Mitchell Moser - After a lengthy illness and hospitalization Mitchell is back with us. He says he can't wait until he is well enough to play--the Smyth County Jam can't wait either. We have missed Mitchell a lot. Mitchell has played with some really first class bands, over a long period of time. He played with the Stanley Brothers, some with Mac Wiseman and with Carl Story for nineteen years! Mitchell's dad played banjo at one time. Mitchell lives in the rural Chilhowie area, not too far from the jam. When the musicians Mitchell was playing with came to this area Mitchell's folks would always keep them and of course feed them. He says as many as fifty would be given a meal and sent on their way. He has been playing music about seventy years, playing both bass and mandolin extremely well. Mitchell says he made his first recording at age six; a rendition of "The Great Speckled Bird"; He still has the record! Horton Barker, once our local ballad singer, (who was raised near by), gave Mitchell encouragement and showed him a few chords on the guitar and from there, Mitchell's talent took off.
