James Earl Jones died on Monday, at the age of 93.

This week, stage and screen fans are saying goodbye to a Michigander who was one of the United States most experienced and compelling talents. From the sinister authority of Darth Vader to the caring wisdom of Mufasa, Jones was - still is - a fixture of command. He could capture a movie in a single scene, or even a solitary line.

Today, how the actor's early life in Michigan shaped who he became. And, we’ll hear about the statue dedicated in his honor in Brethren in Manistee County, near Jones’s boyhood home. 

GUEST:

• Cynthia Asiala, Chair of the Arts and Culture Alliance of Manistee County

Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way.

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Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.