Tag: Southern Heritage Classic

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Tailgating at the Southern Heritage Classic

Southern Heritage Classic / Google Photos

For more than 20 years, the annual Southern Heritage Classic football game has been the largest African-American event in Memphis, attracting thousands of people from many different states, many of whom have no interest in football. In fact, the overwhelming majority of attendees come to enjoy the festive party atmosphere at Tiger Lane outside of the Liberty Bowl stadium, with plenty of good food, live music, DJ’s, dancing and vendors. Tents are sponsored by large Memphis companies, such as FedEx or K-97 Radio, by city government, by Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers fan clubs, by local fraternities such as Alpha Phi Alpha, and many other organizations and individuals. Although Memphis is a large city, and the tailgating grounds are quite crowded, it’s easy to run into people you know at the Southern Heritage Classic tailgate, and it’s always a lot of fun.

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The Sonic Boom Vs. The Aristocrat of Bands at the Southern Heritage Classic

252 SHC253 Sonic Boom of the South264 Jackson State War & Thunder Drumline266 Jackson State University War & Thunder Drumline267 Jackson State University War & Thunder Drumline268 Straight Outta Memphis
Of course the Southern Heritage Classic is a football game, and I love football, but truth be told, a lot of us go to enjoy the band battle instead. The Jackson State Sonic Boom of the South and the Tennessee State Aristocrat of Bands are two of the best Black college bands in America, and their annual battle is very much worth seeing. In addition, they both have first-rate percussion sections that battle, the War and Thunder from Jackson State, and the Rat Patrol from Tennessee State. After some games, there is an event known as the “Fifth Quarter”, in which the bands battle back and forth for a significant period of time, but that didn’t occur at this year’s classic.











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Late Afternoon at the Southern Heritage Classic

201 SHC202 DJ Tru203 SHC204 SHC205 SHC206 SHC207 SHC208 SHC209 SHC210 SHC211 SHC212 SHC213 Probeat DJ's214 Probeat DJ's216 Probeat DJ's217 SHC218 SHC219 DJ Juice The Great220 Alphas Tailgate221 Alphas Tailgate222 Alphas Tailgate223 SHC224 SHC225 SHC226 Game before the Game227 Game Before The Game228 Game Before The Game229 Game Before The Game230 Game Before The Game231 Game Before The Game232 SHC233 SHC234 SHC235 SHC236 SHC237 SHC238 SHC239 SHC240 SHC241 SHC242 SHC243 SHC244 SHC245 SHC246 SHC247 SHC248 SHC249 SHC250 Hollywood Street251 Hollywood Street
The Southern Heritage Classic tailgating is an all-day party, and the festivities continue in full swing until sunset. Even though some people finally enter the Liberty Bowl and attend the game, many enjoy the barbecue, music and dancing at their tents until late in the evening.

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Coors Memphis Celebrating the Southern Heritage Classic With John Williams and the A440 Band

139 SHC140 SHC141 SHC142 SHC143 Jookin'144 SHC145 Coors Bar146 Mayor A. C. Wharton147 Mayor A. C. Wharton148 A440 Band149 A440 Band150 A440 Band151 A440 Band153 A440 Band154 A440 Band155 John Williams156 John Williams157 John Williams158 A440 Band159 John Williams160 A440 Band161 A440 Band162 A440 Band163 A440 Band164 John Williams165 A440 Band166 John Williams167 A440 Band168 A440 Band169 A440 Band170 A440 Band171 A440 Band172 A440 Band174 A440 Band175 A440 Band176 A440 Band178 A440 Band179 A440 Band180 Mayor Wharton's Coors Party181 Mayor's Party182 A440 Band183 A440 Band184 A440 Band185 A440 Band186 Coors Bar187 A440 Band188 Mayor's Party190 Mayor's Party191 Mayor's Party192 Mayor's Party193 SHC194 SHC195 SHC196 SHC197 SHC198 Mayor's Party199 Coors Cadillac200 Mayor's Party1842 SHC1844 Coors Bar1845 Mayor A. C. Wharton1846 John Williams and the A440 Band
During the tailgating day at the Southern Heritage Classic, the ultimate destination is the official City of Memphis party sponsored by Coors Memphis, on what is roughly the site of the old Tim McCarver Stadium. The event is technically private and invitation only, but fortunately, I have never had a problem getting inside. There’s always an appearance by Mayor A. C. Wharton, and other politicians, and a big stage with plenty of live blues and soul. This year the featured band was John Williams and the A440 Band, playing lots of great blues and soul for the crowd, and Coors had set up some really cool portable bars complete with upstairs lounges with couches and an awesome view of the entire Fairgrounds. Great food, drink, music and weather- you couldn’t ask for a better time.



