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http://timesdaily.com/stories/...eiled-Sept-23,195218

 

When I first saw the headline, I thought, "cool, a sculpture of an Indian somewhere on the river bank looking over the water"   WRONG!  According to the article, the "first of several" to be placed here and there in the area, is going to be on Montgomery Ave. in Sheffield, and if Mayor Sanford's comment is correct," is a guy with a guitar in front of a microphone."  The article says these sculptures are to represent the areas musical history or such.  My question is, why label them "Singing River" sculptures?  The "Singing River" was given that name by the Native Americans long before any musical history was even started in the area. It is not called that because of the areas musical accomplishments.

If you're going to have sculptures called "The Singing River Sculptures", don't you think they should be to pay tribute to the river and to the people who named it?

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The legend continues. The professional music community is six decades old at this point. The obvious question for much of that time has been "Why here?" For many years conjecture was "There's something in the water." Then when Tom Hendrix told of his family legend of the "Singing River," and his ancestor's Trail of Tears journey to the Indians territory, and her return to the Shoals, that legend was adopted to explain the amazing musical legacy in this area.

The fact that many in Europe, Asia and other areas of the world know more about the exceptional music history than locals is a rather sad comentary on the local population. The music has changed the perception of Muscle Shoals from the home of the TVA to the home of the Muscle Shoals Sound. The statues are a very fitting tribute to the continuing legend of the Singing River.

from SeniorCoffee post

"The statues are a very fitting tribute to the continuing legend of the Singing River"

 

Not if no acknowledgement is given to the Native Americans its not.  Are any of the sculptures going to show anything related to the "new found" reason of our world known music history and talent? That being the Native Americans?  

and road puppy ur right on ur first post, logic has no place in this world i've learned.

Originally Posted by SeniorCoffee:

The legend continues. The professional music community is six decades old at this point. The obvious question for much of that time has been "Why here?" For many years conjecture was "There's something in the water." Then when Tom Hendrix told of his family legend of the "Singing River," and his ancestor's Trail of Tears journey to the Indians territory, and her return to the Shoals, that legend was adopted to explain the amazing musical legacy in this area.

 

The Singing River is not solely Tom Hendrix's family story.  The late William Lindsey McDonald, this area's foremost historian, wrote about it more than once.  For example:

 

Bill Matthews, one of the group behind the effort said during the unveiling ceremony that Sheffield, Florence and Muscle Shoals had raised the money for their statues and Tuscumbia had almost all of theirs. I doubt it would have been possible to have raised that much money if it had been for an American Indian tribute, no matter how worthy the cause. As it is we get a tribute to both the native American heritage and the internationally known music industry. As one who is proud of both, I see it as a win-win situation.

If you ask me, and nobody does, a tribute to the local music history and to the legend of the "Singing River",  are two different things.  One is of an Indian story of a "spirit of a goddess of the river", or another as "a lady or princess who sang loudly".  To tribute that in sculpture, it wouldn't be an 18 ft cartoonish looking stickman (that does in fact make you think of Elvis)  it would be of this "princess", placed somewhere over looking the river, like Florence harbor, and maybe another at the park on the river in Sheffield. 

The other tribute is for the local music history and accomplishments. The names Muscle Shoals, Fame, Muscle Shoals Sound, Rick Hall, Jimmy Johnson, The Swampers... not Singing River, is what people from around the world associate to our musical history and continuing accomplishments.

And to Jankinonya, thinking that just by naming them "Singing River Sculptures" gives a "nod" to the Native Americans?  Not unless there's something at these things that tell where the name came from.  If there's not, then people who don't already know of the origins of the name, might never. And thats not a "win-win".

 

Well Skyryder raise the money and create it. By the time this group finishes building statues there probably will be some likenesses of people like Rick Hall, the Swamers, Arthur Alexander, and other founders of the musical legacy. I'll back an effort to create a Native American memorial as well. Both are stories we as a culture need to tell.

Originally Posted by earthmomma:

Posted too fast!  I tried to delete it four times!  I meant to say Not fat enough for Elvis!  LOL!

Must be his younger days earthmomma!  and yes SeniorCoffee, they both should be told.  Donations from the Trail of Tears riders might have got a dollar or three. A dollar from each of the "estimated" bikers and there ya go...

