
Martha Spencer is a singer-songwriter, mountain musician, dancer, and multi-instrumentalist. She was literally born into a world where music was an everyday part of life, so she was destined to make her mark.
She grew up in the musical Spencer family on Whitetop Mountain in Southwest Virginia. “I learned early on from my dad, Thornton Spencer, who played old-time fiddle, and my mom, who made instruments and played in a band. And, of course, I was immersed in a community where music is a major part of life. I played in a string band program in school, and my family taught there.”
Martha teaches when she can for the Junior Appalachian Musicians (JAM), sharing her love for music with tomorrow’s musicians. There’s no doubt her musical education began at home. She recalls going to Galax, where her parents played. Johnny Cash was there with June Carter.” She started playing with her family band and still plays with them when she can. “When he passed away, my brother joined the band.”
Martha always loved writing songs. “I had a guitar made by luthier Jackson Cunningham.” She learned to play several other instruments at a young age, including fiddle, banjo, dulcimer, mandolin and bass. Over the years, she has developed her unique vocal range. She also learned how to flatfoot, dance, and clog. Watching her dance is fascinating. She educates her audience on the dance style and then mesmerizes them as she stomps a beat to the music. It’s a skill she has truly mastered. “I love dance traditions, and I love seeing different dance styles. I grew up going to fiddler’s conventions, where I was exposed to a lot of it. One thing I’ve noticed is that while styles may differ, they all have a similar heartbeat.”
Martha has performed and recorded with several groups, been involved with several roots music projects, and led workshops in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Europe.
One of the groups she plays with is the Blue Ridge Girls, along with Jamie Collins and Brett Morris. Like Martha, the other musicians in the trio work to promote and preserve the rich musical heritage of the Blue Ridge Mountains. She also plays with Wonderland Country Band, Whitetop Mountain Band, and Whitetop Mountaineers. She plays as part of a duo with Spencer Branch, Old Time Country Roadshow, and Unique Sound of the Mountains with Larry Sigmon.
Her new album, Out in La La Land (Music Maker, May 2024), is a follow-up to her 2020 release, Wonderland. “I had written some of the songs, and in March, I started thinking about what I wanted the album to be. I ran into Mark Thornton at Dee’s in Nashville and decided to record at his Sidekick Studios.”
The songs on the album are all original except for Martha’s covers of Bob Dylan’s “Tomorrow is a Long Time” and “Do I Ever Cross Your Mind” by Dolly Parton. In the California-centric themes of “La La Land” and “California Sunshine,” Martha paints vivid pictures of a life far away. “My dad was such a good storyteller.”
Martha is inspired by some strong women in music—her own family, as well as Hazel Dickens, Ola Bell Reed—“she’s a great songwriter,” and Dolly Parton—“she inspires so many.” Martha says she also loves George Jones’s music and contemporary artists, including Lillie Mae Rische.
For Martha, music is a great connector. “I feel very grateful for experiences that bring people together.” She plays a lot of local gigs, and she gigs at festivals up north and out west. “I travel a lot, but I always love to come home to the mountains. It helps me to recharge. I am real tied to nature.”
Martha has more touring on the horizon as she promotes her new album and continues her work to keep passing on her traditions through her music. She has a trip to the UK planned in February. “I love to bring positivity to people’s lives. I want them to be as proud of where they came from as I am.”
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