Some South Philly Music Legends Contribute To New Mural Project
By David Madden
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Some local music legends are kickstarting a campaign to replace a decaying South Philadelphia mural that pays homage to the city's contribution to the Golden Age of Rock and Roll.
It'll cost about $80,000 to replace the mural at Ninth and Passyunk. Not only is the painting in less than stellar shape, but the lot next door may soon be developed with a building that will block sight of the mural.
And now, some of the artists depicted on the mural are stepping up to help. Frankie Avalon, a South Philly favorite son, has kicked in $5,000.
So has longtime DJ Jerry Blavat, who says the new mural won't be very far from the original.
"We represent South Philadelphia," Blavat says of himself and his fellow entertainers, "so the only real location for this would be in South Philadelphia or the Avenue of the Arts."
Two South Philly locations are being considered by the city's Mural Arts Program, and a new artist has been selected.
If you want to contribute to the new mural project, go to the Mural Arts Program's donation page (https://29463.thankyou4caring.org/donate) and add a comment that you want your donation to go to "SOUTH PHILADELPHIA MUSICIANS MURAL."