East Tennessee Musician Luke Brogden Balances Teaching and Performing

Brogden has been a fixture on the local music scene for over 20 years while also teaching high school students.

Published on Feb. 4, 2026

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Luke Brogden has been a staple on the East Tennessee music scene for the last two decades, playing in bands and staying involved as much as he can - all while teaching high school kids about life and media in today's society, and making differences in their lives. Brogden is a lefty guitarist who has moved from Americana and rock to horn-laced pop and R&B, maintaining his principles and integrity throughout.

Why it matters

Brogden's story highlights how some musicians are able to balance their creative passions with careers outside of music, in this case as a high school teacher. His commitment to the local music scene and his students demonstrates how the arts can positively impact a community.

The details

Brogden got his start in the early 2000s playing in local punk, metal and alternative bands around Kingsport and Johnson City. He's been involved in numerous projects over the years, including Antiphobia, Blue Collar, Half-Asian Invasion, E*V*O, Luke9 and the Rudeboys, and Southern Cities. His current band is called Responsible Parties, which plays a mix of indie styles like reggae-punk, grunge, and powerpop, as well as covers.

  • Brogden started playing guitar around the start of high school in the late 1990s.
  • He played his first ever set at a mic night at John D's in Downtown Kingsport when he was 15 years old.
  • Brogden swore to himself in his friend's honor at his funeral in college to never stop making music, which he has upheld.
  • Brogden has played around 500 shows between 2010 and today, with plans to play many more before retiring.

The players

Luke Brogden

A lefty guitarist who has been a fixture on the East Tennessee music scene for over 20 years, playing in various bands while also working as a high school teacher.

Responsible Parties

Brogden's current band that plays a mix of indie styles like reggae-punk, grunge, and powerpop, as well as covers.

Antiphobia, Blue Collar, Half-Asian Invasion, E*V*O, Luke9 and the Rudeboys, Southern Cities

Some of the bands Brogden has been involved with over the years in the Kingsport and Johnson City music scenes.

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What they’re saying

“I grew up with my dad playing music at church and strumming '70s Laurel Canyon-type tunes at home. I got a guitar around the start of high school like '98 or '99, and wrote my first song trying to win a girl over.”

— Luke Brogden (timesnews.net)

“I've always enjoyed talking about music as a fan and as a rock writer; I love booking and producing music as an event guy; I love writing music as a songwriter; and I love traveling to and for music, and of course playing it live with others and recording it in the studios.”

— Luke Brogden (timesnews.net)

What’s next

Brogden and his band Responsible Parties plan to release an EP on Spotify by April 2026 and continue playing shows in the East Tennessee area.

The takeaway

Luke Brogden's story shows how some musicians are able to balance their creative passions with careers outside of music, in his case as a high school teacher. His commitment to the local music scene and his students demonstrates the positive impact the arts can have on a community.