A Chattanoogan Comes Full Circle (With His Music) - Dennis Haskins

Occasionally a photojournalist has an opportunity to sit down and share stories and photos with nationally known celebrities. Most of the time the photographer is behind the camera and jotting down mental notes about the event setting/conversations to generate a photographic documentary of the moment. However, not too often do native Chattanoogans who leave to pursue high profile careers such as Samuel L.

Jackson or Dennis Haskins take time to be photographed or interviewed.  This past year I spent a few minutes with both actors in their return to Chattanooga.

Perhaps the one that intrigued me the most is Dennis Haskins, probably best known for his role of Bayside High principal Mr. Belding on the teen sitcom Saved by the Bell. However, long before he played the lovable school administrator, Haskins worked as a music manager, agent and concert promoter. He soon forayed into acting, however, playing a role on the very first Dukes of Hazzard and appearing in the show Magnum, P.I. 

Then, in 1988, Good Morning, Miss Bliss starring Hayley Mills was produced for the Disney Channel and NBC co-produced the show. While Miss Bliss didn't continue, the role did. Haskins scored the iconic role of Mr. Belding in Saved by the Bell in 1989 that would make him such a familiar face, and he continued with the original show for its entire four-year run. He then appeared on all six seasons of Saved by the Bell: The New Class airing first run on NBC through 2000.

Haskins has portrayed a wide variety of other roles in addition to “Saved By The Bell.” Early on he appeared in Archie Bunker's Place, Hardcastle & McCormick, and Magnum P.I. and most recently worked with Betty White in “Hot In Cleveland” and Charlize Theron in “A Million Ways To Die In The West.”

Dennis Haskins was born on November 18, 1950, in Chattanooga. He attended Our Lady of Perpetual Help and Notre Dame High School. He also attended the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and was a basketball player on the UTC team, as well as a fraternity brother of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity. 

During the 70's and before he began his acting career, he was a music manager, agent, and concert promoter. He has worked with recording artists such as Tom Jones, Leon Russell and Greg Allman to name a few.

He also appeared as a contestant on a television game show called Scrabble, with host Chuck Woolery. In Los Angeles, Dennis Haskins appears to have gone back to the music profession, in a way. He has made a number of recordings for albums, CDs and DVDs. He is a big fan of Karaoke and has always loved to sing along to his favorite tunes. He recorded an album titled, "Karaoke with Your Favorite Principal, Dennis Haskins, aka. Mr. Belding." And recently, Shooter Jennings produced two songs, What a Wonderful World and For The Good Times/Delilah, for National Record Store Day 2015.

The first time I met Dennis was during a tribute to the passing of Keith Sherman in 2014, a reunion benefit for the late singer’s charity.  Keith Sherman was a singer/songwriter and front man with The Overland Express.   The tribute in his honor resulted in a sell-out capacity crowd at Rhythm & Brews. Dennis Haskins was Overland Express's manager and acted as the master of ceremonies for the event. He was joined on stage with other local Chattanooga Live Music pioneers such as Jimmy Tawater, Roger Alan Wade, James Rogers, Kim Forrester, Lou Wamp, Kris Phillips, Rick Williams, members of The Beaters and more. Also, Mike Dougher, Wild Bill Prescott, Joe "Dixie" Fuller, and Bob Martin provided vital support as well as Rhythm & Brews hosted the event.  

It isn’t uncommon to see Dennis in town supporting his beloved UTC Mocs sports programs. He attends basketball, football and other sporting events.   I recently photographed a documentary project with the UTC Library where Dennis gifted his original scripts for all of his Saved By The Bell shows, in addition to a full set of videos of each show and other memorabilia for a lifetime exhibit to be displayed in the spring 2016 at the new library. It was learned shortly thereafter that Dennis had completed his remaining requirement for his pending degree and would graduate in December last year.  

Documenting his UTC graduation and spending more time with Dennis allowed me to explore more about his involvement in the 70's with the Chattanooga Live Music scene during his almost four years at UTC, managing Overland Express and other significant music endeavors in Chattanooga prior to his departure in the early 80's to pursue his acting, I interviewed Mr. Haskins about his involvement and impact in the Chattanooga Live Music scene during the 70’s especially his creating the original Concerts in the Park at Engel Stadium and as manager of Overland Express. 

