Ronnie McDowell stopped by Tiki Man Radio March 3, 2024

Ronnie McDowell has an amazing string of hit songs that he has amassed over the years,
but it is his riveting stage presence and genuine warmth that fills the seats again and again.
Like all great entertainers, Ronnie McDowell has a personality that remains luminous long
after the lights go dim. These qualities have inspired a nationwide network of fan-clubs with
thousands of members, each one a devoted promoter of everything McDowell does.
Following the death of Elvis Presley in 1977, Ronnie McDowell came out of nowhere to
dazzle the world with his heartfelt and self-penned tribute song “The King Is Gone” on the
independent Scorpion label. The record took off immediately, gaining airplay on country
and pop stations across the country and around the world. To date, “The King Is Gone” has
sold more than 5 Million copies.
All of a sudden, the young Vietnam Veteran from Portland, Tennessee was a star, and he
quickly proved that he wasn’t just a one-trick pony. McDowell scored a second hit for the
Scorpion label titled “I Love You, I Love You, I Love You” before being wooed and signed
by CBS Records - Epic label in 1979.
Ronnie McDowell charted a string of hit singles and albums for Epic between 1979 and
1986. Every single release with the exception of just one became a Top 10 Hit including the
chart toppers “Older Women” and “You’re Gonna Ruin My Bad Reputation.” Other hits
during his Epic years included “Watchin Girls Go By,” “Personally,” “You Made A Wanted
Man Of Me,” “All Tied Up,” and “In A New York Minute.”
McDowell toured constantly to support each album release and consequently built an
astounding fan base throughout the country. He sought the advice of artists such as
Conway Twitty who became, in essence, not only his mentor but his friend as well. Twitty
helped the young singer with advise about touring, recording and most of all entertaining
the fans. Twitty was certainly the master and Ronnie McDowell quickly became his prize
pupil.
Moving to Curb Records in 1986, his current label to date, McDowell scored a Top 10 hit
with “It’s Only Make Believe,” a duet with Conway Twitty on what was Twitty’s
breakthrough hit from 1958. Two years later Ronnie teamed up with Jerry Lee Lewis for a
rocking duet that McDowell wrote titled,”You’re Never Too Old To Rock N’ Roll.” He also
recorded yet another Top 10 hit with his version of the pop standard “Unchained Melody,”
which also became a #1 country music video. To date, McDowell has scored over 30 top
ten records. His entertaining abilities soared and he began to draw larger crowds. He
started appearing in larger venues and touring with artists such as Conway Twitty, Tammy
Wynette and Loretta Lynn before headlining his own shows.
Two of McDowell’s most recent projects on Curb Records include an album of beach music
with Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Bill Pinkney’s Original Drifters, entitled, “Ronnie McDowell
with Bill Pinkney’s Original Drifters”. The second project is a new country album titled
“Ronnie McDowell Country”, a collection of six new McDowell penned songs, and a few
country standards by such Legendary writers as Buck Owens, Harlan Howard and Dallas
Frazier.
Ronnie McDowell is still constantly in demand on the road and he tours relentlessly with his
band. Additionally, he often tours with Elvis Presley’s original sideman D.J. Fontana along
with Ray Walker a longtime member of The Jordanaires staging a tribute to Elvis Presley’s
music. Ronnie McDowell sang 36 songs on the soundtrack “Elvis,” the Dick Clark-produced
television movie that featured Kurt Russell as the performer. He also was the singing voice
for the television movie “Elvis And Me”, the ABC television series about the early years of
Elvis’ career titled simply “Elvis” as well as, the 1997 Showtime special “Elvis Meets Nixon.”
While Elvis Presley has played a big part in Ronnie McDowell’s musical career over the
years, Ronnie continues to entertain audiences with his own blend of romantic intimacy and
country excitement! He looks great, he sounds great, and judging from the longtime
adoration of his fans, he seems to grow better with each passing year!
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[@hayse50]

Good to see Mr. McDowell...great entertainer.

[@pamelamcginnis606]

Great interview with Ronnie McDowell.