Ay-Ziggy-Zoomba.com

I haven't heard Rocky Top in years...does anyone know when it left and if it will ever come back?

I loved being on the flattest campus in the world and playing a song about a mountain.

it's still in the library. i saw it in compilation books in my librarian days. you think bbm would want to play it, being that he's a native tennesseean.

They pulled Rocky Top from the folders in the Blackney days. He and other coaches asked us to do so because of it being Tennessee's fight song. I was really annoyed at the time, but understood their point of view. It may have been used a couple of times since then, but I'm not sure.

I wasn't going to be one to argue since Blackney was always so supportive of the band. He threatened not to go to the bowl game one year if the band didn't get to go too. Would he have followed through on that threat? I doubt it, but either way, we got to go.

able1 wrote:They pulled Rocky Top from the folders in the Blackney days. He and other coaches asked us to do so because of it being Tennessee's fight song. I was really annoyed at the time, but understood their point of view. It may have been used a couple of times since then, but I'm not sure.

Jason! Where the heck have you been?

Rocky Top is a fav of the alumni. I think because it hailed from one of the best sounding marching bands we had at BG (one of many, I imagine). It was, without a doubt, the finest sounding in my five year tenure (1991) even with piccolos. We had such awesome balance and sound quality that year. Star Wars still gives me chills. It sounds like a pro band playing it.

Then exit J.J., and enter Sparky.

If we go up in arms about another school using Ay ZIggy Zoomba, then I feel we should stay away from Rocky Top. . .

I understand that - but I loved the humor of it.

Oh well. FWIW, I joined the FMB in 1992, and my wife was in in 1991. 1991 was AWESOME...and the bass drum line was amazing.

"Jason! Where the heck have you been?"

VERY busy with work. I'm part of a pilot of a new certification program that should soon become nation wide. It's been non stop since about January.

Anyway, I absolutely loved playing Rocky Top and the rest of that show that we took to West Virginia I was extremely annoyed when we were first asked to drop it, but I guess it was time. For the record, wasn't that show: Rocky Top, Brass Roots, Tennesse Waltz, and Cornfed Concerto AKA Benny Hill theme?
"Why do they think we're making fun of them?" "Because we are!"

AND I did just hear that someone (N. Carolina maybe?) was trying to introduce Ay-Zig as their second or unofficial 'fight song'. GRRRRR!

Yeah North Carolina is trying to say they had it first. I saw something written about it a year or two ago.

North Carolina has some spelling issues, however.

"Aye-Zigga-Zoomba" will be their spelling.

My memory of "Rocky Top" is hearing it on the juke-box at Howard's.

Call me a total band geek, but I have the 1991 FMB tape in my car... I play it all the time! (my daughter LOVES the cadances).
Mark: Who directed Rocky Top that year when it was recorded? I think it was one of us since the tempo is a bit fast... (the trumpets liked it fast!)

Too bad we couldn't get a recording of Todd Meany playing it on his Harmonica!

As for songs I'd like to get back, how about Brass Roots!?!?

Was the 1991 tape live? I can't remember. I'm sure one of us conducted it. I can't remember. I remember very little anymore.
I do remember pissing JJ off when I brought the horns down after one tune. I brought them down slow but there were some who snapped them down. Glenn Toumalla was really ticked as well - in fact it was soon after that point that he started to lobby removing me and replacing me with himself. He always saw me as inferior to him. Interesting, really.

Backstabbing and politics. Good times, good times.

Rightupinthere wrote:Was the 1991 tape live? I can't remember. I'm sure one of us conducted it. I can't remember. I remember very little anymore.
I do remember pissing JJ off when I brought the horns down after one tune. I brought them down slow but there were some who snapped them down. Glenn Toumalla was really ticked as well - in fact it was soon after that point that he started to lobby removing me and replacing me with himself. He always saw me as inferior to him. Interesting, really.

Backstabbing and politics. Good times, good times.

Ahhh Glenn - the Mellophone CHAMPION. Large nose, bigger ego. OK guy. Funny guy. Tried to start a drum and bugle corp in Columbus, I believe? or was it Cincinnati...Maggots didn't have politics...we just had Tom Srail.

Isn't it kinda weird how many early 90s people are on this forum? Is it because the bands were so special, or was it because the two bowl-bound football teams were so good?

Falcon30 wrote:Maggots didn't have politics...we just had Tom Srail.

Ah, Tom Srail. He was basically the first to be creative with the Tuba Cheers. He had his moments of brilliance.

Isn't it kinda weird how many early 90s people are on this forum? Is it because the bands were so special, or was it because the two bowl-bound football teams were so good?

Sparky made us dysfunctional so that we can't let go. Oh, what could have been! He was the beginning of the slide, in my opinion.

J.J., COME BACK!

I honestly have no idea why there are so many 90s people here.

Falcon30 wrote:Ahhh Glenn - the Mellophone CHAMPION.

I'm sorry, but in MY mind the only mellophone champion (aside from myself, of course) was Krista Griffith.