[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 23 (Thursday, February 6, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E176-E177]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        IN HONOR OF `THE BLUEGRASS STORYTELLER'--MR. JAMES KING

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. H. MORGAN GRIFFITH

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, February 6, 2014

  Mr. GRIFFITH of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I submit these remarks in 
honor of `The Bluegrass Storyteller'--Mr. James King, who was born in 
Martinsville, Virginia and grew up immersed in the rich musical 
tradition of Southwest Virginia's Carroll County. After 20 years of 
playing bluegrass music, Mr. King's album ``Three Chords and the 
Truth'' was nominated for the 2013 Grammy Awards in the category of 
Best Bluegrass Album.
  Surrounded by talented musicians including his father Jim and his 
uncle Joe Edd, Mr. King first picked up a guitar when he was eight 
years old. Though he began by playing rock and roll, Mr. King returned 
to bluegrass as he entered his teen years.
  Mr. King served our country in the Marines before moving to Delaware. 
He has said that the Stanley Brothers (of Dickenson County, Virginia), 
Dudley Connell, Jimmy Martin, and Ted Lundy (of Galax, Virginia) have 
been major influences in his career.

[[Page E177]]

  He has released numerous group and solo albums throughout the years, 
and his band was recognized in 1997 as Emerging Artist of the Year by 
the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA), Recorded Event of 
the Year by the IBMA for its self-titled 1997 debut, and was also 
nominated for IBMA's 1999 Song of the Year for ``Bed by the Window.''
  On ``Three Chords and the Truth,'' released in late September, Mr. 
King interprets classic country western songs like George Jones' ``He 
Stopped Loving Her Today'' into the bluegrass format so characteristic 
of Mr. King. I commend Mr. James King for his hard work on this fine 
album and congratulate him for the recognition it has received. ``Three 
Chords and the Truth'' may not have been awarded a Grammy Award, but it 
has won the hearts of many music fans. I am optimistic that the 
talented Bluegrass Storyteller and his band will one day have their day 
in the sun.

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