BEARDEN

For a father and son, pride in the University of Tennessee band never wavers

John Shearer
Shopper News

Even though he is a fourth-year snare drummer in the University of Tennessee Pride of the Southland Band, John McKay does not follow the beat of a different drummer.

A chip off the old block might be a better way to describe him, as his father, Doug McKay, was also a drummer in the iconic UT marching band in the 1980s

Father and son together on drums   

This Nov. 2, the two will be connecting time as well as similar experiences when they march side by side for the fourth year in a row during the homecoming football game against Alabama-Birmingham.

For the past three years Doug McKay and his son John, now a senior at UT, have had the pleasure of marching together with the Pride of the Southland Band during homecoming.

That is when the UT alumni band members will join up with the current band for a halftime show.

“Being able to march right beside my son at homecoming, I don’t know if I can describe what that means,” said an emotional Doug McKay.

UT is currently trying to get as many former band members as it can to join them due to the fact that the UT band is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year.

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Those who are interested in participating and have not yet been contacted can sign up through Phyllis Moore, the director of UT alumni programs, by the end of September, officials say.

Homecoming tradition   

According to UT band historian Larry Murphy, an alumni band has participated in homecoming activities since the 1960s, and in the mid- to late 1990s began actually performing beside the regular band at halftime. Prior to that, it performed by itself before the games.

Pride of the Southland Band alumni members of all ages return to the Hill to march during homecoming at UT in 2018. Some members have marched for 30 or more years at homecoming.

The older McKay, who now works for Travelers Insurance in West Knoxville, said he became a member of the UT marching band in the fall of 1985 after playing in the band at Gatlinburg-Pittman High School.

His older brother played the drums, and that is how he became interested in the instrument, he said.

Once he arrived at UT, he realized he had to learn the cadence of band life as well as the rhythm of the drumbeats due to the demanding-but-appreciated style of then-band director Dr. WJ Julian.

Dr. W.J. Julian, director of the Pride of the Southland Marching Band from 1961 to 1993, directs the band. Thsi photo is part of the new book "History of the University of Tennessee's Pride of the Southland Marching Band" by UT band alumni and Knoxvillian Larry Murphy. Proceeds from the book sales go to the band program's scholarship fund.

“He was a great mentor,” McKay said. “I was fortunate to be in the band at the time he was there. He taught me so many things, including that discipline and hard work were going to pay off. And you better be on time!”

McKay said he also started helping the late Julian with the Smoky Mountain Music Festival and is still involved with it.

The beginning of 'Rocky Top'    

Betty Myers, who is a photographer for the current UT band and, like McKay, is also active with the alumni band council, was one of the early female members of the band’s flag corps in the early to mid-1970s and also has fond memories of Julian.

“He demanded excellence from every student in the band,” she said. “He was the type of band director that motivated you to do your best and he expected it.”

Myers, who was at UT when the band first started playing “Rocky Top,” added that being in the band gave her the feeling of family.

The UT Alumni Band takes a lot of pride in returning to the university to march on homecoming.

“I have people that are still good friends and we’ve stayed connected,” she said.

During the time McKay was in the band, the 1985 team won the Southeastern Conference title for the first time in 16 years, and they got to march at the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.

The band also got to go to the Rose Bowl when UT played UCLA in the regular season, and also performed in New York and Boston when he was a member.

Fans gather to watch the alumni band from the University of Tennessee perform prior to Homecoming 2018.

Memories of performing in Knoxville at Neyland Stadium are, of course, also quite special, he added, particularly when the band presented the traditional pregame show.

“You never will forget the first time you open the T” (for the players to run through), he said. “You get used to it but you love it every time.”

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But perhaps the most special memory for him of being in the band is that he met his wife, Hope, there. A clarinet player then, she is now the band director at Sevierville Middle School.

McKay admitted with a laugh that his son, who went to Seymour High School, is the more talented drummer of the two.

“He’s way better. He’s one of two center snares,” he said, adding that his son also plays the drums during the services at Connect Church in Sevierville.

The elder McKay said he is looking forward to participating with his son one last time at homecoming and reconnecting with others.

“We have a wonderful time marching in the alumni band and getting to see old friends and getting to spend time together. I would encourage any and all to come back and do it.”