"Fat Albert" Blackburn - Albert began to make music at about age thirteen, He was born in Hampton.TN (Carter County) fifty-five years ago. He has been employed at VA Dept of Corrections in Marion for the past twenty-seven years. Albert plays upright bass as well as guitar. His singing style is to be envied. Almost no one can deliver the huge variety that Albert does and does exceptionally well. We do not see nearly enough of Albert at the Smyth County Jam, we urge him to return as soon as he can. Albert says he and Ed Stringer started the very popular band" FESCUE" in 1981. They have surely come a long way from a two member band to the present time. "FESCUE" is in huge demand all over the area. Albert says his mother and grand mother played the pump organ by ear. He remembers pumping the pedals with his hands for his grandma when he was a young child. Albert admires the smooth voice of Jim Reeves very much. He says he hopes it will be engraved on his tombstone "Music is a big part of my life!"
