plans were drawn up on a napkin by Bill Miltenburg, who was RCA’s chief engineer and recording manager.

In 1992 it was donated to the Country Music Hall of Fame by the late Dan Maddox.  Now Studio B is co-operated by the Country Music Hall of Fame and Belmont University’s Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business program. Students use the facilities for learning the basic techniques of analog recording.

In its heyday, Studio B saw the creation of numerous chartbusters, such as Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You,” Elvis Presley’s “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” and Charley Pride’s “Kiss an Angel Good Morning.”

My first visit to the studio was 1977 to watch Ronnie McDowell record the music for Dick Clark’s movie “Elvis” starring Kurt Russell.

So if you should find yourself in Nashville or just have the “hankerin’” to visit be sure to experience Studio B, it is a special feeling and a mass of music history.

April 26, 2011 | Categories: recording studio | Tags: , , , , , , | Leave A Comment »

FLASHBACK ’63: BRENDA LEE AND FRANCE MILITARY BASE

The year was 1963, place France, and I was a junior in High School. Dad was in the Air Force stationed at Laon Air Base. The base did not provide a school. Each Sunday we were shipped out by shuttle  to Verdun for the week. On Friday we were back on the bus headed to Laon.

One weekend, I was invited by a class mate who lived in Metz to spend the weekend with her and attend a Brenda Lee concert at the Officer’s Club.  I prepared myself with a head drawing of Brenda (time was short) to hopefully get her autograph. The concert was wonderful. I did not get to meet Brenda but did get my autograph, thanks to her manager, Dub Allbritten.

Fast forward to 1970, Sunday afternoon and the phone rings, the voice on the other end was Brenda Lee. There had been an article in the Nashville Banner about my artwork. She had seen it, like it, and called to see if I would do a family portrait for them. Was I thrilled? Oh yeah! When I met with  her to discuss the portrait she wanted I brought along the drawing from 1963 she had signed. She could not believe I still had the art and in good shape considering how much we had to move. She did remember putting her autograph on the piece.

Side note: Away all week at school, our meals were served in the mess hall. The cooks were Air Force service men. One young Private that stood on the line at each meal and served us was a young man by the name of Frank Zappa…yes that Zappa.

April 9, 2011 | Categories: Female rock | Tags: , , , , , | Leave A Comment »