WV Music Hall of Fame Executive Director Michael Lipton welcomed the Class of 2023.

Mountain Stage executive producer Adam Harris thanked the companies and organizations that sponsored the 2023 Induction Ceremony.

Induction Ceremony co-host Lionel Cartwright performed “Gone At Last” with an all-star band including Tim O’Brien, Charlie McCoy, Missy Raines, Rod Dixon, Larry Groce, and Caesar Frazier.

Leftover Salmon’s Vince Herman welcomed past Inductees John Ellison (2015), Larry Groce (2020), Russ Hicks (2015), Charlie McCoy (2008), Tim O’Brien (2013), and Bob Thompson (2015).

Singer-songwriter Lionel Cartwright and bassist Missy Raines co-hosted a night featuring music that ranged from classical to funk – and about everything in between.

2013 WV Music Hall of Fame Inductee Tim O’Brien presented the award honoring the Lonesome Pine Fiddlers.

Members of the Osborne, Williams and Clines families were on hand to accept the award for the Lonesome Pine Fiddlers.

Ray Cossin, Missy Raines, Jan Fabricius, Tim O’Brien, and Jim Gabehart (left to right) performed songs by the Lonesome Pine Fiddlers.

2015 Hall of Fame Inductee Bob Thompson presented Winston Walls’ posthumous award and introduced congratulatory videos by jazz greats George Benson and Lou Donaldson.

World renowned jazz guitarist George Benson offered a video tribute to Winston Walls. Walls’ trio was one of the very first stops on Benson’s illustrious career.

Saxophonist Marshall Petty accepted the award on behalf of Winston Walls.

Caesar Frazier (Hammond organ), Nowell Scott (drums), and Rob Dixon (tenor sax) performed songs associated with 2023 Inductee Winston Walls.

Mark Samples presented the award to his long-time friend and bandmate, 2023 Inductee Buddy Griffin.

Accepting his award, 2023 Inductee Buddy Griffin thanked his parents and a long list of his musical collaborators.

Joining Buddy Griffin onstage were Tim O’Brien (mandolin), Missy Raines (bass), and Mack Samples (guitar).

2008 Hall of Fame Inductee Charlie McCoy presented the Spirit Award to his late friend and associate Jim Foglesong, a legendary country music record executive and member of the Country Music Hall of Fame.

By heading up labels including Dot, MCA and Capitol, Jim Foglesong, recipient of the WV Music Hall of Fame’s 2023 Spirit Award, changed the course of modern country music.

Progressive bluegrass legend Sam Bush filmed a video tribute to Spirit Award recipient Jim Foglesong, recounting his early support for Bush’s groundbreaking band New Grass Revival.

2011 Hall of Fame Inductee – and new Mountain Stage host – Kathy Mattea sent a heartfelt video tribute recalling her first encounters with Spirit Award recipient Jim Foglesong.

Stix Hooper, drummer and founding member of the Jazz Crusaders, presented the award to 2023 Hall of Fame Inductee Barbara Nissman, one of the world’s premier classical pianists.

2023 Inductee Barbara Nissman performed music by Franz Liszt and Alberto Ginastera, composers whose work she has extensively studied, performed and recorded.

P-Funkadelic historian and former member Gabe Gonzales introduced video tributes to 2023 inductees, Parliament-Funkadelic co-founders Calvin Simon and Clarence “Fuzzy” Haskins by P-Funkers Bootsy Collins and Grady Thomas. He presented the awards to one of Haskins’ sons and Simon’s daughter.

Haskins’ and Simon’s children and family members were on hand to accept their awards, including Joy McInnis, Monica Bienemy, and Nowell Scott.

P-Funk legend Bootsy Collins provided a deep and entertaining video tribute to “Fuzzy” Haskins.

Kount Funkula led the P-Funk Outlawz through a deep funk medley of Parliament-Funkadelic songs.

The P-Funk Outlawz givin’ up the funk.

The finale showcased the diversity of West Virginia music, as most of the evening’s performers assembled for a joyous version of Fuzzy Haskins’ “My Automobile.”

WV Music Hall of Famer Tim O’Brien and singer Jan Fabricius took a vocal lead during the finale.

Kount Funkula and Lionel Cartwright share a verse during the finale.

P-Funk Outlawz vocalist Nanette LaShay and WV Music Hall of Fame Executive Director Michael Lipton.

Hall of Famer Charlie McCoy took a solo during the finale.

A splendid evening was had by all.

Photographs by Michael Keller and Michael Valentine