© 2024 St. Louis Public Radio
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Berry to get St. Louis-area statue despite critics

St. Louis sculptor Harry Weber knocks the dust off his statue of Rock and Roll artist Chuck Berry in St. Louis on October 19, 2010. Weber plans installation in University City, Mo. The statue depicts a young Chuck Berry from the 1950's.
(UPI/Bill Greenblatt)
St. Louis sculptor Harry Weber knocks the dust off his statue of Rock and Roll artist Chuck Berry in St. Louis on October 19, 2010. Weber plans installation in University City, Mo. The statue depicts a young Chuck Berry from the 1950's.

The rock legend known for such hits as "Johnny B. Goode" will be getting a statue in suburban St. Louis, but not everyone thinks that's so great.

University City's City Council on Monday night refused to block installation of an 8-foot bronze sculpture by artist Harry Weber honoring 84-year-old Chuck Berry.

Entrepreneur Joe Edwards and KMOX radio host Charles Brennan have led a fundraising driving for the statue across from Edwards' Blueberry Hill, where Berry has performed some 160 times.

Edwards figures the statute will be a tourism draw. But critics have questioned whether it should be placed on city-owned land, and the fact that Berry spent time in jail.

Edwards says the sculpture is to be installed Thursday or Friday, with a formal dedication scheduled for July 29.