You may not know his name, but if you are in the same area as Dennis Dudley, chances are you have heard music he belts out on his set of bagpipes.

A Jackson native, South Side High School graduate, and former member of the military, Pipe Sargent Dennis Dudley latched onto this unique musical instrument at an early age, and it’s not uncommon to see – or hear – him at different venues in the Jackson area, especially the West Tennessee Farmers’ Market.

“My heritage was Scottish, Northern Irish, so I grew up with pipes,” Dudley said, “I’m part of the Sgt. Alvin C. York Pipes and Drums Military Pipe Band. We do all Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force funerals.

“I’m the piper who did the funeral for Gov. (Ned) McWherter.”

Dudley said shortly after 9/11, he was recruited.

“A Lt. Colonel saw what was being done at funerals with bagpipes and drums,” Dudley said, “He said ‘if we had our own pipers, we could do our own services, and it means a lot to military personnel.'”

That’s when Dudley said a call went out nationwide to recruit bagpipers.

“That’s how I was pulled in,” Dudley said, “In Nov. 2018, we got to play for the French Ambassador in Nashville for the 100 year anniversary for the first World War.

“With bagpipes, you don’t get a second chance. There are no gray areas, no middle ground, and I haven’t messed up one, yet.

“Bagpipers are really good or they are (horrible).”

Dudley is also asked to play at Christmas parties and birthday parties, and it was an easy guess which song is requested most.

“Amazing Grace,” Dudley said, “You would think only at funerals, but I get just as many requests for ‘Amazing Grace’ at birthday parties as I do ‘Happy Birthday.'”

He also makes appearances for weddings and anniversaries.

“No matter the occasion, ‘Amazing Grace’ is requested,'” Dudley said, “As long as people enjoy, I’ll continue to do it.”

(PHOTO: Dennis Dudley)