Johnny Cash by Leigh Wiener, 1962.
Residents of Cooper Young are currently raising money for a Johnny Cash statue that they hope to place in front of Galloway United Methodist church, the site of Cash’s first concert with Marshall Grant and Luther Perkins. According to the IOBY page dedicated to the project:
“Once the total project amount of $103,035 is raised, Sculptor Bill Beckwith will sculpt, cast, and mount a 7-foot tall bronze of Johnny Cash taken from a photograph made by Leigh Wiener in 1962. First, local historian Jimmy Ogle will install the Historic Marker describing Cash’s first performance at the Church. Before the statue is mounted, the plaza will be landscaped and prepared at the corner of the Church property at 1015 Walker (now Cooper Walker Place).”
Currently, $5,070 of the needed $31,015 funds have been donated. Those in favor of building the statue hope to have construction completed by May 1st, 2016, the 60th anniversary of the Sun Records single “I Walk the Line.” After the sculpture is completed, local artists, landscapers, and architects will be enlisted to create sculpture gardens based on Memphis music history. Listen to “I Walk the Line” below. For information on how to buy a brick on the “Cash Walkway” or the “Cash Steps,” click here.
Fundraising for Johnny Cash Statue Underway
