Rick Roop recently played the National Athem at Cumberland Gap High School before the varsity basketball games. Roop has made the circle from a high school band student to an artist. He shared a few of his thoughts with The Zone, “I think back to a place when times were less complicated not so stressful and more energetic. I remember having no thoughts of paying bills finding jobs or buying a much-needed auto for travel.”
Roop also recalls his thoughts about his music while being young, “Most of my imagination was merely focused on playing my song, perhaps given to me by my band director or listened by myself on my way to school or church. Trying to figure out how to play the melody on the trumpet, keyboard or guitar was my selected thought while proceeding throughout the day. It’s a practice often pursued when I was there back then. Little did I know that this habit would follow me the rest of my life filtering in and out the crevices of my heart and mind at that age.
Rick can’t help but feel pride at how far his music has taken him, “When I was walking off the court at Tex Turner Arena in Harrogate, Tennessee after playing the National Anthem on my trumpet in the middle of the Lincoln Memorial University logo I am still inspired by the little boy that played in the bands of both Claiborne County and Powell Valley High. The gift of education can never be underestimated, nor can it be sold at a great price. It’s such a great feeling to be able once again to play this amazing song called the Star-Spangled Banner in an amazing place called Claiborne County and to hopefully inspire future generations of students and parents to listen to their music.”
Rick Roop has spoken with Claiborne officials and will soon be performing before the basketball games at Claiborne High School. His message is simple, “I want to get more young people interested in music and all its benefits.”
Article information and photos provided by Rick Roop, video by AE.
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