MARYVILLE MUSIC ACADEMY

Lon teaches Fiddle, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Dulcimer, Ukulele Native American Flute, Irish Penny Whistle and Hang Drum. His personal music styles are Bluegrass, Gospel, Celtic, Blues, Rock, Metal, and Country.

Lon is a native of East Tennessee and a proud resident here his whole life. He is descended from a family that originated in the mountains of Cosby Tennessee. 

In addition to individually performing and recording, Lon has been part of four East Tennessee music groups: the Eric Taylor Band, the Wood Pickers, the Spurgeon Boys, and the Blue Shadows. 

The Eric Taylor Band was an Americana /southern rock band that played all originals mostly written by the band’s singer and originator Eric (Taylor) Spurgeon. 

The Wood Pickers specialized in Old Time traditional tunes, Celtic instrumentals, and original compositions about the history of the Smokies. Most of their performances were to raise money for the Tremont Institute (where one of the members (Ken Voorhis) was director), and for the Great Smoky Mountains national park.

 The Spurgeon boys (Lon and Jeremy Spurgeon) played bluegrass, traditional folk songs, old country and western, with a little blues and originals mixed in. 

The Blue Shadows consisted of Jeff Nelson, John Richardson, and Lon Spurgeon; they have performed for Tunes and Tales in Gatlinburg, the Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro, Homecoming at Johnson Bible College, several Irish festivals and made a guest appearance on a local tv station. 

Lon is also a regular at Rocky Branch Community Center on Friday nights and the Jig and Reel on Tuesday nights and plays fiddle for Contra dances at the Laural theater with the Black Mash Hollow string band. 

For nearly a decade Lon performed solo, weekly in Townsend Tennessee at the Riverstone restaurant, the Townsend Fish house and the Trailhead Steak and Trout house. 

Lon also had the special privilege to perform with Chloe Agnew (original/ former member of Celtic Women) at a fundraiser for the East Tennessee Kidney Foundation. Lon is also an experienced song writer and studio musician. 

Lon teaches the following instruments at Maryville Music Academy:

Traditional Fiddle including the styles of Bluegrass, Old Time, Country, and Folk. Lessons will include instruction on how to hold the fiddle and bow, tuning, proper noting, bowing techniques, and how to play melodies and chords including how to learning traditional fiddle tunes. 

Acoustic Guitar methods will include playing chords, single note melodies, strumming with bass runs, traditional riffs and turn arounds and how to flat pick fiddle tunes on the guitar as well as how to use the guitar to accompany singing or instrument solos. 

Electric Guitar will teach how to use different amp settings and effects to create different sounds that fit various genres and different kinds of playing. Also lessons on multiple techniques used for building solos and backing parts. This will include chords, scales, riffs, alternate tunings, using a slide, picking techniques and how they can be utilized for soloing and improvisation. 

Native American Flute and Irish Penny Whistle will teach proper blowing and fingering techniques as well as some ornamentation commonly used while playing traditional tunes. Native American flute will focus on how to improvise flute melodies as well. 

Appalachian Dulcimer will instruct the student on how to tune and strum the lap dulcimer and play some traditional folk tunes as well as how to sing along while playing chords. 

Ukulele will include introduction into different size Ukes and their tunings and how to strum chords and play some simple melodies and sing along with this happy instrument. 

 If you would like to book lessons with Lon, you can do so by contacting our office at info@maryvillemusicacademy.com and requesting Lon.