McDowell County’s ‘Womack Brothers’ among those to be inducted into the WV Music Hall of Fame
By Matthew Young, RealWV
Saturday will be a memorable night in the musical history of the Mountain State. As part of their 20th anniversary celebration, the WV Music Hall of Fame (WVMHoF) will host its 10th induction ceremony at Charleston’s Culture Center Theatre.
Among those to be honored as part of the Hall of Fame Class of 2025 is singer/songwriter and producer Jeff Stevens, along with Indie artist and musician Daniel Johnston, and famed musician and arranger Cameron LaVelle Mullins. Johnston and Mullins will be inducted posthumously.
Rounding out the Class of 2025 will be The Womack Brothers – also known as The Valentinos.
A true West Virginia musical dynasty, the Womack family played an instrumental part in shaping the sound of American rock and roll throughout the latter part of the 20th Century. Taking their rightful place in the Hall of Fame will be the Maitland-born Friendly Womack Jr., and Charleston-born Curtis Womack. Bobby, Harry, and Cecil Womack – all three born in Cleveland – will also be inducted. Bobby, the most famous of the brothers, was a 2009 inductee of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
“The Valentinos were a Cleveland-based R&B group, who recorded from the late-60’s until the mid-70’s,” WVMHoF Director Michael Lipton said during an April 2024 induction announcement.. “They started singing at their father, Pastor Friendly Womack, Sr.’s church. Then they toured with the Staple Singers, and they had to stand on boxes to reach the microphones because they didn’t want to adjust the microphones between sets.”
The brothers’ 1962 hit, “Lookin’ for a Love,” led to their selection as the opener for James Brown and the Famous Flames American tour. Shortly after, Bobby Womack began touring with Sam Cooke as a backup guitarist. Cooke later signed the brothers to his record label. It was at this time when Cooke dubbed the brothers “The Valentinos.”
The brothers’ R&B single, “It’s All Over Now,” became the Rolling Stones’ first number one hit in the U.K. when they released a cover version of the song in 1964.
After the Womack Brothers disbanded, Harry and Bobby would go on to pursue successful solo careers, while Bobby also enjoyed collaborations with the likes of Aretha Franklin and Ray Charles. Cecil, along with his wife Linda – the daughter of Sam Cooke – formed the R&B duo of “Womack & Womack.” Cecil moved forward with a highly successful songwriting career, and Friendly Jr. – the sole surviving brother – still releases gospel music to this day.
The induction ceremony will take place Saturday, April 12. While the event is sold out, it will be broadcast by WV Public Broadcasting, and streamed on their YouTube channel. Overflow seating will also be arranged in the lobby of the Culture Center.
“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, Womack, and Stevens, 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.
