The Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park

Smith Carson, known as "Spike" Carson was a noted African-American piano player from Pennington Gap in Lee County, Virginia. He never studied music, but expressed his talent as "just took it up himself" and played since he was big enough to sit at a piano. Carson's band included five members from Big Stone Gap, Pennington Gap, and one from Norton, Ed Duncan. With the exception of Duncan, all the members of the band were African-American and instruments played included saxophones, electric guitar, and bass violin with Carson on piano. Spike Carson was the opening performer on the Virgil Q. Cariety Show during the 1950's which was broadcast live on WCYB Channel 5. The band played numerous public and social events, including Mardi Gras in 1945. In 1948, Spike Carson's Band recorded an album featuring "As Time Goes By" and "Twilight Time."

The Carter Family (Music: 1920's-1940's)		Lesley Riddle (Music: 1920's-1940's)
Dock Boggs (Music: 1920's-1960's)		Kate O'Neil Peters Sturgill (Music: 1930's-1970's)
Harry Gay and Steve Tatar (Music: 1920's-1930's)		Carl Martin (Music: 1920's-1960's)
Spike Carson (Music: 1940's-1950's)		The Stanley Brothers (Music: 1940's-1960's)
Mother Maybelle (Music: 1940's-1970's)		Jim and Jesse McReynolds (Music: 1940's-1990's)
Dr. Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mountain Boys Music: 1940's-Present)		Janette Carter (Music: 1930's-Present)
Ralph Stanley II Music: 1990's-Present)		Blue Highway Music: 1990's - Present
EXHIBIT PHOTO SOURCES		EXHIBIT MATERIAL SOURCES