The University of Georgia’s marching band is going to end the tradition of performing the song “Tara’s Theme” from the film “Gone With the Wind”…
The University of Georgia’s marching band is going to end the tradition of performing the song “Tara’s Theme” from the film “Gone With the Wind” as the post football game concert opener.
The university’s Redcoat Band’s acting director, Brett Bawcum, said in a statement that the tune has been now replaced with “Georgia on My Mind,” which was popularized by Ray Charles before it was designated the official state song of Georgia. According to Bawcum, the band has been discussing whether to stop playing “Tara’s Theme” for months, but the “current social climate has highlighted the urgency of addressing it.”
“To be clear, the issue with the tradition is not the motivation of those who have embraced it, but rather the possibilities it may limit in those who haven’t,” he wrote, emphasizing that the band has a history of removing “Dixie” from its name and taking the song out of its setlist, a decision aimed to create more “sense of belonging” in Black band members at the time.
