SHORT TAKES : Tribute to Elvis Goes Country

NASHVILLE —  Country music singer Robin Lee knew a great song when she heard it and has turned a No. 1 rock ‘n’ roll tribute to Elvis Presley into a country hit.

She heard Alannah Myles’ version of “Black Velvet” a year ago when the song was a hit in Canada and had just been released in the United States.

“I would listen to it while I ran and thought, ‘I’ve got a great song. What better thing to do, a song about Elvis?’ ” she said.

“And I knew country radio would never play that version, because it’s that hard-driving rock ‘n’ roll.”

So Lee recorded “Black Velvet” in a country style, and her version has become her first top 10 hit.