CARMEL — Hoagy Carmichael, the acclaimed Hoosier singer, songwriter and actor, is about to get his own statue in Carmel.
Why Carmel? The Hamilton County city is home to the Great American Songbook Foundation, and Hoagy Carmichael was a major contributor to that songbook, with such his as "Stardust," "Georgia on My Mind," and "The Nearness of You."
And he was also a Hoosier. Born 1899 in Bloomington, Carmichael attended IU and left in 1926 with a law degree. He practice law for a time in Indianapolis, but his mind was on music. He composed hundreds of songs of which more than 50 were considered hits. He also sang and appeared in a number of films.
Carmichael died in 1981.
About the Carmel sculpture: It's by Arlon Bayless and will be know as "Homage To Hoagy."
The unveiling is Thursday, July 9, 2 p.m., just south of the roundabout at City Center Drive and 3rd Avenue SW.
