This month’s mystery employee is Donald Neary!
He works in the City Tax Department and has been with the City for 11 years. He’s called East Tennessee home for 14 years.
Maybe you’ve seen him play live music around East Tennessee. His current band, Tenn Pan Alley, has been together for six years.
Don sings and plays guitar, flute and harmonica. He’s played in bands since he was 18 years old.
Don’s hometown is Palisades Park, New Jersey. When he was 23, he owned a bar there, called Neary’s Pub. But only for a couple of years, he says. “I sold it after getting tired of breaking up fights!”
His proximity to the Meadowlands Race Track led him to be in attendance on its opening day in 1976. It was a fortuitous visit.
“I won $100 that day, and decided I wanted to be involved with horses, so I became a licensed harness race driver. Never won a race though!”
Look for Don at a music venue -- or office -- near you!