#026 Westwood High School Band @ Whitehaven Christmas Parade (by John Shaw)
The Westwood High School Band marches in the Whitehaven Christmas Parade in Memphis, 11/17/12
#026 Westwood High School Band @ Whitehaven Christmas Parade (by John Shaw)
The Westwood High School Band marches in the Whitehaven Christmas Parade in Memphis, 11/17/12
At the Booker T. Washington vs. Westwood game at BTW Stadium in South Memphis, 8/31/12
#010 Westwood Drumline (by jdoggtn7)
The Westwood High School drumline performs at Booker T. Washington Stadium, Memphis TN, 8/31/12
#007 Westwood Drumline (by jdoggtn7)
The Westwood High School drumlines plays a cadence toward the BTW stands at Booker T. Washington Stadium in South Memphis, 8/31/12
#004 Westwood Drumline (by jdoggtn7)
The Westwood High School drumline leads the band into Booker T. Washington stadium in South Memphis, 8/31/12
Memphis’ Booker T. Washington Stadium is arguably the second-oldest in the city after Crump Stadium, behind Central High School, although the latter has had a complete renovation in recent years. Much has changed in the surrounding neighborhood, including the demolition of Cleaborn Homes and Foote Homes, but crowds still turn out to support the Booker T. Washington Warriors, the oldest Black high school in Memphis. This year, BTW seems to have a decent marching band, with a first-rate drumline. Westwood, on the other hand, is a pathetic shadow of its former life, when, in the 80’s and early 90’s, it used to march over a hundred band members. Open enrollment, and outmigration from the neighborhood have devastated it. Still, the Longhorns have a small marching band that seems well-trained and which might become the foundation of a rebuilding. Only time will tell.
Westwood vs. Mitchell at the Whitehaven Classic, Whitehaven Stadium, Memphis, August 20, 2011
Memphis’ high-school football (and band) season got underway in earnest this weekend, with Saturday’s Whitehaven Classic offering a marathon three high-school games at Whitehaven Stadium. The first game, between Westwood and Mitchell, was delayed somewhat due to the heat, but as the day progressed and temperatures cooled, the crowds increased. Both Westwood and Mitchell have truly tiny bands this year compared to what I recall from the 1980’s and 1990’s. I suppose their enrollments are down as people have relocated to Hickory Hill, Cordova, Southaven and Olive Branch.