The Pride of the Southland marches down Peyton Manning Pass before the game against UMass at Neyland Stadium on Sept. 23, 2017. Adrian Terricabras / The Daily Beacon
UT celebrates Rocky Top’s 50th Anniversary Gabriela Szymanowska Senior Staff Writer
With a chorus that spans across the nation, good ole “Rocky Top” connects those near and far to their home sweet home in Knoxville. Whether sitting in Neyland Stadium surrounded by hundreds of fans in a sea of orange or sitting alone listening to the radio, when the first notes of “Rocky Top” hum into existence, everyone — students, faculty, alumni and fans — join in to sing what has become a UT staple. “I think that we have almost defined our university around the song, around parts of it. You know, you can see it in our marketing materials; you can see the way that we sing at the football games,” SGA president and College Scholars senior Morgan Hartgrove said. “We’ve integrated this song into our campus culture.” The song’s lyrics are an integral part of cam-
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pus life, from merchandise to school spirit. The song’s iconic lyrics have taken a hold of the UT community, becoming one of the university’s most celebrated traditions. “I think that the first few lyrics sum up the reason why it means so much to folks: ‘Rocky Top you’ll always be home sweet home to me.’ We love this place for what it is worth,” SGA vice president and senior in nursing Michael Curtis Jr. said. While the lyrics became associated with UT in the early 1970s, the song’s humble beginnings arose a few years earlier. Its history began in August 1967, when country music songwriters Felice and Boudleaux Bryant checked into room 388 at the Gatlinburg Inn to write an album of slow-tempo country songs. Tired of writing depressing songs, Felice wanted to write something fast paced, and in the span of 10 minutes, the two wrote “Rocky Top.” Gatlinburg Inn preserved the room where the Bryants wrote the song, including the Bryants
original hand-written song sheets that are still pinned to the walls — just like they had left it. The song was then recorded by the Osborne Brothers and released later that year. But it wasn’t until a few years later with country music singer Lynn Anderson that the bluegrass song would peak at No. 17 on U.S. country charts. Now, “Rocky Top” is celebrating its 50th anniversary and its 45 years as the university’s unofficial fight song. The UT Department of Retail, Hospitality and Tourism Management collaborated with the sons of Felice and Boudleaux Bryant, Del and Dane Bryant, to create new merchandise that celebrates the song’s 50th anniversary. A portion of the royalties goes to fund the department and the marching band, according to department head of retail, hospitality and tourism management Ann Fairhurst. “We are very fortunate that the Bryant family has allowed our students to take the song — use all the lyrics and the “Rocky Top”song — and
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create products around it,” Fairhurst said. While the song has been around for five decades, it wasn’t until 1972 that the Pride of the Southland Band first performed the song at Neyland Stadium for a game against the Alabama Crimson Tide. And soon after, it was adopted as a part of UT. “Rocky Top” was a part of a medley of country songs for the halftime show that was arranged by Barry McDonald, UT alumnus and an acclaimed Nashville-based arranger, and directed by former band director W. J. Julian. After witnessing an overwhelming response from the fans, Julian continued to play the song each game afterward. “The band has had a huge part in making it what it is and that is a big thanks to Dr. Julian,” Rebecca Percy, the Pride’s drum major and junior in flute performance, said.
See ROCKY TOP on Page 2
Monday, October 16, 2017