JIM REEVES FAN FORUM: Re: Bill Rains, Bilings, MT

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Re: Bill Rains, Bilings, MT

Posted by Mike Slater on June 22, 2008, 5:59 pm, in reply to "Bill Rains, Bilings, MT"
205.188.117.201

Joyce, I found your story about sculptor Bill Rains quite fascinating. I'm not sure if I've ever seen any of his work, but from what you've said, he must be very good. A few questions: Where is the sculpture of Jim today because I would really like to see it! I wanted to hear more about the Elvis sculpture as well. You said that you and Bill had delivered it to Graceland in 1986. Did you present it to Priscilla or Lisa Marie Presley? Is it on display at Graceland today? I've always been intrigued by the relationship between Jim and Elvis, probably because not a lot has been written about it. I've heard Jim make a few comments here and there about Elvis, but I've never heard or read any comments from Elvis about Jim. I know they worked together briefly on the Hayride but I always wondered what they thought of each other as performers.

--Previous Message--
: Hi Everyone:
:
: On Jun2 29th. Bronze Sculptor, Bill Rains
: will be unveiling his bigger than life
: bronze of baseball's great Dave McNally.
: Dave was with the Baltimore Orioles and I'm
: told that he is the only professional
: pitcher to have hit a grand slam home run in
: a World Series game. He passed away about 5
: years ago.
:
: This will probably be Bills last bigger than
: life bronze of a human being. Prior to this
: one Bill did some country music artists and
: some old west figures.
:
: Jim was the very first country artist that
: Bill did, but it was only 30 inches high.
: He did one of Ernest Tubb the same way.
: Later David McCormick, owner of The Ernest
: Tubb Record Shops commissioned Bill to do a
: bigger than life bronze of Ernest which is
: located at The ErnestTubb Record Shop in the
: Music Valley area of Nashville.
:
: He has also done Hank Williams, Sr., Johnny
: Cash (Johnny cried when he saw his), Hank
: Snow, Buck Owens, George Jones, Merle
: Haggard and Willie Nelson. Of the newer
: artists, he has done Garth Brooks.
:
: Bill has invited me to come and be a part of
: the unveiling as he says I am a part of his
: history and since I have known him since
: 1975 and worked with him in selecting photos
: for the one of Jim, I guess I am a little
: part of his history.
:
: In 1986, we took the 3-phase bronze of Elvis
: that Bill had done to Memphis and to
: Graceland. Bill, his wife Melissa and their
: son Dustin had stayed with me and we all
: took it using my "Country
: Cadillac" (a pontiac station wagon)and
: a U-Haul.
:
: I am very honored to be asked to be a part
: of Bill's history and will be driving to
: Billings on the 28th. Jim is still keeping
: folks together because if it wasn't for Bill
: wanting to do Jim, I would never have met
: him. This sort of thing along with of
: course his music is what makes Jim the
: legend that he is.
:
: Just wanted to share this with you and again
: thank you for being loyal fans and friends
: to Jim.
:
: Always for you Jim
:
: Joyce
:

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Re: Bill Rains, Bilings, MT - Doris Gath June 23, 2008, 6:51 am

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--Previous Message-- : Joyce, I found your story about sculptor Bill : Rains quite fascinating. I'm not sure if : I've ever seen any of his work, but from : what you've said, he must be very good. A : few questions: Where is the sculpture of Jim : today because I would really like to see it! : I wanted to hear more about the Elvis : sculpture as well. You said that you and : Bill had delivered it to Graceland in 1986. : Did you present it to Priscilla or Lisa : Marie Presley? Is it on display at : Graceland today? I've always been intrigued : by the relationship between Jim and Elvis, : probably because not a lot has been written : about it. I've heard Jim make a few comments : here and there about Elvis, but I've never : heard or read any comments from Elvis about : Jim. I know they worked together briefly on : the Hayride but I always wondered what they : thought of each other as performers. : : --Previous Message-- : Hi Everyone: : : On Jun2 29th. Bronze Sculptor, Bill Rains : will be unveiling his bigger than life : bronze of baseball's great Dave McNally. : Dave was with the Baltimore Orioles and I'm : told that he is the only professional : pitcher to have hit a grand slam home run in : a World Series game. He passed away about 5 : years ago. : : This will probably be Bills last bigger than : life bronze of a human being. Prior to this : one Bill did some country music artists and : some old west figures. : : Jim was the very first country artist that : Bill did, but it was only 30 inches high. : He did one of Ernest Tubb the same way. : Later David McCormick, owner of The Ernest : Tubb Record Shops commissioned Bill to do a : bigger than life bronze of Ernest which is : located at The ErnestTubb Record Shop in the : Music Valley area of Nashville. : : He has also done Hank Williams, Sr., Johnny : Cash (Johnny cried when he saw his), Hank : Snow, Buck Owens, George Jones, Merle : Haggard and Willie Nelson. Of the newer : artists, he has done Garth Brooks. : : Bill has invited me to come and be a part of : the unveiling as he says I am a part of his : history and since I have known him since : 1975 and worked with him in selecting photos : for the one of Jim, I guess I am a little : part of his history. : : In 1986, we took the 3-phase bronze of Elvis : that Bill had done to Memphis and to : Graceland. Bill, his wife Melissa and their : son Dustin had stayed with me and we all : took it using my "Country : Cadillac" (a pontiac station wagon)and : a U-Haul. : : I am very honored to be asked to be a part : of Bill's history and will be driving to : Billings on the 28th. Jim is still keeping : folks together because if it wasn't for Bill : wanting to do Jim, I would never have met : him. This sort of thing along with of : course his music is what makes Jim the : legend that he is. : : Just wanted to share this with you and again : thank you for being loyal fans and friends : to Jim. : : Always for you Jim : : Joyce : : :

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