By Emily Lawson
The Herald Bulletin
ANDERSON — Long-time organist Larry Goins is providing Madison County residents with another Christmas spectacular this holiday season.
The piano and organ instructor, who has been playing since he was 5 years old, will be performing Friday at Paramount Theatre, 1124 Meridian St.
Now retired from factory work, Goins teaches lessons out of his home to students of just about all ages. He has been teaching for more than 50 years.
The organist often performs at different churches around the county, and sometimes outside the county as well.
Goins weighed in on his musically inspired life, students, and this year’s concert, “Sounds of Christmas at the Paramount,” from his Elwood home.
Q: How did these concerts at the Paramount begin?
A: It really began because I always wanted to play the Paramount organ and I finally called Don Volk, who was the executive director at that time. He told me to come on over and try it out one evening. After listening, he told me I should do a concert there.
Q: What got you interested in the piano and organ?
A: I think my most influential experience was when I was 12 years old. My aunt and uncle took me to see Liberace. For the first time I got to hear a professional pianist in person. After seeing him, I was more interested, more dedicated.
Q: How long have you been playing concerts? At the Paramount?
A: I’ve been playing at concerts since I was about 18. I played for different churches and things like that. There was a program that my church that I went to at the time was involved in; it was called Youth Zone. They asked me to play for an event they held and after that different churches started asking me to play for them. This will be my fifth year playing at the Paramount.
Q: Anything different about this year’s program, “Sounds of Christmas at the Paramount”?
A: We’re dividing it into two sections this year; the first will be secular Christmas music, the second more sacred Christmas music. We’re still going to do the singalongs — the people at the Paramount, boy, they really sing. This year though, my two youngest grandchildren are going to participate and my wife is going to sing at least one song. The music is somewhat different. I try to spice it up a bit. Sometimes I put a Latin beat to some of the pieces.
Q: Any other hobbies besides playing the piano and organ?
A: Oil painting. I took some classes on it. I really enjoy that and drawing.
Q: What will the proceeds from the concert go toward?
A: All of the money made from the concert at the Paramount I give back to them. It goes to their Paramount Heritage Fund. Typically all the concerts I do in Madison County, I don’t accept money for.
Q: Were you involved in your school band? Did everyone see your talent growing up?
A: No. It’s kind of funny actually. I was in the school choir and the instructor would always ask for someone to come down, someone who knew how to play the piano. I could have outplayed any of them. I’d been playing since age 5, but I was always so bashful and shy that I never let a soul know my talent. Now (laughs) some of my old peers come to my shows and they say “That surely can’t be the Larry Goins we know!”
For more information on piano and organ lessons by Larry Goins, call (765) 552-6592.
If you go
* What: “Sounds of Christmas at the Paramount” by organist Larry Goins
* When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
* Where: Paramount Theatre, 1124 Meridian St., Anderson
* Tickets: $5. Children 5 & under free. Available at Paramount box office or First Church of the Nazarene, 2324 Jackson St.
* Info: 642-1234 or www.andersonparamount.org
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