An amazing project to honor many Arkansas musicians who were influential across a broad range of genres is being planned for North Little Rock. Artist Kevin Kresse, best known for sculpting an eight-foot-tall bronze statue of Johnny Cash that was unveiled last year in the U.S. Capitol, is planning to make busts of 19 additional musicians, along with one of industry executive Al Bell.
The busts, which are scheduled to be completed in 2029, will be displayed in the ATG Pavilion in Argenta Plaza. They will be anchored by a full-size replica of the Cash statue, to be made using the same mold that created the statue for the Capitol. I discussed what’s being planned with Kresse and project Campaign Chair John Gaudin on “Arkansas Week,” which aired Friday, August 29 on Arkansas PBS.
In addition to the busts being placed in the pavilion, replica busts will be provided to the hometowns of each musician. Fans travel from around the world to see the places where Cash, Levon Helm, Sister Rosetta Tharpe and others grew up. This will help those communities honor their legacies.
Below is a complete list of the Arkansans being honored and the towns that will receive busts:
- Johnny Cash — Kingsland
- Louis Jordan — Brinkley
- Al Green — Forrest City
- Levon Helm — Marvell
- Glen Campbell — Delight
- Florence Price — Little Rock
- Pharoah Sanders — North Little Rock
- Lefty Frizzell — El Dorado
- William Grant Still — Little Rock
- Charlie Rich — Colt
- Sonny Boy Williamson — Helena
- Scott Joplin — Texarkana
- Big Bill Broonzy — Pine Bluff
- Jimmy Driftwood — Mountain View
- Conway Twitty — Helena
- Sister Rosetta Tharpe — Cotton Plant
- Granny Almeda Riddle — Heber Springs
- Al Bell — North Little Rock
- Albert King — Osceola
- Ronnie Hawkins — Fayetteville
- Howlin Wolf — West Memphis
In the second segment of the program, I talked with Dr. Pearl McElfish, director of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Institute for Community Health Innovation about efforts to improve maternal health. She provided an assessment of postpartum care, which is especially dire in rural areas. The institute is working to reach new mothers through a combination of telemedicine, mobile clinics and remote monitoring, she said.
Veteran news reporter, editor and manager spanning more than 30 years at newspapers, radio and television stations. I’m also a photographer, historian and author, having written the 2017 book Rock Island Railroad in Arkansas and hosting a podcast of the same name.
