(Detroit, Michigan) – In different places in the United States, you can see statues of musical icons in their hometowns or in cities where they had a major impact. Musical legends like Elvis Presley (Tupelo, Memphis, Las Vegas…), Louis Armstrong (New Orleans), billie holiday (Baltimer), Ray Charles (Albany), James Brown (August), jimi hendrix (Settle), and michael jackson (Las Vegas) have all been immortalized by statues bearing their likeness. So why was this same honor not given to Her Royal Highness, the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklinin the city of Detroit?
Aretha Franklin is known to many as the greatest singer who has ever lived in any genre. She deserves to be honored with a life-size bronze statue, in the city of Detroit, for the world to see. A major push to make this a reality comes from National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame Foundation Founder/CEO and American Basketball Hall of Famer LaMont “ShowBoat” Robinson, who also intends to build a state of the art . -art, permanent installation, dedicated to the heritage of rhythmic and blues music.
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Robinson believes that although the queen of soul received many awards, honors and accolades during her lifetime, having a posthumous statue in her hometown of Detroit would be a great way to show her appreciation to a woman who gave her heart and soul to the city. Robinson went on to say:
“Miss Franklin also has a street named after her in the city of Detroit, and after her death several Detroit entertainment venues were renamed in her honor as well as a highway. I now ask the White House, Governor of Michigan State Gretchen Whitmer, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, Detroit City Council and President Mary Sheffield, and the entire city of Detroit to support a joint partnership with the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame Foundation to honor the Queen of Soul with a statue.
Robinson said his organization has honored the queen of soul by inducting her into the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame twice, as a singer in 2015 and as a songwriter in 2019. He added that his goal was to raise approximately $500,000-$1,000,000 for the statue project through major fundraisers, grants, donations, and corporate sponsorships. He also plans to reach out to many former National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame inductees, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees, current musical artists influenced by Aretha Franklin, as well as major corporations around the world, to support this project.
From: National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame Foundation
Phone number: (313) 936-2040
Web: www.rbhof.com
Submitted by Larry Buford
