Class With A Living Legend
Every Wednesday at 7:10 I join 99 other incredibly lucky Vanderbilt students and spend the next two and a half hours with a living legend, Professor Jim Foglesong. The class, Business of Music, meets once a week, and could not be taught by somebody more qualified or more distinguished. At the young age of 89, Foglesong has accomplished more than is imaginable in a lifetime. He was a Music Row executive in the 1970s and 1980s, and was the President of Dot, ABC, Capitol Records and MCA, where he was responsible for signing Don Williams, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, and the Oak Ridge Boys, among many others. And in 2004, Fogleson was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, the culmination of his incredible career in the music industry.
Foglesong’s resume makes his class amazing by itself. To gain his years of insight into the industry that is such a large part of the city of Nashville’s identity (Music City) sheds new light upon something that is, for many of us, a defining part of our lives. But beyond Foglesong’s expertise exist his innumerable connections in all facets of the music industry. Each week, to our delight, our class is focused on a guest speaker who, as a favor to their pal Jim, come in and lend their perspectives to us. From Peter McCann the songwriter responsible for the Top 10 hit “Do You Wanna Make Love” in 1977, to Dave Pomeroy the reknown bassist, incredible people enter our class every week.
So here’s to you, Professor Foglesong, one of the many incredible professors at Vandy!