WV Music Hall of Fame to announce 2023 inductees
On Wednesday, September 7, the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame will host a press conference to announce the names of five inductees for 2023. The conference will be held at 10:30 a.m. at the West Virginia Museum of Music in the Charleston Town Center.
Hall of Fame director Michael Lipton and WVMHoF Board Chair Bob Brunner will announce the latest class of inductees. Two of the inductees will be present as well as some current inductees. There will be a short performance following the press conference.
The WVMHoF’s ninth induction ceremony will be held May 2023 (date T.B.A.) in the Culture Center Theater in the State Capitol Complex. The ceremony welcomes the ninth class of inductees and will be broadcast throughout the state on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
“Our state is home to many talented musicians and a variety of musical genres – with influences from folk, bluegrass, Celtic, gospel, blues, and more,” said Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin. “We have the opportunity, through the biennial West Virgina Music Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, to honor and recognize our talented musicians – ensuring our rich musical history is preserved for many years to come.”
Bio and press materials will be available at the conference and on the WVMHoF’s website.
The West Virginia Music Hall of Fame, a not-for-profit corporation based in Charleston, recognizes achievement by West Virginia musical artists in all areas of entertainment. Previous inductees include R&B legend Bill Withers, old-time fiddler Clark Kessinger, opera star Eleanor Steber, country music songwriter Billy Edd Wheeler, jazz saxophonist Chu Berry, classical composer George Crumb, Broadway and television performer Peter Marshall, and 50 others.
Inaugural Inductee George Crumb Passes at 92
George Crumb, widely heralded as one of the 20th Century’s most unique voices in classical music has passed away at the age of 92.
Crumb was born and raised in Charleston – on the site of the Culture Center Theater – and earned a Bachelor’s degree at The Mason College of Music (now the University of Charleston.)
Among his many honors and awards was a 1968 Pulitzer Prize for Music for his orchestral work “Echoes of Time and the River” and a Grammy Award for “Best Contemporary Composition” in 2001 for “Star-Child.”
While his music was sometimes jarring and almost always challenging, Crumb – who drew inspiration from the sounds he heard growing up in West Virginia – was charming with a sly and impish sense of humor.
Crumb’s father, George, was a clarinetist who played with the precursor of the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra. His mother, Vivian, was an accomplished cellist who played with various local ensembles.
As a child, Crumb transcribed music for his father and became a skilled calligrapher. Many of his scores are works of art in themselves, particularly 1973’s “Makrokosmos II” which is noted in the shape of a peace sign.
His son, David Crumb, is a successful composer and his daughter, Ann Crumb, who passed away in 2018, was a Broadway actress and opera singer who performed some of her father’s works.
One of Crumb’s signature pieces, “Black Angels,” was a favorite of David Bowie who stated that the original recording was one of his favorite albums of all time.
WV Museum of Music Opens
The West Virginia Music Hall of Fame’s newest project, The West Virginia Museum of Music, opened in early June in the former Books-A-Million store on the second floor of the Charleston Town Center. The project, funded by the West Virginia Humanities Council, takes a broad look at music from West Virginia and the tools used to create it.
The Museum kicked off with a gala Open House on June 12 that featured performances by 2015 WVMHoF inductee John “Some Kind of Wonderful” Ellison; a trio featuring 2015 WVMHoF inductee Bob Thompson, future inductee Vince Lewis, and longtime Charleston bassist Jim Martin; 2020 WVMHoF inductee Larry Groce; organist Randy Gilkey; and singer/songwriter Mike Pushkin.
With Phase 1 of the project nearly complete, visitors will have the opportunity to see an exhibit featuring the stunning, turn-of-the-century lithographs of music publisher and composer E.T. Paull; large format framed posters representing notable WV music events; vintage amplifiers and recording equipment; and six “In the Spotlight” sections featuring the instruments of West Virginia musicians.
The Museum will be open during mall hours on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Visitors are asked to wear a mask if you have not been vaccinated.
Folklife magazine, a publication of the Smithsonian Institution, recently featured a story about Inaugural Inductee Hazel Dickens and her tireless work ethic. The article was written by West Virginia state folklorist Emily Hilliard and was informed by archival interviews, writings, correspondence and performances by Dickens. Click here to read the article.
R.I.P. Bill Withers, 1938-2020
It is with much sadness that we share that Bill Withers has passed. Bill was inducted into the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame in the inaugural class of 2007.
There is simply not enough we can say about both Bill and his wife Marcia. They both are incredibly wise and compassionate human beings with an extra-large helping of wisdom, humanity and humility.
Bill has become a beacon and an icon – not just because of his music but for his dedication to caring about people. To that end, “Lean on Me” is an anthem whose time has clearly come again. Very few need to be reminded of his contributions to American music… and we have no doubts that you will continue to hear his magical songs many, many times in the future.
On a more personal level, Bill always made himself available to help the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame. Why? We think he just “got” what we’re trying to do. And although he did not wear rose-colored glasses about some of his life experiences in West Virginia, he embraced the state with a rare (and cynical) passion.
Years after he stopped performing, he agreed to do a spoken word track for the WVMHoF’s tribute to Little Jimmy Dickens – someone he listened to and admired. His reading of “Raggedy Ann” is classic. Listen to “(You’ve Been Quite a Doll) Raggedy Ann” here.
Also, please, please watch Damani Baker’s fabulous documentary Still Bill. In fact – everyone should watch it at least once a year to keep their head on straight.
Watch Bill’s acceptance speech at the inaugural West Virginia Music Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in 2007.
Here’s a great piece on Ethel Caffie-Austin by WOWK’s Rob Macko.
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