In August in Muscle Shoals, AL, a stunning 18 ft high aluminum sculpture (Figure 1) was revealed, celebrating the vibrant musical heritage of the region. An exquisite portrayal of a trumpet player resembling William Christopher (W.C.) Handy, who was born nearby in Florence, AL, the sculpture proudly stands as a tribute to his contributions to the music industry. The annual W.C. Handy Music Festival, held in the charming Shoals area, continues to commemorate the life and impact of this legendary Father of the Blues.
Not only does the piece pay homage to the area’s great musical legacy, but also stands as a testimony to the impact of the aluminum industry in the region. The aluminum used for the sculpture was provided by Constellium’s plant in Muscle Shoals. “We took a 3104 coil, rolled it to the precise thickness, and then cut it,” said Constellium Muscle Shoals plant director, John Evans. “Alloy 3104 is used for can body stock, and the metal for this masterpiece was sourced from recycled beverage cans (UBCs).”
Honoring a Great Heritage of Music and Aluminum
The aluminum rolling facility — originally Reynolds Aluminum — was built in 1941 to supply metal for World War II aircraft. The selection of the Shoals site, along the Tennessee River, was primarily due to the abundance of electrical power created by the Tennessee Valley Authority’s dam system. The rolling mill was purposed for the Defense Plant Corporation, a federal agency. At that time, the U.S. was just beginning to recover from the Great Depression. The construction and opening of the plant created much-needed jobs in the community. For many Shoals natives, it’s where their families have worked for generations. Wise Alloys took over ownership of the plant in 1999. By 2015, Constellium acquired the facility. “There’s a lot of history in the area that ties to aluminum,” said Evans.
The sculpture resembling W.C. Handy is the third of its kind commissioned in the Shoals area. Muscle Shoals is the largest city in Colbert County, AL. Both the city itself and the Florence-Muscle Shoals Metropolitan Area (that consists of four quad cities, including Muscle Shoals, Florence, Sheffield, and Tuscumbia) are commonly referred to as “The Shoals.” There have been two aluminum sculptures built previously, honoring musicians. In Sheffield’s Love Plaza stands a 1950s-era singer that resembles Elvis Presley and on Avalon Avenue in Muscle Shoals sits a likeness to musical legend David Hood. All sculptures were made using aluminum from the Constellium Muscle Shoals facility.
Once referred to as the “Hit Recording Capital of the World,” Muscle Shoals gave birth to two iconic music studios (in the 1960s) that can be credited with producing an array of chart-topping hits since their inception. These are FAME studios founded by Rick Hall, where Arthur Alexander, Percy Sledge, Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding, and numerous others recorded; and Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, founded by the musicians known as The Swampers. They worked with equally illustrious clientele, including Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Rod Stewart, The Rolling Stones, and The Allman Brothers.
The idea for this sculpture series was originally put forth by the late Bill Matthews, University of North Alabama retiree, who devoted many of his remaining years as a volunteer for a wide range of community programs. He was also a music lover and avid hiker. One hike through Ireland led him past a group of tall sculptures portraying Irish musicians. This inspired him, and beginning in 2009, Matthews, along with David Anderson, and other locals began transforming the Shoals with tall aluminum sculptures depicting the area’s legendary musical tradition.
The Artist’s Process
From conceiving the idea for the Handy sculpture, to its grand unveiling, this project was in the making for an impressive seven years. In 2018, Steve Holt, Mayor of Florence, introduced University of Alabama sculptor, Eric Nubbe, who would go on to design and build the Handy statue. A skilled metal fabricator, welder, and artist, Nubbe put his creativity to test when he crafted this 18 ft tall sculpture, utilizing recycled aluminum sheet from Muscle Shoals. Despite facing various challenges, including a global pandemic, he persevered.
“Constellium was kind enough to give me sheets, but the whole thing started with designing it on the computer. Then I was able to basically make an inside skeleton armature to support the whole thing,” said Nubbe. “The outside was water jet cut out in big pieces. So, like origami, it was one piece that was then folded several times to get the design shape that I was looking for and then welded in place.”
Nubbe began construction on the Handy sculpture by assembling the legs (Figure 2), using various methods to secure them with bolts or vice grips. The creation of a precise internal armature involved cutting thick metal joints, requiring careful welding to avoid warping. The legs were initially tacked together to ensure accurate positioning relative to the armature before final assembly. Aluminum angles were then added to support the outer shell of the sculpture, which meant Nubbe had to carefully and intricately weld in tight spaces.
After securing the frame, the seams were welded, ground, and sanded for a smooth finish. Nubbe then adjusted the structure’s height for ease of work and continued by adding supporting panels to the main body.
Construction of the vest followed, which proved simpler once a fitting process was established.
While building this piece, Nubbe explained, “We had to install a crane on the ceiling and build it on its side (Figure 3). My first time seeing the sculpture standing up was during the installation process.” He said the entire project took approximately 6-7 months to complete.
Nubbe is just beginning his career, but said he is leaning towards doing more work in the public arts realm for a variety of reasons. “I really like the giving back to the community aspect of public arts. It’s serving people a little bit more than just making an expensive thing that only a wealthy person can buy,” he said. “Not that there’s anything wrong with that, art is just able to be enjoyed a little bit more easily by everybody if it’s public art, which is why I’m trying to do more of that.”
Now this piece not only pays homage to local history but is a testament to the versatility of aluminum. Nubbe explained, “Aluminum is probably my favorite metal to work with honestly, because its lightweight and it’s easy to machine.” The artist also prefers aluminum as a material for outdoor projects, as it is highly resistant to weather and more cost-effective compared to other materials.
Legend of the Singing River
Though the sculptures honor the music history of Muscle Shoals, there is another important part of this area’s rich heritage that this public art is dedicated to — the local Native American tribe. The Yuchi and their predecessors who resided along the shores of the formidable Tennessee River held a belief in the Spirit Woman who dwelled within the waters, safeguarding them and serenading them. If the river was enraged, she sang with fervor; if the river was serene, she sang with tenderness, sometimes softly humming a soothing lullaby. Some say all they could hear was the powerful rush of the high waters over the mussel shoals, or at other times, the tranquil babble of the low waters over the river rocks. Others claim she is real and can still be glimpsed in the early morning mist, lingering above the waters, just as she did many years ago. In her honor, they called it the Singing River, and also in her honor, the Shoals christened these sculptures the Singing River Sculptures.
Editor’s Note: This article first appeared in the October 2024 issue of Light Metal Age. To receive the current issue, please subscribe.