Our History

Picture this: Duff Field, Fall, 1930. The first Young High School Band marches onto the field, plays the National Anthem, marches off, and half of them return to the field to play football. Thats the way it was in those early years. The kids wanted a band that badly, and they made whatever sacrifice was necessary to have a band. Some things never change, but thankfully, some things do. We don't have to march and tackle anymore, but if it came down to it, we'd still do whatever was necessary to have a band.

What was it like when you were in the band? We'd like to hear from all South Knoxville Band Alumni as we try to put together this special section.

Please fill out our alumni information form and let us know what you've been up to.

Young High School

First Young High Band

Yellowjacket band 1930/31-1975/76

Last Young High Band



South High School

First South High Band

Rockets 1951/52 - 1975/76

Last South High Band



Doyle High School

First Doyle Band

Pioneers 1967/68 - 1990/91

Last Doyle Band



South-Young High School

First South-Young Band

Trojan band 1976/77 - 1990/91

Last South-Young Band



South-Doyle High School

First South-Doyle Band

Cherokees Since 1991/92



Help Us Preserve Our Proud Past

Since the 1930/31 school year at Young High School when students Fred Berry and French Harris got the OK from Principal Duff to recruit a volunteer band to play at football games and school events, South Knoxville has had an active band program. We'd like to create a database of photos and memories dating back to that first band. We've made a good start. Alumni have been responding with scans of pictures from annuals, concert programs, and private photos as well as newspaper clippings and other memorabilia.

While many classes are represented in the effort so far, we still need to hear from many more in order to close the gaps. If you or your family has pictures or souvenirs from South Knoxville band activities over the years, please scan and submit the best of those to our preservation project. Please include the year the photos were taken, if known. Include notes, short stories and special memories. Films, videos, or audio tapes may also be considered for archiving along with the photos and eventually made available as a fund-raising DVD.

We're also looking for uniform jackets from the old Young High and the old South High Bands. Please contact us if you have one you'd like to donate for display. We already have jackets from Doyle and South-Young. Thanks!!

Email photo and text attachments to gaslight@comcast.net, or burn to CD and mail to:

South Knox Band History Project
2020 Tipton Station Road
Knoxville, TN 37920

For help with converting your media for submittal, contact gaslight@comcast.net.

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