5 minute read
Member Spotlight: Dr. Solie Fott
BY BECKY WOOD, MANAGING EDITOR
Solie Fott always knew he’d pursue a life in music, ever since he received a violin for his sixth birthday.
“My mother decided that for me — her only child was going to be the world’s greatest violinist... Well, that didn’t happen,” he recalled with a smile.
A self-proclaimed fiddle player from Chattanooga, Fott spent time as a violinist in the Chattanooga and Nashville Symphonies
before continuing his career as a professor of music and session musician for iconic artists. Truly a modern renaissance man, he is a connoisseur of fine wines, a master of puns and wordplay, an avid collector of art and kaleidoscopes, a mean bridge player and a dedicated advocate of the Customs House Museum & Cultural Center.
Dr. Fott came to Clarksville in 1958 when he took a “one-year” teaching gig at Austin Peay State University. “A fellow fiddler in the Nashville Symphony told me he had just gotten a year’s leave of absence [at APSU] to start work on his doctorate, and asked me to take his place for a year,” explained Fott. “If you happen to run into Ed Stover, tell him I waited 42 years for him to come back.”
Dr. Fott (top right) prepares for an APSU faculty recital with Joanne Hackman and Dr. Thomas Cowan.
The All State, February 26, 1963 Austin Peay State University Felix G. Woodward Library, Archives & Special Collections
In addition to conducting the orchestra and various string courses, Fott found special enjoyment in teaching music appreciation classes, reveling in the opportunity to build young audiences and broaden their musical horizons. Now a professor emeritus, Fott retired from APSU in 2000 after more than four decades in which he was the founding president of the faculty senate, worked to establish the Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts and served as chair of the music department for 20 years.
“He contributed mightily to the atmosphere of the music department because of his musicianship, and as chair, he was always advocating for the department at every level,” said Dr. Sharon Mabry, who retired in 2022 after a record 52 years as a music professor at Austin Peay. “His door was always open, and he was a great person to go to for advice.”
Solie Fott sits for an interview.
Courtesy of the Clarksville Community Network
It is clear that Fott’s time as an educator has made a profound impact on his life. “He has an incredible memory, I suspect he remembers the name of every student he ever taught,” continued Mabry. “Even today, he tells stories about former students and can remember every detail – even 40 years back.”
To supplement his teaching income throughout the 1960s and 70s, Fott began working as a session musician in Nashville. Making the drive along 41A to and from the studios of Music Row, Fott participated in over 2,000 recording sessions that resulted in an incredible discography full of albums by Patsy Cline, Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley and many others.
His interest in the arts extends far beyond music alone, and in the 1950s, he began collecting art with his late wife Mary. “We saw an awful lot of pictures that we could not afford... but if you decide that you can eat hamburgers instead of cheeseburgers, that saves enough money where you can splurge a little bit and buy something.” He started collecting kaleidoscopes in the early 1990s, inspired by Mary’s penchant for collecting niche Santa Clauses. He now owns over 400 of the optical instruments, and one-of-a-kind art lines the walls of his Clarksville home.
Solie Fott with his sons, David and Galen.
Courtesy of the Fott Family
“Solie has not only been a consistent supporter of the Museum, but that of the exhibiting artists who have come through our galleries over the years,” said Terri Jordan, Curator of Exhibits. “His eye for talent and quality of technique have given validation to artists, at all points in their careers, with the financial support from his purchases. It is always a great trip down memory lane for me personally when I get to revisit these great works of art at the Fott home.”
Dr. Solie Fott directs the APSU Orchestra during their 1975 Winter Concert.
Farewell and Hail, 1975, Austin Peay State University Felix G. Woodward Library, Archives & Special Collections
Dr. Fott accepts the 2022 Gracey Award from Executive Director Frank Lott and Board Chairwoman Jamie Durrett at Flying High.
Photo by Karla Tucker
Fott retired from APSU in 2000 after more than four decades in which he was the founding president of the faculty senate, worked to establish the Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts and served as chair of the music department for 20 years.
For his exceptional and loyal friendship to the Museum, which included a six-year term on the Board of Trustees, Fott was the recipient of the 2022 Gracey Award to recognize his valuable gifts of time, treasure and talent to this community institution. Overall, Dr. Fott feels lucky to have supported his life and family through education and music.
Dr. Fott, conductor of the university orchestra, makes plans for an upcoming concert with featured oboist Dr. T. H. Keahey.
The All State, May 21, 1969 Austin Peay State University Felix G. Woodward Library, Archives & Special Collections
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