Nashville in Davidson County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Don Q. Pullen

1912 - 1990

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, September 3, 2026

1. Don Q. Pullen Marker

Inscription. A Pearl High School graduate, Don Q. Pullen received undergraduate and master's degrees from Tennessee State University and did further graduate study at the University of Denver and Juilliard School of Music. A member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Pullen wrote the music and lyrics for the fraternity's "Sweetheart Song," adopted at the 1940 Nashville Grand Conclave. After serving as a Navy bandmaster in World War II, Pullen joined Washington Jr. High School's faculty in 1944.

Side 2

At Washington Jr. High School, Pullen composed the school's alma mater and increased the school's instrumental music department to a 60-member concert band, a 24-member string ensemble and a 75-piece band complete with majorettes. In 1959 he began an annual summer concert series at Hadley Park that ran throughout the 1960s. Pullen emceed each event, which ranged from jazz to gospel to opera arias by Verdi. In 2017, the Metro Board of Parks named the park's bandshell in his honor.

Erected 2026 by The Historical Commission of Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County. (Marker Number 295.)

Topics and series. This historical

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marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Arts, Letters, Music • Education • Fraternal or Sororal Organizations. In addition, it is included in the Tennessee, The Historical Commission of Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County series list.

Location. 36° 9.941′ N, 86° 49.224′ W. Marker is in Nashville, Tennessee, in Davidson County. It is on 28th Avenue North, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1024 28th Avenue N, Nashville TN 37208, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Middle Tennessee.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Patton House / John Thomas Patton (within shouting

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, September 3, 2026

2. Don Q. Pullen Marker

distance of this marker); Hadley Park (within shouting distance of this marker); John A. Merritt (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Joseph "Yusef" Harris (about 700 feet away); Tennessee State University Athletics (approx. 0.2 miles away); Tennessee State University (approx. 0.2 miles away); Edward Stanley Temple (approx. 0.2 miles away); Students of Tennessee State University and the Civil Rights Movement (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Nashville.

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, September 3, 2026

3. Don Q. Pullen Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on September 5, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 4, 2026, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. This page has been viewed 7 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 4, 2026, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.