“The Tennessee Waltz,” written in 1946 and copyrighted in 1948, was named one of Tennessee’s official state songs in 1965 and is a perennial favorite rendition of UT pep bands—particularly following a win. It was written by Frank “Pee Wee” King (born Julius Frank Anthony Kuczynski) and fellow band member Redd Stewart. According to King and Stewart, “Tennessee Waltz” was written on an unfolded matchbook as they were riding in Stewart’s truck. King’s recording of the song did well but was eclipsed by Patti Page’s version, which sold 65 million copies.
On September 13, 2013, as part of the opening events celebrating the Natalie L. Haslam Music Center, US Senator and former UT President Lamar Alexander and his wife, Honey, along with three other couples, gave UT the original manuscript of “Tennessee Waltz” for display in the music center. King and Stewart, upon arrival in Nashville, transferred their song from the matchbox to a sheet of music. The original sheet music of a song is known as a lead sheet, and it is this original manuscript that the Alexanders and three other couples gave UT.
Alexander presented the lead sheet to Haslam before playing “Tennessee Waltz” on one of the new Steinway pianos for her and a gathering of the music center’s supporters.