Late great Cameron LaVelle ‘Cam’ Mullins to join those inducted in the WV Music Hall of Fame
By Matthew Young, RealWV
The late, great Cameron LaVelle Mullins, or “Cam” to those that knew him, will take his rightful place in the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame (WVMHoF) on Saturday, alongside his fellow Class of 2025 inductees. A multi-instrumentalist, arranger, composer, and conductor, Mullins passed away in 2001.
In his youth, the Charleston native was a member of the Stonewall Jackson High School band. After graduating, Cam pursued his musical ambitions in the after-hours clubs of New York City. In the late 1940’s, Cam returned home to Charleston to form the “Cam LaVelle Orchestra.” Together the group performed at The Casa Loma, the Steak House Annex, and other popular venues of the day.
Cam played consistently throughout the 1950’s and 60’s, including a stint as a trumpet and trombone player in Woody Herman’s “Thundering Herd.” In 1970, Cam found significant success with his arranging projects, including The Ray Price LP “For the Good Times,” which sold over a million copies. By 1972, Cam was named Billboard’s “Country Arranger of the Year.”
“His arrangement of clients in West Virginia is a long list,” WVMHoF Director Michael Lipton said, during the April 2024 announcement of Cam’s forthcoming induction. “I’ll only read part of it so you get to see what a heavyweight he was.”
“His clients included West Virginia Music Hall of Fame Inductee Connie Smith,” Lipton noted. “Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Jerry Lee Lewis, Joan Baez, Bobby Fenton, Al Hirt, Dick Fontaine, Brenda Lee, Perry Cuomo, Chet Atkins, J.J. Cale, Tom T. Hall – and there’s more than that.”
Additionally, prior to his passing at the age of 72, Cam worked with talents such as Marie Osmond, Burl Ives, the Statler Brothers, George Jones, and Tammy Wynette. Cam also conducted and composed for symphonies in Oklahoma, Nashville, Houston, and Dallas.
Also on hand during the 2024 announcement to speak on behalf of her late father, was Cam’s daughter, Karen.
“[My father] would be extremely proud and honored for this recognition, and so is our family,” Karen said. “West Virginia will always hold a place in my heart.”
The induction ceremony will take place Saturday, April 12, at Charleston’s Culture Center Theatre. Joining Cam in his posthumous induction will be the late indie artist and musician Daniel Johnston. Living inductees will include singer/songwriter/producer Jeff Stevens, and family-group The Valentinos/Womack Brothers.
“Asleep at the Wheel” frontman Ray Benson and internationally-renowned cellist Juliana Soltis will serve as co-hosts for the evening. In addition to performances by Benson, Soltis, and the living inductees, there will be special appearances and performances by Kathy Mattea, John Ellison, Barbara Nissman, Luke Bryan, Larry Groce, Bob Thompson, and many more.
For more information about the WV Music Hall of Fame, visit wvmusichalloffame.com.
