Louvin Brothers
The Louvin Brothers were one of Charles (Charlie) Louvin (born July 7, 1927 as Charles Loudermilk in Rainsville, Alabama ; † January 26, 2011 ) and Ira Louvin (born April 21, 1924 as Ira Loudermilk , † June 20, 1965 ) Existing duo of gospel and country music , which offered close harmony singing from the mid-1950s until the separation in 1963 .
Life
Beginnings
Ira and Charles Loudermilk grew up in poor conditions on a farm in the Appalachians . They had to work in the fields from early childhood. One of the few distractions from the hard life was the music. They learned to play guitar and won a talent contest as teenagers that gave them a daily appearance on a radio show. Engagements in local clubs were soon added.
In the early 1940s, Charles was briefly drafted into the military. In the meantime, Ira joined Charlie Monroe's band (the Monroe Brothers , the forerunners of the Louvins, had split up a few years earlier). After Charles' army service ended, they worked for the radio station WNOX in Knoxville , Tennessee. After the influential songwriter Fred Rose stood up for them, they recorded a single for the Decca label in 1947. Since the name "Loudermilk" seemed unsuitable for a career in the music business, they appeared as the "Louvin Brothers" from that point on.
Career
In 1951 they were signed to the MGM label and twelve singles were produced. After two years the contract was terminated and the brothers had to work as postal workers. Fred Rose made a record deal with the Capitol label possible in 1952. Here the brothers were looked after by Ken Nelson, who recognized their potential and knew how to exploit it. However, there was a career break after the first published single when Charles was drafted into the military again during the Korean War.
After their reunification, a long dry spell had to be overcome. Her producer Ken Nelson finally managed to get her to join the Grand Ole Opry in 1955 . In the same year, their self-written song When I Stop Dreaming made it into the Top 10. While the Louvin Brothers had previously played mostly gospel music, they now preferred country, but without giving up Christian music entirely. Her close harmony singing combined with the very high tenor register of Iras became her trademark. The acoustic background formed the guitar and mandolin.
The Louvins were soon able to place other singles in the charts, such as 1956 Hoping You Are Hoping or 1959 My Baby's Gone . In these years, however, rock 'n' roll dominated ; classical duos were hardly in demand anymore. With the Everly Brothers , younger competitors had also appeared. In addition to the increasingly difficult environment, there were private problems. The brothers often quarreled, Ira became an alcoholic. In 1963 there was a separation. Both stayed with the Capitol label to continue working solo. Charles Louvin was successful for many years; Ira died in a car accident with his fourth wife just a few months after the split.
The Louvin Brothers composed more than 500 songs in total. In 1979 they were inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame . In 2001 they received the highest honor in country music: they were elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame . In July 2010 it was announced that Charlie Louvin was suffering from pancreatic cancer .
Aftermath
The Byrds with Gram Parsons - and probably on his initiative - recorded a cover version of the Louvin Brothers song The Christian Life on their record Sweetheart of the Rodeo . Bob Dylan , as he mentioned in an interview with Bono in 1984, includes the Louvin Brothers as one of his influences.
Discography
Albums
- 1956: Tragic Songs of Life (Capitol)
- 1957: The Louvin Brothers (MGM)
- 1957: Nearer My God to Thee (Capitol)
- 1958: Ira & Charlie (Capitol)
- 1958: The Family Who Prays (Capitol)
- 1959: Country Love Ballads (Capitol)
- 1960: Satan Is Real (Capitol)
- 1960: My Baby's Gone (Capitol)
- 1960: A Tribute to the Delmore Brothers (Capitol)
- 1961: Encore (Capitol)
- 1961: Country Christmas with the Louvin Brothers (Capitol)
- 1962: Weapon Of Prayer (Capitol)
- 1963: Keep Your Eyes on Jesus (Capitol)
- 1964: The Louvin Brothers Sing & Play Their Current Hits (Capitol)
- 1965: Thank God for My Christian Home (Capitol)
- 1965: The Unforgettable Ira Louvin (Capitol)
- 1966: Two Different Worlds (Tower)
- 1967: The Louvin Brothers Sing the Great Roy Acuff Songs (Capitol)
- 1968: Country Heart & Soul (Tower)
- 1973: The Great Gospel Singing of the Louvin Brothers (Capitol)
- 1989: Sing Their Hearts Out (See for Miles) (Capitol)
- 2009: 1953-1956 (Warped Records)
- 2010: Charlie Louvin: Hickory Wind: Live at Gram Parsons Guitar Pull, Waycross GA (Tompkins Square)
Web links
- Literature by and about Louvin Brothers in the catalog of the German National Library