Bobby Horton will perform Friday at Tennessee Valley Theatre in Spring City.In 1984, Bobby Horton was exploring the Southern history collection at the Birmingham (Ala.) Public Library when his life forever changed. He uncovered hundreds of songs written during the Civil War era and became inspired by the honesty radiating in the lyrics.
“A light came on,” Horton says. “I was amazed at the anger and sorrow being expressed through the music.”
Horton grew up surrounded by his two major passions: music and history. His parents often played music at his house, and he knew several World War II veterans. After his discovery, he knew that these glimpses into history needed to be heard by everyone. He memorized the lyrics, learned the chords and took the show on the road.
“These songs are an honest assessment of what people were thinking,” Horton says. “During this era, music was the only outlet the common man had.”
Today, Horton is considered one of America’s top performers of historic folk songs.
“My shows celebrate the veterans, the heroes, on both sides of the war,” Horton says. “It’s different, but it’s not like being in a boring history class.”
Horton presents his songs in chronological order. His show takes the audience on a trip through the Civil War, from the opening battles to Robert E. Lee’s surrender at Appomattox courthouse in Virginia. Throughout the show, Horton switches instruments multiple times. Along with the guitar, the audience should expect to see Horton play the fiddle, banjo, harmonica, mandolin and even spit out a few whistling bars.
“My concerts are nothing more than the story of people,” Horton says. “People I respect and people I like.”
When Horton’s not teaching audiences the history of the Civil War, there’s a good chance he’s writing music for film. He has scored 17 films for documentary filmmaker Ken Burns and written music for A&E Network and the National Park Service. He tours with the musical-comedy trio Three on a String, a band he’s been a member of more than 35 years.