Old theatres such as the Roxy in Russellville, Ala. are more than just brick and mortar to Ronnie McDowell. For him they represent everything he loves about still performing.

“There is a theatre like the Roxy up near my hometown of Portland, Tenn. and I love to perform there,” McDowell said. “There is something about those smaller, older theatres that is just special.

“They sound great and they look great and for a lot of the communities they are more than just a theatre, they are a part of their community,” McDowell said.

McDowell has been coming to Russellville since 1990 and said that this year, his 25^th, will be just as special as ever.

“I love coming down there to perform because the fans are great,” McDowell said. “The president of my fan club, Wanda Myrick, is down there and she keeps bringing me in so I keep coming back. I really enjoy performing in Russellville.”

McDowell, who rose to fame in 1977 with his hit song, “The King is Gone,” said he will be performing some of his older songs, but also some new material as well.

“I’m going to be doing a lot of my older stuff, a lot of my hits, but I’ve got some new material that is just great,” he said. “I have a new song called ‘Red, Yellow, Black and White’ that is geared toward the whole world.”

McDowell said he still enjoys performing these days and though country music has evolved he has evolved with it.

“Ever since I was a little kid and heard Hank Williams I knew what I wanted to do,” he said. “Music goes through cycles, much like anything else, but I notice that and I’ve gone through cycles with it.

“It is constantly evolving, but I like the way it evolves,” he said.

McDowell pointed to Bruno Mars as a modern artist that he keeps up with and respects.

“I think he is really talented and that song, ‘Uptown Funk,’ is just a great song,” he said. “And I like a lot of the newer country these days, but it seems more like ‘70s rock and roll than what I consider country music. But you see, that is just how music evolves.”

Don’t expect McDowell to be covering any of Bruno Mars’s songs this Saturday, but do expect him to bring out the applause with some of his classics as well as some of his new material.

McDowell and his band will be performing at the Roxy Theatre in downtown Russellville on Saturday, March 21.

The concert will be a tribute to Ms. Millie Kirkham who passed away Dec. 14, 2014. Tickets are on sale now and are $30 and $25 for lower level seating and $20 for balcony seats. All tickets are general admission.

To purchase tickets call 256-332-3270 or 256-415-3270.