Past Projects: Miles Davis Statue

The Miles Davis Memorial Project was a collaboration between the Miles Davis Jazz Committee of Alton, Alton Museum of History and Art, and Pride, Inc.

Pat Ackermann and Karen Wilson chaired the Miles Davis Memorial Project fundraising drive for the statue. Every contribution from $1 to $1,000 made the difference on whether or not the statue became a reality.

The long-awaited unveiling of the Miles Davis statue took places on Saturday, September 12, 2015, on Third Street in Downtown Alton.

Master of Ceremony, Jim Killion, praised legend Davis, referencing his early years in Alton, as well as his astounding career as a jazz trumpet player. Although his family settled in East St. Louis, Killion noted that Davis always referred to Alton as his home.

Emmy nominated jazz trumpeterBobby Shew spoke as a special guest at the ceremony. Shew told the audience of his accidental meeting with Davis while performing at a jazz festival in Indiana, where his friend Louis pressured him into approaching the jazz legend. Shew was clearly starstruck in the presence of the great.

Sculptor Preston Jackson was also present that day. Jackson was commissioned to create the wonderful work of art that has now become one of the many landmarks in the region.