Arts council welcomes McDowell back to perform at historic Roxy Theatre

Country music artist Ronnie McDowell will return to the Historic Roxy Theatre in downtown Russellville on Aug. 2 at 7 p.m., continuing a 30-year tradition of performing in Russellville.

Franklin County Commissioner Joseph Baldwin will provide pre-show entertainment. The Vina native won the Alabama Tourism Department’s “Alabama Year of Music Songwriters Contest.” He has performed at festivals across Alabama and in nearby states.

Tickets are $15 for general admission and range from $20-$35 for reserved spots. For information, call Wanda Myrick at 256-415-3270.

Joseph Baldwin will perform the opening act.

McDowell’s upcoming show comes during the Roxy’s 75th anniversary year. Also a visual artist, he created a new portrait of the theater to commemorate the milestone. He will make 75 signed prints available for $75 each. Proceeds will support continued maintenance and preservation of the Roxy. In 2002, McDowell painted his first portrait of the Roxy to help raise funds. Fans and supporters purchased more than 1,000 prints.

Wanda Myrick, a longtime member of the Franklin County Arts and Humanities Council and former president of McDowell’s fan club, has coordinated each of his local performances.

“Through the years, he has formed friendships with so many in Russellville that he is more like our own hometown boy who made it big,” Myrick said.

McDowell is best known for his 1977 hit “The King Is Gone,” a tribute to Elvis Presley that sold more than 5 million copies.

He has charted more than 30 Top 40 singles on the Billboard country music charts, including No. 1 hits “Older Women” and “You’re Gonna Ruin My Bad Reputation.” He has performed with entertainers including Conway Twitty, Tammy Wynette, Jerry Lee Lewis, Wayne Newton and Loretta Lynn.

McDowell provided the singing voice of Elvis in several television productions, including the 1979 film “Elvis” starring Kurt Russell, “Elvis and Me,” the ABC series “Elvis” and the Showtime special “Elvis Meets Nixon.” Alongside his music career, McDowell paints subjects including Elvis Presley, George Jones, Dolly Parton, Johnny Depp and Walt Disney.