The Tennessee State Fair & The Bombs Bursting In Air

Mid-September in Nashville means it's time for the Tennessee State Fair. This annual tradition however may soon be moving to a new location as city officials consider redeveloping the Fairgrounds property in the Vine Hill area and moving the Fair somewhere else, maybe even out of county.

Sing-Out South performed at the State Fair in both 1966 and 1967. That time as well was a period of some uncertainty for the Fair. In September, 1965, during the Fair, the historic Women's Building had burned to the ground in a spectacular blaze.

When we performed at the Fair the next fall in 1966 we did so in the area not far from where the Woman's Building burned and just across from the entrance to the Nashville Racetrack's grandstand. We did two shows each day, one in the afternoon after school about 4or 5;00 PM, and then the other after the nightly fireworks display which went off about 9:00 PM.

As you can see, we had a rather interesting performance venue. Sponsored by WENO Radio, an AM country music station, we had the steps of our SOS stage positioned on top of a flat bed truck. I seem to remember we got a little bit of a shaking sensation when we all started doing our choreography.

I also remember another amazing thing that occurred one night as we did our second show. You'll remember we weren't supposed to start until the fireworks were over. Well, we waited and waited, but no fireworks. It was starting to get late, the crowd was getting a bit restless (and besides a lot of us had homework to do when we got home!).

So we decided not to wait and we ran on stage to begin the show. Of course, we started the show with "The Star Spangled Banner,". And guess what? No sooner did we sing the words: "And the rockets red glare" than woosh up went the fireworks, and when we continued "and the rockets red glare", the fireworks began.

Of course, the audience noticed and immediately began to applaud loudly. All of us on stage were, of course, stunned. But, trying to be the professionals we wanted to be, we just smiled back and continued to sing.

We couldn't have timed it any better even if we had tried to do so.
It was pure luck, but it has left a wonderful memory even 43 years later. We'll talk about our 1967 State Fair shows next year, but you have memories you'd like to share please feel free to do so below.