"Rocky Top" is one of Tennessee's 10 (yes, TEN!) official state songs.
Having grown up, gone to school and college in the Volunteer State, then teaching high school band just south of Nashville before joining the Air Force, I've been acquainted with this one for most of my life. When our Air Force Band was scheduled to perform in east TN in July 2019, our Commander/Conductor asked me to write an arrangement of this one to feature our vocalists. I convinced him that the best way to get the crowd on their feet would be to end with the UT Marching Band version. I guaranteed him that the audience would sing along, and they did NOT disappoint! :-)
Since we were scheduled to perform at the International Clarinet Association Conference ("Clarinet Fest!") at the University of TN campus, I couldn't resist throwing in a banjo-like clarinet solo in the bridge. It's rather challenging and this recording is from our second rehearsal - I wish I had a recording of the concerts, where they nailed it every night. It's not bad here for an early rehearsal, but it's not mic'ed, so it's hard to hear any of them except the front row players.
