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(drums, percussion). Thorne was the original Spongetones drummer and was with the band for 33 years. He played his first professional gig at 12 years old (1956) with his father who was a trumpeter for the Les Brown Band of Renown. As a teenager, Thorne joined a band that toured the Chitlin’ Circuit backing up all the well known soul artists of the day. He has played with almost every conceivable style music group and spent years doing studio work with many accomplished professional musicians of all genres of music which helped form his versatility. In 2014, he played with Austin, Texas “ace” Honky Tonker, Wink Keziah and The Delux Motel. In 2013, he was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame for his work with the Catalinas.[11][12] Thorne is currently touring with Randy Franklin & The Sardines