Tommy Hunter

Biographical notes
 TOMMY_HUNTER_(fiddler) (1919-1993) was an old-time fiddler, whose grandfather, James Wylie Hunter, and his great uncle, Jess Hunter, were both fiddlers, although many in his extended family could sing, dance or play an instrument. The family band was called "Uncle Jim's Band" ("Fiddlin' Jim" was his aforementioned grandfather) and in demand to play dances around Madison County. Tommy's father, Roswell Garland Hunter (b. 1898) played five-string banjo with the band (in two-finger and three-finger non-Sruggs style), at a time (1920's) when the instrument was still fairly rare in his region. Tommy joined the band at age 12, and later joined the Morris Brothers as their fiddler. World War II intervened, and he was in the army, serving in Africa and Italy (he was at Anzio Beach). When he returned four years later he picked up musically with Tommy Hunter's String Band (who recorded for Prestige International in 1961). In the early 1970's he started playing with the Hornpipers, including Mack Snodderly on twin fiddle and Carroll Best on banjo, and in 1976 recorded an album of his tunes, "Deep in Tradition" with John McCutcheon for June Appal Records. Hunter received several awards and accolades, including the North Carolina Folk Heritage award in 1989. For further information see Hilary Dirlam, "Music is about Feelings: An Interview with Tommy Hunter", Old Time Herald, April 1990, pp. 17-20.