A statue of internationally known singer Nina Simone currently being sculpted by Zenos Frudakis will now have a home in downtown Tryon.

Crys Armbrust, founder and executive director of the Eunice Waymon-Nina Simone Memorial Project, announced to Tryon Town Council on Tuesday that the statue will be located on South Trade Street directly across from the Hanford Agency.

Armbrust said the project has received permission from Norfolk Southern, which owns the property.

Armbrust said in February, Frudakis visited Tryon to preview the suggested sites of Greene Corner, Depot Plaza, Park on Trade and Rogers Park, but after in-depth discussions, each site was deemed by the artist to be unsuitable for a public memorial sculpture.

Tryon Town Council gave the S. Trade Street location and the project its blessings. Armbrust said the project&squo;s coordinators are pleased by Norfolk Southern&squo;s support and are hoping to accomplish a dedication of the sculpture on Feb. 21, 2009, which is Nina Simone&squo;s birthday.Simone, whose given name was Eunice Waymon, was born and got her early musical training in Tryon.&bsp;