Mural of Hoagy Carmichael unveiled in Richmond - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

Richmond - A large mural of jazz legend Hoagy Carmichael has been dedicated in Richmond, where the "Stardust" composer first recorded.

About 50 onlookers, including Carmichael's 67-year-old son Randy Carmichael, watched Saturday as the mural on the side of the Readmore building was unveiled in the eastern Indiana city.

Carmichael, who died in 1981, first recorded at Gennett Records in Richmond in 1925.

Randy Carmichael told the gathering that Richmond has a "magnificent dedication" to the past.

"Living in the past may not be right, but preserving the past is very important," he said.

Carmichael joined Richmond Mayor Sally Hutton, State Rep. Tom Saunders of Lewisville, David Fulton of the Starr-Gennett Foundation committee and others at the unveiling.

Fulton called the painting's presence among the first signs of Richmond's "renaissance."

Pamela Bliss and her daughter Carly Mattingly Bailey, who painted the mural, met with Carmichael fans before the ceremony at Richmond Art Works. There, they showed off photos depicting the monthlong process of creating their mural of the musical great, who was a Bloomington native.

Bliss said the portrait is her favorite among her dozens of creations.

"I feel good about it but I'm never done with a painting. I could go right now and do some things to it," she said.

Robyn Patton, who works nearby at The Tat Shop, said the mural is "wonderful."

"It's bringing the music and the art together downtown," she said.

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