Charlie Louvin - Biography
As one half of the legendary Louvin Brothers, Charlie Louvin helped define the close harmony style for generations of country music. After the act disbanded in 1963, Charlie went on to score even more hits as a solo artist, recording for Capitol until 1972, and small labels afterward.
Louvin was born Charlie Elzer Loudermilk on July 7th in Henagar, Alabama. He was one of seven children. When he was eight, and his brother Ira was 11, they began singing church songs accompanied by their singing mother and father on five string banjo. As teens, Ira and Charlie began performing as The Louvin Brothers on the radio in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The act was out on hold whilst Charlie joined the air force and trained but didn’t serve. Upon discharge in 1946, he and Ira moved first to Knoxville and then to Memphis. In 1949, Charlie married his wife, Betty. In 1952, he was drafted and sent to Korea where he worked as a mechanic. In 1955, Charlie was back in Alabama and The Louvin Brothers became members of the Grand Ole Opry. Ira’s temper and alcoholism, as well as their declining popularity, led to their dissolution.
Charlie stayed at Capitol and launched a solo career. In 1964 he had two hits, “I Don’t Love You Anymore” and “Less and Less.” The album Less and Less & I Don't Love You Anymore (1964 Capitol) included several originals including songs co-written by Ira. On Father’s Day in 1965, Ira died in a head on collision along Interstate 70 in the Little Dixie region of Missouri. Charlie’ "See the Big Man Cry" was another hit. His 1966 album, The Many Moods of Charlie Louvin (1966 Capitol) also included originals co-written and written solely by Ira. The solo albums Lonesome Is Me (1966 Capitol), I'll Remember Always (1967 Capitol), I Forgot to Cry (1967 Capitol), Will You Visit Me on Sundays? (1968 Capitol), Hey Daddy (1968 Capitol), The Kind of Man I Am (1969 Capitol), Here's a Toast to Mama (1970 Capitol) and Ten Times Charlie (1970 Capitol) all followed. In 1971, Charlie joined Melba Montgomery for two records, Baby, You've Got What It Takes (1971 Capitol) and Something to Brag About (1971 Capitol).
Louvin’s contract with Capitol ended in 1972 and for years he recorded for a number of labels, releasing Louvin Loves 'Em (1973 Music Box Productions), It Almost Felt Like Love (1974 United Artists) and Charlie Louvin (1980 President). With Jim & Jesse (as Jim and Jesse and Charlie) he released Jim and Jesse and Charlie (1982 Soundwaves). After Audiograph Alive (1983 Audiograph), British musician Julian Dawson became an occasional member of Louvin’s band beginning in 1986. And That's the Gospel (1991 Playback) was followed by Charlie Louvin/Charles Whitstein’s Hoping that Your Hoping (1992 Copper Creek).
In the early 1990s, there was a renewed interest in Louvin and a Munich released May 5, 1993-May 31, 1993 Live in Holland (1995 Munich). The Longest Train (1996 Watermelon) included songs, including three co-written by Dawson) between 1988 and 1996. It was followed by The Sound of Days to Come (2002 Country Discovery). Louvin’s second eponymous album, Charlie Louvin (2007 Tompkins Square), was a star studded affair featuring George Jones, Elvis Costello, Marty Stuart, Tom T. Hall and Jeff Tweedy. Louvin followed it with Live at Shake It Records (2007 Tompkins Square). The gospel flavored Steps to Heaven (2008 Tompkins Square) paired the country legend with vocalists Alfreda McCrary Lee, Regina McCrary and Ann McCrary and pianist Derrick Lee. It was followed two months later by Charlie Louvin Sings Murder Ballads and Disaster Songs (2008 Tompkins Square). His most recent release is Hickory Wind: Live at the Gram Parsons Guitar Pull Waycross GA (2010 Tompkins Square).
Currently Louvin lives in Manchester, Tennessee. On July 22nd, 2010 underwent surgery for pancreatic cancer. Although the results weren’t what were hoped for, Louvin’s soldiering on, working on a collection of songs dating back to the Civil War with Del McCoury and Jamie Dailey called The Battles Rage On. On January 27, 2011- Charlie Louvin died at the age of 83.
