Community History 365 | Johnson City, TN

Marching with Excellence: Veral Jean Neal, Evelyn Fields Debro, and the Langston Band

Episode Summary

Welcome to Community History 365! CH365 tells stories from Johnson City's rich multicultural history, stories you've probably never heard. This month we hear from two former majorettes in Langston High School's marching band. Both Veral Jean Goddard Neal and Evelyn Fields Debro remember marching downtown with the rest of the Langston band. All sorts of people lined the streets to hear them play. In this episode, hear Jean and Evelyn tell stories of the complex relationship Langston students had with downtown Johnson City.

Episode Notes

Welcome to Community History 365! CH365 tells stories from Johnson City's rich multicultural history, stories you've probably never heard. This month we hear from two former majorettes in Langston High School's marching band.  

Both Veral Jean Goddard Neal and Evelyn Fields Debro remember marching downtown with the rest of the Langston band. All sorts of people lined the streets to hear them play. In this episode, hear Jean and Evelyn tell stories of the complex relationship Langston students had with downtown Johnson City. 

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- CH365 is a production of the Langston Centre Media Lab

- Host: Karen Sullivan

- Producers: Kelvin Scott & Isaac Wood

- Writer: Isaac Wood

- Mix and Master: Kelvin Scott

- Multicultural Engagement Manager for the Langston Centre: Adam Dickson

- Thank you to LEAD and to the City of Johnson City’s Parks and Recreation Department for supporting Community History 365. 

- Many thanks to Jean Goddard Neal, Evelyn Fields Debro, Angelo Newman, and Johnny Russaw for sharing their stories.

- Thank you to the Community History 365 History Task Force for giving their collaboration and expertise.

- The Community History 365 theme song is called “Feels Good to Be” and comes from audionautix.com

- The cover photo for this episode came from stateoffranklin.net

Sources

Information about Masengill's Specialty Shop:

- https://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_books/constitution/site27.htm

- https://www.johnsoncitypress.com/news/business/masengills-specialty-shop-celebrates-100-years-of-business/article_f936fcd5-5e29-5ac4-a510-966773f6f903.html

Recordings

Music from freesound.org:

- I don't beleve (wurlitzer) by EKVelika -- https://freesound.org/s/411470/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

- marchingband2.wav by nfrae -- https://freesound.org/s/195370/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

- High School Marching Band 01.wav by thepodcastdoctor -- https://freesound.org/s/486664/ -- License: Creative Commons 0