On March 22, the Miles Davis Project Kind of Blue Dinner and Auction, held at Lewis and Clark Community College, raised $21,000, allowing a life- sized sculpture of Davis to be constructed in Alton.
This project is a combination of The Miles Davis Jazz Committee of the Alton Museum of History and Art and Pride, Inc.
By popular vote, it was decided that the memorial would be located in the Alton entertainment Davis’ statue will stand at 117 West Third Street, near Chez Marilyn.
“It’s great that there will be a statue of him,” L&C Nursing major Jessica Leving said.
Davis was born on May 26, 1926 in Alton and in 1927, his family moved to East St. Louis.
He enjoyed composing music and playing music on the trumpeter. He was revered as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century.
In 2006, Davis was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Davis left such an impact after his death in 1991 that the U.S House of Representatives passed a symbolic resolution that commemorated the album “Kind of Blue” on its 50th anniversary, Dec. 15, 2009.
Davis’ appreciation for music began from listening to African American gospel music. His musical studies began at age 13 when his father gave him a trumpet and arranged for him to have lessons with the local musician, Elwood Buchanan.
By age 16, Davis became a member of the music society by playing professionally at Elk’s Club. His career lasted 50 years and he produced more than 100 albums. Miles Davis was labeled as “one of the great innovators in jazz.”
“I think Miles Davis did inspire people,” science major Samantha Bohannon said.
Anyone who wants to donate to the Miles Davis Memorial Project can mail checks to Pride, Inc., 5800 Godfrey Road/Alden Hall, Godfrey, IL 62035, or visit Pride’s website, prideincorporated.org.
krulison@lc.edu
