Sculptor wants Memphis music legends to forever stand tall
Mike McCarthy’s dining room is now filled with figures of Memphis Minnie, Muddy Waters, Rufus Thomas, Howlin’ Wolf and Aretha Franklin. He hopes to someday create life-size statues, companions to his Johnny Cash sculpture that stands in Cooper-Young. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian)
Mike McCarthy and others want to preserve the city’s music culture with more sculptures similar to the Johnny Cash image he created that stands in Cooper-Young.
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Sculpt Memphis Mike McCarthy Frank Smith Natalie Wilson Jeffrey Higgs SchoolSeed Memphis music Subscriber OnlyWe’re in the final countdown of 2025. ⌛🪩🎉
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Don Wade
Don Wade has been a Memphis journalist since 1998 and he has won awards for both his sports and news/feature writing. He is originally from Kansas City and is married with three sons.
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