[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 64 (Wednesday, April 29, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1008-E1009]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING MELVIN GOINS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. NICK J. RAHALL II

                            of west virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 29, 2009

  Mr. RAHALL. Madam Speaker, I rise before you today to honor a great 
West Virginian, Melvin Goins. Like Jimmy Stewart's character in ``It's 
a Wonderful Life,'' this Friday, surrounded by friends and family and 
the love and admiration of his community, Melvin Goins will be the 
richest man in Bramwell--a town noted for the millionaire coal barons 
who called it home at the turn of the 20th Century.
  A phenomenally talented bluegrass musician, Melvin Goins has spent a 
lifetime making music and gaining fame throughout all of bluegrass 
country. His photo once graced the cover of Smithsonian Magazine. He 
was named an ``Appalachian Treasure'' by Morehead State University in 
2000, and he was inducted into the ``Bluegrass Hall of Fame.'' But I 
suspect that the recognition by his hometown of a local boy done well 
is, to him, the most sublime of all possible honors.
  As a youngster, Melvin, along with his brother Ray who passed away in 
2007, worked and

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scraped to buy their first instrument--a banjo--a treasure they were 
afraid to reveal to their father, Glen. Fortunately for all of us, 
having received Glen Goins' approval of their fine purchase, the two 
sons soon embarked on a path that would take them to the heights of 
bluegrass renown.
  Over the decades of their careers, the pair brought the sounds of a 
finely tuned string band to countless men and women throughout the 
world, who found delight in such tunes as ``Mouse Tracks in the Bacon 
Grease.'' Likewise, gospel tunes as ``I'll Fly Away'' and ``The 
Wayfarer Stranger'' have touched many a heart and soul.
  They played as part of the Lonesome Pine Fiddlers and the Clinch 
Mountain Boys, before going on their own to play as the Goins Brothers. 
But eventually Ray hung up his banjo and Melvin carried on, 
establishing the Windy Mountain Boys.
  Over the years, Melvin's generosity, exemplified by the guidance and 
encouragement he gave so freely to younger musicians, earned him 
lifelong respect and gratitude. And despite his success, the once-dirt 
poor boy has never lost his sense of those basic values honed in the 
hills of his West Virginia home at the knee of his mother Pearl.
  If it means keeping our feet firmly planted on Good Mother Earth and 
our head out of the clouds like Melvin Goins, then growing up ``dirt 
poor'' is a luxury more Americans should enjoy.
  Melvin Goins life has spanned the days of the battery operated radio 
that provided the family's only entertainment to the age of the 
Internet, MP3 players, and IPods. Having spent the better part of his 
nearly 60 years on the road, performing live concerts at venues from 
the renowned to the unlikely, Melvin Goins now reaches his multitude of 
fans worldwide, in their own living rooms, through a virtual visit to 
YouTube.
  Even in his 70's, Melvin continues a successful and busy musical 
career, remaining much in demand by all who enjoy a little pickin', 
singin' and a good story to boot.
  That he has earned this continuous following throughout those decades 
of change is testament to the depth of Melvin's talent and the breadth 
of his musical appeal.
  This Friday, I will join the people of Bramwell, West Virginia in 
celebrating ``Melvin Goins Day.'' But today, I bring his extraordinary 
life and musical talent to the attention of the U.S. Congress and urge 
my colleagues to join me in recognizing Melvin Goins, an American 
treasure.

                          ____________________