Thornton Spencer - The Smyth County Jam welcomes back a very special musician; Thornton Spencer. Thornton was born in Grayson County, Virginia in 1935. His brother-in-law was Albert Hash, who encouraged him to take up the fiddle; he had begun on guitar. Thornton said Albert promised to get him a fiddle if he could play two or three numbers on it. The rest, as they say is history. Thornton married Emily Paxton and they have two very talented children; Martha and Kilby. They formed the Whitetop Mountain Band and have travelled far and wide to take their music to many places including foreign countries. Every where they go they are well received. Thornton says he began to be interested in music at an early age around nine years old. He says he learned to back Albert up on the fiddle. Thornton says music is a large part of his life. He could not name a favorite musician, as there are too many to mention!
