The billboard of Elvis from Betty Harper’s original American Trilogy was revealed in ’78. This was the first official act to publicly pay tribute to the cities lustrous citizen and to welcome all those coming to Memphis just because of Elvis.
May 9, 2011 | Categories: Flashbacks, elvis | Tags: betty harper, billboard, elvis, king of rock and roll, music, rock and roll, rockabilly | Leave A Comment »
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: brenda lee, Country Music, early rock, little miss dynamite, rock and roll, Verdun France Metz | Leave A Comment »
The mug pictured is one of the first souvenirs produced in the early 80′s by ELVIS PRESLEY ENTERPRISES, that used my artwork. In the beginning most merchandise was produced in Japan but through the years that has changed. This particular mug measures 3 ¼” with a diameter of 2 ¼” with a gold band around the lip and one that runs down the middle of the handle. It is the only example of this product that I have.
The original art, titled, “Satisfaction”, was part of my first book , “Newly Discovered Drawings of Elvis”( Bantam, 1979 ) and the original is in the private collection of Actor, Writer, James Ritz.
March 28, 2011 | Categories: Elvis Products, Uncategorized, elvis | Tags: ceramic mug, elvis, rock and roll, Souvenir | 3 Comments »
Elvis’ record producer, Felton Jarvis, called the end of August 1977 and asked me to do a portrait of Elvis for him. Felton said he had seen a lot of Elvis artwork and everything that Elvis had and wanted me to do the portrait. He had a particular time and situation that he wanted painted and that was when Elvis did the Aloha special. Felton loved the part where the sweat was rolling down Elvis’ face, said it looked like a tear drop. He also said, “that was a happy time for Elvis,” that he was so excited about the show and was really in top form.
We met in the office of Jerry Bradley at RCA on Music Row in October, I had just finished the painting and it was still very wet but he wanted it as soon as possible. Looking at the photo you can see how Felton is holding his left hand to make sure it did not touch the canvas.
February 18, 2011 | Categories: elvis, music producers | Tags: CD, country music hall of fame, elvis, Felton Jarvis, music, music city, nashville, RCA, records, rock and roll | Leave A Comment »
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