Rocky Top Song Turns 50. This famous bluegrass song that is widely sung during University of Tennessee games, like the Vols football and more turns 50.
Rocky Top Song Turns 50
“Rocky Top” was written at the Gatlinburg Inn by husband and wife Felice and Boudleaux Bryant in 1967. The Bryants penned the song in room 388 (where they checked in on August 28, 1967) which is preserved exactly as it was back then. The scribblings of the original sheet music are still on the wall. Later that year the Osborne Brothers recorded that song. It only took the couple 10 minutes to come up with the song.
It wasn’t until 1972 when “Rocky Top” began to get famous by being played by the band on the football field during the halftime show. Needless to say that song stuck and became the unofficial fight song. We all know that when the Vols get a touch down or a good play, they will play Rocky Top. When a freshman graduates the University of Tennessee, it is estimated that they have played the song some 5,000 times. So Give ’em the Vol!
Did you know the USA Today called it the country’s best fight song in 2015?
WIVK, a local country radio station usually kicks football season off by playing every version of Rocky Top they have. I remember there was even a Pig Latin Version they played too.
In 1982, the song made the state’s 10 official songs.
Give ’em the Vol! The University of Tennessee Vols Hand Signal
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