The Magic of a Tale: Elvis is King!

The widely known freelance artist Ole Ohlendorff has made a name for himself nationally and internationally with his portraits "Dead Rock Heads" (#DRH). With what is probably the world’s largest series of this kind, he created an impressive posthumous artistic memorial to many deceased musicians. On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the "Dead Rock Heads" series, Ohlendorff created a unique and emotional project. In "The Magic of a Tale – Spilling the beans", the paintings of deceased stars are brought to life "in memoriam" through all the more vivid stories of contemporary witnesses and companions. In a short period of time, more than 30 great "voice patreons" came together to talk "in honour" of their great idols "from their personal secrets", or: "spilling the beans".

Gunter Gabriel, now a deceased legend himself, talks to Dr. Stephan Kaußen about Johnny Cash. Ingo Pohlmann goes into raptures remembering Phil Lynott of "Thin Lizzy", Steffi Stephan of the Panikorchester talks about the Dutch rock singer Herman Brood and the "Queen of Heavy Metal", Doro Pesch celebrates her friendship with Lemmy Kilmister, the legendary "Mr. Motörhead". A "Rest in Peace" has probably never been more emotional than in this impressive collection of unique audio documents.

But who do you think is the biggest of all these "Dead Rock Stars"?

Elvis, of course! Elvis Presley is the King! He shaped an entire era. Even "Beatle in Chief" John Lennon paid homage to Elvis as the "best damn singer of all time". Elvis was and remains the King of Rock’n’Roll. But for the singer/songwriter Norman Keil, born in 1980 in Erfurt in the "wild east", Elvis was much more than that. For him, Elvis was pure revelation, freedom personified, the promise, swaying in the hips and vibrating in the voice, that there was a world out there beyond the queues for consumer goods. No wonder, then, that he became the "voice godfather" for the Elvis Presley painting on The Magic of a Tale. But Norman did not only dedicate a moving story to the "King". He also wrote his own song! In "Elvis" he describes the moment when he set off with his family to the colourful republic of Germany after reunification and heard Elvis‘ voice for the first time on a cassette in the Walkman of his "aunt from the West". It beamed him from there behind the crumbling "iron curtain" straight to Memphis, or more precisely, to Elvis‘ ranch Graceland! This is "The Magic of Music".

Although Norman Keil wrote this moving song exclusively for "Ohlendorff-Art" and "The Magic of a Tale", "Elvis" is so moving for Norman Keil himself and such a biographical milestone that it could appear on his next album.

If you would like to experience this song and are curious, come to an Ole Ohlendorff exhibition or visit Norman Keil on his concert tour. For now, this story can only be experienced here.

Norman Keil online:
https://www.norman-keil.com/
https://www.facebook.com/NormanKeil
https://www.instagram.com/normankeil/ 

Ole Ohlendorff online:
https://ohlendorff-art.de/
https://www.facebook.com/Ohlendorff.Art
https://www.instagram.com/ohlendorff_art/ 

Our Hashtags:
#oleohlendorff #ohlendorffart #deadrockheads #themagicofatale #tmoat #spillingthebeans #rocklegendsalive #deadrockstars #deceasedartists #diedstars #combiful #elvispresley #elvis #normankeil

Lyrics: Ben Boles & combiful GmbH

Photocredit: Picnetics, Stephan Klement, Ole Ohlendorff

Key visual credit: Picnetics, Mog