The Thornton Brothers Band
My Grandaddy, Papa Thornton, used to teach Sangin' School back in the Old Days. Teaching Sangin' School was an itinerant vocation. The teacher would travel around, usually to small, country churches, and teach shaped-note singing (also known as fa-so-la singing) for gratuity. They tell me that by the time Papa Thornton finished his lessons, the congregation of students could keep it in tune. But he never made much money.
His sons, Garnett (my Dad), Bill, Hershel, and Thirstol, formed themselves a band: The Thornton Brothers Band. They would make arrangements with a local facility, such as a school auditorium, advertise their concert, and then put on a show. Admission: 15 cents for adults and 10 cents for children. Their handbill advertised that they had "Plenty of Hillbilly Music, Fiddling, Blue Yodeling and Comic Act." My Dad played rhythm guitar and washboard and was the Comic Act (Sephus Sapnot from Sugar Creek). Uncle Hershel played the mandolin and guitar. Uncle Bill played the guitar, but was famous for his fiddling. He played it so hot that they called him Billie And His Steam-Heated Fiddle. Uncle Thirstol played lead guitar and was the band's blue yodeller. They tell me that the Thornton Brothers Band could keep it in tune. But before they could make much money, World's War II came along, and the Thornton Brothers Band broke up, with each brother going off to serve the country. They never got the band back together after that.
The generations have passed. Now I'm a grandfather, and they call ME Papa Thornton. They call US the Thornton brothers. Much of the part of me that is music, I owe to The Thornton Brothers Band. Every one of us sons of those brothers became a musician in his own right, but with a family heritage. We're all Thornton Brothers. And we keep it in tune.
The Thornton Brothers Band
(c) 1995
V1:
[A] I can do the lyrics, Rick can do the pickin'
When we [D] figure out the chords, man we're [A] bitchin'
Gotta lotta other "brothers" on the [A7] strings, gonna give us a [D] hand
[E] Tryin' to revive The [D] Thornton Brothers [A] Band
chorus1:
We play with our [D] cousins; we play with our [A] in-laws
We play in [E] church choirs; we make music with the [A] outlaws [A7]
We play with [D] strangers; we play with [A] friends
Any [E] brother can play with The [D] Thornton Brothers [A] Band
V2:
My Daddy used to tell me back when I was a hippy
I should've heard the music they made back in Mississippi
He said, "T and me and Bill and Hershel on the mandolin.
Folks paid 15 cents to hear The Thornton Brothers Band."
chorus2:
They played with their cousins; they played with their in-laws
They played in school auditoriums ; and made music with the outlaws
They played for strangers; anywhere they can
Kids paid 10 cents to hear The Thornton Brothers Band
V3:
Tommy and Mikey, Burt and Buddy
Gary and Doyle, Ricky and Ronnie
And ever' other brother who's a member of our Clan
We are the Soul Survivors of The Thornton Brothers Band
chorus3:
We play with our cousins (some of them are outlaws)
We play in honky-tonks; and on the porch with our in-laws
We play with our enemies; we make music with our friends
Any brother can play with The Thornton Brothers Band
(We are the heirs-apparent of The Thornton Brothers Band)
Whenever I sing this one, I always dedicate it to the brothers and
the cousins who have passed on.
Thornton Music