Midwest Music and Heritage Trail begins with Carmichael and Patton
RICHMOND, Ind. — What if Hoagy Carmichael and Charley Patton could play together from the Elstro Plaza stage?
Would they play Carmichael's "Stardust" or Patton's "Pony Blues"? Or maybe just jam?
Both made great music in Richmond while recording at the Gennett Recording Studio during the 1920s, music that influenced generations that followed, including the King and a Beatle. Their contributions locally and beyond are now honored adjacent to Elstro Plaza.
A keyboard for Carmichael and a guitar for Patton are the first two Midwest Music and Heritage Trail sculptures installed along North Seventh Street. Information markers tell some of their stories.
Those markers mention Carmichael's influences on Perry Como, Ray Charles, Jerry Lee Lewis and George Harrison among others, while Patton's marker mentions his impact on Elvis Presley, Muddy Waters, Eric Clapton, the Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin.
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The first five sculptures for the Midwest Music and Heritage Trail were unveiled Sept. 30. Louis Armstrong, Big Bill Broonzy and the Murray Theatre are also among those five honorees. The next five — Gene Autry, Georgia Tim Dorsey, local native Denny Purcell, Baby Huey and Lawrence Welk — have been chosen.
Tom Broyles, a Richmond firefighter and the owner of Firehouse BBQ & Blues, developed the Midwest Music and Heritage Trail concept after seeing the Freedom Trail of historic sites in Boston, Massachusetts.
Now, it's a reality.
Wayne Bank sponsors the entire trail, while individual sponsors are recruited for each honoree. Richmond Symphony Orchestra sponsors Carmichael's sculpture, and Firehouse BBQ & Blues sponsors Patton's.
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The plan calls for 50 sculptures to be placed along the Loop trail and out Main Street to the Starr-Gennett Foundation's Walk of Fame.
Double Tap Engineering in Anderson created the metal sculptures. The sculptures' and information markers' stands are bolted to concrete.
This article originally appeared on Richmond Palladium-Item: Midwest Music and Heritage Trail begins with Carmichael and Patton