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Tailgating at Tiger Lane During The Southern Heritage Classic

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The tailgating at the Southern Heritage Classic is like a gigantic party at Memphis’ Tiger Lane outside the Liberty Bowl. There are tents and campers sponsored by all kinds of organizations- Black fraternities and sororities, Cowboy and Steeler fan clubs, DJ coalitions, Memphis businesses like Coors and FedEx and more. People run into people they know everywhere, and vendors are set up selling everything from food to T-shirts. The grassy midway becomes home to a lot of pickup football games, and the smell of barbecue is everywhere. Some tents have buffet lines, and even professional DJ’s to keep the party atmosphere rolling. Many of these people will never enter the stadium, but they have a great time anyway.

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Celebrating The Culture of Orange Mound at the Southern Heritage Classic Parade

027 SHC Parade028 SHC Parade029 Kirby Middle Band030 Kirby Middle Band031 Kirby Middle Band032 Stop The Killing033 Titan Fans034 Star Steppers036 SHC Parade037 SHC Parade038 SHC Parade039 A. B. Hill Elementary MajorettesJPG040 Drummers Without Drums041 Elite Starz042 Elite Starz043 Elite Starz044 Elite Starz045 Elite Starz046 Elite Starz047 Southwind High School Band048 Southwind High School Band049 Southwind High School Band050 Southwind High School Band051 Southwind High School Band052 Southwind High School Band053 Old School Biker054 SHC Parade055 Cowboy Fans056 Cowboy Fans057 Oakhaven High School Band058 Oakhaven High School Band059 Oakhaven High School Band060 Oakhaven High School Band061 Oakhaven High School Band062 Oakhaven High School Band064 SHC Parade065 SHC Parade066 SHC Parade067 SHC Parade068 SHC Parade069 Old School Bikers070 Old School Bikers071 Old School Bikers072 Old School Bikers073 Hickory Ridge Middle Band074 Hickory Ridge Middle Band075 Hickory Ridge Middle Band076 Hickory Ridge Middle Band077 SHC Parade078 SHC Parade079 Steeler Nation080 Steeler Fans081 Steeler FansJPG082 Steeler Fans083 Steeler Nation084 Steeler Nation085 Steeler Fans086 Steeler Fans087 Steeler Fans088 SHC Parade089 North Memphis Tigers090 Vikings Fans091 Melrose Float092 Melrose High School Band093 Melrose High School Band094 Melrose High School Band095 Melrose High School Band096 Melrose High School Band097 Melrose High School Band098 SHC Parade1837 SHC Parade1839 Melrose Flags1841 Java Cabana
The Southern Heritage Classic Parade is a lot more than just another parade. Held on the early Saturday morning of the Southern Heritage Classic game, the parade proceeds down Park Avenue through the historic Orange Mound neighborhood, and becomes a rallying point for the neighborhood. Parade entries include local school bands, the bands from Jackson State and Tennessee State, custom cars, Memphis fan clubs for NFL teams like the Steelers and the Cowboys, drill teams, drumlines and politicians. The Melrose High School Sound of the Mound band always brings up the rear, and draws a large cheer from the crowds along the sidelines.


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Enjoying the Southern Heritage Classic Parade in Orange Mound

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The annual Southern Heritage Classic is far more than a football game. Each year, on the Saturday morning of the game at 9 AM, the Southern Heritage Classic Parade begins from the corner of Park Avenue and Haynes Street, and proceeds along Park through Orange Mound to the Lamar-Airways Shopping Center. The parade usually includes the Jackson State University and Tennessee State University bands, along with majorettes, drill teams,drumlines, Cowboys and Steelers fan clubs, car clubs and many others. There used to be more marching bands in the parade as well, but for the last few years, the parade has conflicted with the Southern Heritage Classic Battle of the Bands in Whitehaven, so there have been fewer bands recently, but the hometown favorites, the Melrose High School Sound of the Mound Marching Band always closes out the parade. It’s always a lot of fun, family and food.