Goins Brothers, The

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THE GOINS BROTHERS

  • From Bramwell, West Virginia.
  • 1951, brothers Melvin Goins (guitar) and Ray Goins (banjo) began performing on a Saturday morning radio program in Bluefield, West Virginia as teenagers. Their early band was called the Shenandoah Playboys.
  • 1953, moved to Pikeville, Kentucky where they worked with the Lonesome Pine Fiddlers (with Cousin Ezra and Curly Ray Cline.)
  • Following the breakup of The Lonesome Pine Fiddlers in 1958, Melvin and Ray worked with Bill Monroe, the Stanley Brothers, Hylo Brown, and they also worked in the coal mines of eastern Kentucky.
  • 1969, formed their own band The Goins Brothers, recording more than 30 albums on various record labels. Their brother Conley Goins (bass) was also in the band.
  • Besides their appearances at bluegrass festivals and concerts, they performed regularly for children in rural schools throughout the south, doing as many as four schools a day.
  • 1996, released We’ll Carry On album (Hay Holler).
  • 1997, Ray retired and Melvin formed Melvin Goins and Windy Mountain.
  • 1997, released Run Satan Run album (Hay Holler).
  • 2007, Ray died at the age of 71 after a long illness.
  • 2016, Melvin died at the age of 83 while touring in Canada.