Melvin Goins

By Penny Parsons

As a boy growing up in the 1930s near Bluefield, W.Va., Melvin Goins aspired to become a lawyer, and it’s easy to imagine that he would have been a good one. But, once he discovered the sounds of string band music emanating from WCYB radio in the late 1940s, the course of his life was forever changed. Though he turned his focus toward music rather than law, Melvin’s skills as an orator and an advocate, his eye for detail, his resourcefulness, and his tenacity have all served him well in his chosen profession. Over his nearly sixty-year career, Melvin has worked tirelessly in almost every capacity in the bluegrass business, including musician, bandleader, emcee, comedian, booking agent, manager, festival promoter, disc jockey, producer, historian…and cook. But, like a lot of us, Melvin began as a fan.

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