“Hometown Hero” is a song that honors the memory of our friend, mentor and Hometown Hero - Mark Melvin (and his father Bill Melvin) and ALL other Hometown Heroes such as (but not limited to) police, fire, military and emergency personnel, clergy, teachers, single parents, and many others who have impacted our lives.

"Hometown Hero" Performed by

“Hometown Hero” is a song that honors the memory of our friend, mentor and Hometown Hero - Mark Melvin (and his father Bill Melvin) and ALL other Hometown Heroes such as (but not limited to) police, fire, military and emergency personnel, clergy, teachers, single parents, and many others who have impacted our lives.

"Hometown Hero" Performed by Don McAvoy & The Great Whatever® © 2014, Don McAvoy (P) 2019, McAvoy Music Productions, Inc. Published by McAvoy Music Productions, Inc. (ASCAP) 610-454-9871 Administered by The Harry Fox Agency, Inc. Lyrics printed by permission. All rights reserved. Dedicated to Mark “Mooch” Melvin

INTRO Mr. Bill Melvin states: “Came from County Mayo Ireland – Came from Pennburgh Scotland”

VERSE 1 Protected me when I was a kid Well, even when I was to blame Maybe, but not really Maybe some of life is just a game I wore your hand-me-downs It always made me so proud To wear your winning number For once I wasn’t a clown (To Chorus)

CHORUS Hometown Hero Hometown Hero Hometown friend of mine You’ll always be a winner to me Hometown Hero Hometown Hero Hometown friend of mine You’ll always be a hero to me

BRIDGE Mr. Bill Melvin states: “Where Mark, he liked to play the ball…”

VERSE 2 The years met with “Mark”ed success And quite deservedly so The soccer man’s kick Fast pitcher man’s throw
You remember where you came from A helping hand for everyone You’re the talk of the town, Good ‘ol “Mooch” Hear our cheers and give Ginny a smooch (You’re a …To Chorus)

VERSE 3 Indeed, “Life Is A Song” You never stop singing along Even when life throws you a curve Or kicks you right in the shins You never stop being a friend Or lose your classic grin Your example is your legacy Of which, we’re forever in debt (To Chorus)

OUTRO Mr. Bill Melvin states: “And it was something, that you, you seen what you did and it was constructive and you accomplished something when it was done.”

CREDITS Don McAvoy: Acoustic 10-String Puerto Rican Cuatro, Electric 10-String Lead Puerto Rican Cuatro, Lead Vocals, Alto Saxophone, Keyboards, Xylophone, Hammered Zither (from late 1800s), selection of Mr. Melvin cassette samples and Chimes Marc Arot: Electric Bass Guitar and Harmony Vocals Mike McAvoy: Drums (Brushes and Sticks)John Ginty: Acoustic Bagpipes and Electric Bagpipes Ryan Kelly: Keyboards, Rhythm Guitar and Harmony Vocals Jim Walsh: Electric Guitar and Harmony Vocals Bill Melvin: Interview commentary from cassette (circa early 90s). Mr. Bill Melvin’s voice samples have been used by permission from the Melvin children. {Thank you so much to all of you!} Engineer: Ryan Kelly Recorded At: On The Way To Emmaus Studios, Collegeville, PA Mixed By: Ryan Kelly and Don McAvoy in consultation with Marc Arot and Mike McAvoy Produced By: Don McAvoy Mastered By: Joe Stout - East Norriton, PA

ABOUT THE SONG... ♫♫ This is the first tune I wrote on the 10-String Puerto Rican Cuatro. This one was written to honor and thank Mark for his very important impact on my life, of which I can’t forget and am eternally grateful. He was/is such a great example to so many and lives on in all of our hearts and memories! Perhaps by Divine intervention, during the recording of this one, my father handed me a cassette, with my brother Mike interviewing Mr. Melvin for a college project. (Thank you, Mike & Dad!) I thought it would be so great to be able to feature Mark’s dad’s voice (posthumously) on a song about his son. And I felt it only appropriate that Mark’s father should have the last words…Modestly, I love the fragility, accessibility and vulnerability of this song and I thank Marc, John, Ryan, Mike and Jim for all of their time and talent in helping me bring this one to fruition. A very special thanks to my mom, Katherine “Special Kay” McAvoy for encouraging me to send the song’s lyrics to Mark some years back. Special thanks #2 goes to Ryan Kelly for all of his patience and tirelessness in crafting this one with me and trying to capture the vocals/instrumentation to resemble the different periods of time that Mark and I went through. Special thanks #3 to Patricia Lee for gifting me with a great keyboard that I used on the middle part of the song…

We also sing this one to honor other hometown heroes such as (but not limited to) police, fire, military and emergency personnel, clergy, teachers and single parents… Please consider thanking your hometown heroes; it may be something that they really need to hear during their evolving journey…Thank you. dmc