[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6823]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                             EVERETT LILLY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. NICK J. RAHALL II

                            of west virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 15, 2012

  Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, the glorious hills of West Virginia fell 
more silent than usual this past week. A familiar voice was quieted by 
the passing of an American original. This last weekend, we celebrated 
the life and legacy of Mr. Everett Lilly, who passed on to his heavenly 
reward after 87 years on this Earth. Until just recently, Mr. Lilly's 
voice and mandolin playing were a familiar melodious staple for the 
ears and musical souls of southern West Virginians and countless ones 
beyond our borders.
  Everett and his brother, Bea, who passed in 2005, introduced 
bluegrass music, Lilly-style, or as Mr. Lilly liked to call it, 
``American Mountain Country Folk Music,'' to our country's northeast in 
the 1950's with Don Stover and Tex Logan. They rose to international 
fame and toured Japan. Everett played two separate stints with the 
legendary bluegrass group formed by Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs. Most 
recently, even though he was well into his 80s, he toured with his own 
band, The Lilly Mountaineers, and taught classes at Mountain State 
University--passing on his knowledge and skill with mountain music and 
its accompanying lore.
  The Lilly Brothers were inducted into the West Virginia Music Hall of 
Fame and the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame. Everett 
received the Vandalia Award, West Virginia's highest folk life honor, 
in 2009.
  Tributes to Mr. Lilly and his considerable talents continue to be 
written, West Virginia's Mountain Stage's memorial to him reminds us 
that country singer, Marty Stuart, called Mr. Lilly, ``God's mandolin 
player.''
  Let me just add that all the words used to describe Mr. Lilly's 
legacy like entertainment giant, pioneering artist, and musical legend 
and icon are true I knew Mr. Lilly and know his family. They are 
friends of mine and the best compliment I can pay him is that what you 
saw was what you got. I don't think he had a fake bone in his body, and 
he was more than ready to lend a helping hand whenever, wherever 
possible. Indeed, as our hometown newspaper, the Register Herald, 
summed it up succinctly, Everett was genuine.
  Among the tens of thousands Mr. Lilly enlightened and entertained 
over the decades was everyone from presidents to just plain good 
people. Though he achieved international fame and the composition of 
his audiences would drastically change from venue to venue, he never 
did. Whether he was on the world stage or staged in front of a family 
barn here in southern West Virginia, Everett never strayed from his 
deep roots in Clear Creek, West Virginia.
  The New York Times ran a warm story on Mr. Lilly's many 
accomplishments and concluded with perhaps what he considered his 
greatest, his family. Mr. Lilly's son, Jiles, preceded him in death, 
but he is survived by his wife of 64 years, JoAnn; three sons, Daniel, 
Mark and Everett Alan; four daughters, Karen Pierangelino, Diana Tomah, 
Ann Lilly and Laverne Wheeler; a sister, Flossie Williams; and numerous 
grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
  ``He played music right up to the end,'' Daniel Lilly told the Times. 
``He was enjoying life and still riding his four-wheeler through the 
woods at the age of 87. He died at the kitchen table.''
  He and his band used to play an old song that seems a fitting epitaph 
for his long happy career and life. I leave you with the lyrics to, 
``Who will sing for me,'' confidant that the praises for Everett Lilly 
will continue to be sung by all those whose lives he touched. Mr. 
Speaker, my colleagues, we all could take a page or two from the 
songbook of this talented, this beloved son of West Virginia:

     Often I sing for my friends
     At death's cold hand I see
     When I reach my journey's end
     Who will sing for me

     Chorus
     I wonder (I wonder) who
     Will sing (will sing) for me
     When I come the cross
     of that silent sea
     Who will sing for me

     When crowds shall gather round
     And look down on me
     Will they turn and walk away
     Or will they sing one song for me

     So I'll sing 'til the end
     Contented I will be
     Assured that some friends
     Will sing one song for me

     

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