Buddy Mason Griffin

BUDDY MASON GRIFFIN, 76, of Jane Lew, WV, passed away on February 4, 2025.
Born in Richwood, WV, on September 22, 1948, to Richard Henry and Erma Virginia Cutlip Griffin, Buddy was preceded in death by his parents and three siblings: James Richard Griffin, William Howard Griffin, and Violet Lucille Thayer.
Surviving are four sisters: Virginia Brewster of Garrett, IN, Louise (Dan) Bushnell of Sutton, WV, Janet (Mark) Given of Springfield, MO, and Pamella (Victor) Griffin-Gazitano of Bedford, TX; and several nieces and nephews.
Buddy graduated from Sutton High School in 1967 and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Glenville State College in 1971. He taught in Nicholas and Braxton Counties, before following his true calling of making music.
From an early age Buddy was a member of his family band, The Sunny Valley Boys, where he honed his multi-instrumental and vocal skills, as well as the sense of humor for which he would become known.
Over his 50+ year career he performed with some of the most well-known bluegrass musicians in venues all over the country, including over 200 appearances on the Grand Ole Opry. He was also a highly sought-after session musician, appearing on over 150 recordings, many of which he engineered and produced.
In 2002 he established and directed the world's first accredited four-year degree program in bluegrass music at Glenville State College.
Even though Buddy shared the stage with some of the brightest stars in bluegrass, most notably Jim & Jesse McReynolds and Bobby Osborne, he was content to be one of the top sidemen in the business. During his career he received many honors, including the 2011 Vandalia Award and an Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from Glenville State College in 2019. His crowning achievement was induction into the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame in 2023.
But for all his accomplishments, Buddy remained humble and grateful for his WV roots and continued to perform with his parents as The Griffin Family. He cherished his family and friends, many whom he considered family.
The Griffin family wishes to thank WVU Hospice and Buddy's close friends who helped care for him: Jim Huey, Mack and Thelma Samples, Megan and Luke McKnight, John Chapman, and Harry Rich.
Buddy's request for donation to the WVU Human Gift Registry has been honored.
A public Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.