By LEE WARD / THE INDEPENDENT
ASHLAND — A local bluegrass musician recently received a big honor, along with three fellow musicians.
Melvin Goins of Catlettsburg was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Hall of Fame on Oct. 1 with Paul Williams and Bobby Osborne. The three are the last surviving members of the Lonesome Pine Fiddlers, a bluegrass band that thrived from 1938 to 1966.
The ceremony was at the birthplace of the Grand Ole Opry — the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.
Goins, 75, joined the group in 1953. The band moved its headquarters from Bluefield, W.Va., to Pikeville and changed its radio affiliation from WHIS to WLSI.
He said learning of his honor was a shock.
“I couldn’t believe it,” Goins said. “It’s something I never dreamed of getting. It’s good to get something you never expected to get. This is one of the highest honors of my career.”
He has experienced other honors, though.
His hometown of Bramwell, W.Va., marked Melvin Goins Day on May 2 by proclamation of U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va.. Goins appeared on the cover of Bluegrass Unlimited magazine in June and San Francisco-based Blue Ridge Guitars developed a guitar named for Goins.
Goins said he appears in the recently released movie “Who Shot Lester Monroe?” starring Tom T. Hall.
“I’m proud it. Turned out real good,” he said.
Bo McCarty, host of the America’s Bluegrass Radio Show, which airs on several radio stations across the region, is proud of Goins accomplishments, too, and especially of his induction into the IBMA’s Hall of Fame.
“Melvin is a pioneer in the music, an ambassador and historian from his first-hand experiences,” McCarty said. “As a kid, I remember several times Melvin came to Danleyton Elementary School and played for the students. He continued performing in schools well into the 21st century and he may still be doing it today.”
LEE WARD can be reached at lward@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2661.
