High Point, NC is known for two things: furniture manufacture and John Coltrane.
Though born in nearby Hamlet, Coltrane spent the first 17 years of his life in High Point. In association with the High Point Museum, the Downtown Improvement Council commissioned this statute to honor Coltrane in 2004. Thomas Jay Warren, himself an NC native, was chosen as artist. His 8-foot likeness was unveiled in September of 2006, in honor of the saxaphonist's 80th birthday.
In 2009, the area surrounding the sculpture was given a facelift. A kiosk now stands that allows visitors to listen to the jazz great's finest moments and learn about Coltrane's early years in High Point.
Coltrane would have been 85 today. Crank up Giant Steps and celebrate the legacy of a true American artistic legend.
