Cumberland University, my alma mater and place of employment, has a rich history with graduates who have gone on to great success.
Cordell Hull served as Secretary of State under Franklin Roosevelt and won the Nobel Prize for Peace.
Howell Edmunds Jackson was a Justice of the United States Supreme Court.
Horace Harmon Lurton was also a Justice of the United States Supreme Court.
There have been numerous governors, United States Senators and members of the House of Representatives.
We talk about those people all of the time. However, we tend to neglect those who have gained fame in the music industry. In the past few days, this has been brought to my attention.
Chloe Kohanski, one of our former students, won this season of The Voice. She now has a recording contract, and all of us at Cumberland wish her great success.
After her victory, my friend Tick informed me that others who have walked our campus have gone on to musical success. Yes, this is the south, and we have people named Tick. I also know people named Squirrel, Burrhead, Buckwheat, Pee Wee and Honeybun.
Anyway, Tick provided a few names that I found interesting.
Fred Young, drummer for The Kentucky Headhunters, went to Cumberland University. The group started playing together in 1968 and became an “overnight” success in 1989 when they had four Top 40 hits. They also won a Grammy. Unfortunately, they were not able to follow up that success.
Russell Smith was the lead singer for the Amazing Rhythm Aces. In 1975, they had a huge hit with “Third Rate Romance.” Smith went on to become a successful songwriter in Nashville. Ironically, he grew up next door to my father-in-law in LaFayette, Tennessee.
Of course, this list would not be complete without the former Cumberland student with the greatest musical legacy – my friend Tick.
He has been performing around here for years and has his own Youtube channel. You should head over there and check him out. There are some great performances and more information about local musical history. You will learn about the days when the Allman Brothers and Paul McCartney hung out in town.
SBI: A Thinning Crowd 
Now I don’t feel as self-conscious being stationed in Boston where people have names like Osgood, Fenwick, Penworthy and Dutch. (I don’t know what that last guy is all about, but I suspect he’s a carpetbagger from New Jersey.)
Looks like there are weird names in all parts of the country.