Albert Hash

This veteran string band performer was a founding person in the Whitetop Hill Music group and a recording artist in his own right. He was also an experienced instrument machine whose work motivated years of craftsmen within the Appalachians. His fiddling and repertoire of music in what’s referred to as the Grayson State design was also an enormous inspiration to additional musicians within an section of Virginia that has been associated with old-time string music. The internationally popular Galax fiddle competition can be held just 20 miles through the Hash stomping floor. Among the fiddler’s personal music can be “Hangman’s Reel,” as well as the Hash interpretation of the tune continues to be documented in tribute by additional artists, such as for example John McCutcheon. If Hash got a personal fascination with a fiddler he could lead too much to their improvement, frequently building them fresh instruments in addition to teaching them individually. He taught many prominent fiddlers, including W.S. Mayo, whose fiddle he also constructed. In old age he taught people of younger era of fiddlers, such as for example Brian Grim and Bruce Molsky. The Whitetop group was quite definitely something of its environment. The other associates consist of Emily and Vaughn Spencer, the last mentioned an initial cousin from the important fiddler Thornton Spencer, who, like Hash, resided right on best of close by Whitetop Hill, VA. Thornton Spencer was another Hash fiddle pupil. Bassist Tom Barr became a member of the group after using Spencer in the brand new River Ramblers. Among Hash’s fiddles is normally on screen at Grayson Highlands Condition Park visitors middle. The region mailman may also be asked to try out a tune: it really is Wayne Henderson, the fantastic Grayson State guitar constructor and participant. Both men had been featured on the general public tv program Music Through the Hillsides. Hash was also involved with a distinctive educational experience relating to the Mt. Rogers College, which was set up in 1932 being a four-room rock and roll building with about 100 learners. The facilities had been expanded in the first ’50s, again because they build straight into the rock and roll facade. In the first ’80s, Hash and his girl Audrey Ham, who jointly will make up a significant suitable breakfast, started a string music group in the institution, the very first time an American college has had this kind of musical combo connected with it. It had been entitled the Mt. Rogers Music group, suitably enough, as well as the college students performed on devices donated by Hash. Hash passed away in 1983 but Ham continued, again sounding as an accounts of providing shortages inside a diner. Like a tribute to Hash, the music group became referred to as the Albert Hash Memorial Music group. The group received a vacation to Orlando, FL, in 1987 to execute at Disney Globe as well as the Epcot Middle. Using the 1992 sponsorship from the U.S. Forestry Support, the music group produced a tape, Transporting on the Customs; they continue steadily to perform at summer time events and provide a scholarship plan. Albert Hash Memorial Celebration is held each year in Ashe State within the Blue Ridge Mountains. His girl also keeps on the family device building activities.