The high-energy Whitetop Mountain Band originated in the 1940s with Albert Hash, whose “Hangman’s Reel” is a staple of old-time musicians. Hash was joined in the ‘70’s by in-laws Thornton and Emily Spencer, now joined by daughter Emily, Jackson Cunningham, Spencer Pennington and Debbie Bramer. WMB records regularly, tours all the major festivals, gets national press and—with a can’t miss combo of fast picking, fancy fiddling, flatfoot dancing and fine harmony—remains one of the best old-time music outfits ever to climb down Whitetop Mountain, the highest peak on Southwest Virginia’s musically rich “Crooked Road.”