In 1911, an African-American fiddle player named Jim Spencer began lodging at the Smith house, and taught Hobart how to play the fiddle. Impressed with the African-American style, Hobart and his cousin, John Galliher, began sneaking over to the segregated side of Saltville to hear black musicians.
In 1911, Jim Spencer, an African-American musician, moved into the Smith household and taught Hobart how to play the fiddle. This experience broadened Hobart's musical horizons, inspiring him and his cousin John Galliher to secretly attend performances by black musicians in the segregated area of Saltville.