I put his involvement as significant as an early pioneer with Jimmy Tawater, Roger Alan Wade, James Rogers, Keith Sherman/Overland Express (Haskins). Bobby & the Playboys,  Norman Blake, Hazelwood, Vivatones (Paul Stone), and   Danny Shirley (a/k/a Confederate Railroad) Band. Dennis explained much about his love for Chattanooga as well as his passion for music and the musical influence he once shared.   There’s a lot more detail I could go into, but I’m writing a story and not an autobiography. 

Dennis and I both attended the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga during the same period. While I was pursuing geology, secondary education and photography; Dennis was studying theater and speech as well as being entertainment chairman of UTC. I cannot say our paths crossed, but I recall catching Overland Express at Yesterdays and The Brass Register and Roger Alan Wade at Mayo’s Bar & Grills among other places.

Here's a list of Dennis’s music and entertainment highlights in the decade from 1970-1980 prior to leaving Chattanooga for Hollywood.

• Social chairman Kappa Sigma fraternity

• UTC Entertainment committee

• UTC Entertainment chairman (3 years)

• National Entertainment Conference Southeast Board(NECAA now NACA)

• Battle of the Bands @ National Guard Armory

• Concerts in the Park - Engel Stadium

• Dennis Haskins Presents

    Blood, Sweat, and Tears - Mem Auditorium

    Ike and Tina Turner - UTC

    The Spinners - UTC

    The James Gang - Mem Auditorium

    Leon Russell - Engel Stadium

• Overland Express (Artist Manager)

• Canyon Band (Artist Manager)

• Tracy Sesler and Diane Scannell (Artist Manager)

• Cheyenne (Knoxville band) Artist Manager

• Humour – booking agent

Charlie Daniels - at Concerts in the Park - Joe Sullivan

Charlie Daniels special appearance at Yesterday's with Overland Express through Joe Sullivan and Ben Jumper

As witnessed by the incredible impact of the Saved By The Bell reunion on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon last February, Dennis Haskins is still one of America's favorite television principals, and is still a big hit with the young people in high schools, as well as college campuses. 

Since 2000, Haskins has visited college campuses to entertain with motivational speaking with his "Mr. Belding on Campus" show.

He was honored by UTC with an award for the Most Distinguished Alumni of 2000. 

Appearances for Mr.Belding’s Boys of Summer Baseball Tour support family entertainment at minor league baseball games across the country with meet and greets with the fans. 

Dennis makes appearances at high profile nightclubs in Atlantic City, New York, Las Vegas and others. He has flown with the Blue Angels and toured with USO and Navy Entertainment to entertain our troops in many countries around the world.

In 2016, Dennis Haskins is inducted into the Chattanooga Music Hall of Fame for his early contributions in the Chattanooga Live Music scene. 

In conclusion, Saved by the Bell may have ended, but our beloved Mr. Belding is just getting started.  You may join the thousands of his fans that follow him on social media on Twitter at @MrBelding, Instagram at #RealMrBelding and visit his web page at www.dennishaskins.com 

(Mark A Herndon, certified professional geologist and professional photographer grew up in Chattanooga area, attending Ooltewah & Central High later graduated from the University of Tennessee in Chattanooga.  He is the Entertainment and Chattanooga cityscape/event photographer affiliated with Chattanoogan.com and contributor to magazines, venues and various festivals including Riverbend Festival, Nightfall Music Series, Road To Nightfall, Riverfront Nights, Southern Brewery Festival, Roof Top Hop, Wine Over Water, Tivoli Theatre Foundation, AC Entertainment, Track 29, Revelry Room Clyde’s On Main  and other venue events. Check out more at www.facebook.com/chattanoogalivemusic  Twitter @ChattaLiveMusic,  Instagram #ChattanoogaLiveMusic  and Email at MAHerndon@ChattanoogaLiveMusic.com )