It needs to be some changes made in this. This sculpture does not give any evidence that the singing river was named by Native Americans. Mr. Hendrix is a very knowledgeable man and uses his knowledge to teach us about how it was then and what his grandmother did. He does it by telling stories that his grandmother told to him.  The sculpture needs to lean more to  the native americans and the fact that they name the river. This to me is giving the native americans a stap in the face. They need to rename the sculpture, and I do not see that it is a fitting tribute to this area. This statue fits the Muscle Shoals sound instead of the singer river. No it is not all about Mr. Hendrix's family alone, it's about all the native americans. His grandmother was a part of it and it is amazing to hear him tell the stories.  

Originally Posted by skyryder:

http://timesdaily.com/stories/...eiled-Sept-23,195218

 

When I first saw the headline, I thought, "cool, a sculpture of an Indian somewhere on the river bank looking over the water"   WRONG!  According to the article, the "first of several" to be placed here and there in the area, is going to be on Montgomery Ave. in Sheffield, and if Mayor Sanford's comment is correct," is a guy with a guitar in front of a microphone."  The article says these sculptures are to represent the areas musical history or such.  My question is, why label them "Singing River" sculptures?  The "Singing River" was given that name by the Native Americans long before any musical history was even started in the area. It is not called that because of the areas musical accomplishments.

If you're going to have sculptures called "The Singing River Sculptures", don't you think they should be to pay tribute to the river and to the people who named it?

___

Those sculptures have as much to do with Native American musical history  as all those mostly  fat guys on  roaring motorcycles have to do with the re=location of the Cherokees to Oklahoma reservations

Originally Posted by LAH:

It needs to be some changes made in this. This sculpture does not give any evidence that the singing river was named by Native Americans. Mr. Hendrix is a very knowledgeable man and uses his knowledge to teach us about how it was then and what his grandmother did. He does it by telling stories that his grandmother told to him.  The sculpture needs to lean more to  the native americans and the fact that they name the river. This to me is giving the native americans a stap in the face. They need to rename the sculpture, and I do not see that it is a fitting tribute to this area. This statue fits the Muscle Shoals sound instead of the singer river. No it is not all about Mr. Hendrix's family alone, it's about all the native americans. His grandmother was a part of it and it is amazing to hear him tell the stories.  

Well, Like I said somewhere in this thread, a tribute to the legend of the"Singing River"
and Muscle Shoals music are two different things, and should have been treated as such. And I agree with you about the "slap in the face".

The moment I read that there was a sculpture I got a clear image of what I described, and it was a celebration of music, the river, the musicians, and the Native Americans.  This whole area is defined by that river, the area's Native American heritage, and also by the musicians who have put the area on the map for so long.  Even a fish jumping among the waves would celebrate our natural resources we have here, but that part is in my head and might not add to it.  

 

Thanks for your comment, Senior.  Does anyone know how to contact someone related to the project who might listen to the idea?

If you did not donate to the statue does not mean anything. How many knew that there was going to be a statue put up? We the people still have a right to voice our opinon and it is our business. We live here. Its good to have a statue, but this is the wrong one for "The Singing River"  Put the name of Sam Phillips. As far as the so called fat bike riders, I do not think that so of them would approve of the name of the statue. The riders are good people and do not need to be called names. If they are fat, that is there business and at least they are doing something good and is helping keep the legion alive within us. Some may be over weight, but they have feelings like the rest of us.

Originally Posted by frog:

I would love to see a sculpture of water flowing and musical notes or treble clefs along it...tribute to music and the river, the singing, and the natural beauty of the area that draws so many here.  


Good image frog.  How bout even a huge waterfall type fountain imaging the flow of the "shoals" water before the dam, with a Native American overlooking images or statues or sculptures of the Muscle Shoals music history.

Originally Posted by skyryder:
Originally Posted by frog:

I would love to see a sculpture of water flowing and musical notes or treble clefs along it...tribute to music and the river, the singing, and the natural beauty of the area that draws so many here.  


Good image frog.  How bout even a huge waterfall type fountain imaging the flow of the "shoals" water before the dam, with a Native American overlooking images or statues or sculptures of the Muscle Shoals music history.

Ohh, nice!!  All the elements come together

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