From October 1, 2010 through to the end of September 2011, we will, each day, celebrate the life of Bill Monroe by sharing information about him and those people who are associated with his life and music career. This information will include births and deaths; recording sessions; single, LP and CD release dates; and other interesting tidbits. Richard F. Thompson is responsible for the research and compilation of this information. We invite readers to share any tidbits, photos or memories you would like us to include.
- December 30, 1933 Melvin Goins was born near Bramwell, Mercer County, West Virginia. *
- December 30, 1957 John Cowan Harford, better known as John Hartford, was born in New York City. **
- December 30, 1969 LP released – Blue Grass Style (Vocalion VL 7-3870) Re-issued on Coral CB 20077 ***
* Melvin Goins, the older of the two Goins brothers, played guitar for Bill Monroe, filling in during July 1958 for a sick Edd Mayfield.
As well playing in his own bands, the Goins Brothers, with his brother Ray, and Windy Mountain, a band that he formed in 1999, Melvin Goins has been a member of the Shenandoah Playboys, with whom he began his long career in bluegrass music, worked with the Lonesome Pine Fiddlers and has spent many years working with Ralph Stanley.
The recipient of the Appalachian Treasure Award in 2000 and a member of the Bill Monroe Bluegrass Hall of Fame, Goins, as a member of the Lonesome Pine Fiddlers, was recently inducted into the IBMA International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame.
Recently, Goins suffered a heart attack and had a pacemaker fitted.
** John Hartford played the banjo for Bill Monroe for one date 1957.
*** Blue Grass Style consists of 10 tracks most of which were released earlier on the LP Knee Deep in Bluegrass (Decca DL 8731).
Track listing – Cry, Cry Darling; Roane County Prison; Goodbye, Old Pal; Out In The Cold World; A Good Woman’s Love; Come Back To Me In My Dreams; In Despair; Sally-Jo; Brand New Shoes; and Sitting On Top Of The World.
