Louvin Brothers
Encyclopedia
The Louvin Brothers were an American country music
duo composed of brothers Ira Lonnie Loudermilk (1924–1965) and Charlie Elzer Loudermilk
(1927–2011), better known as Ira and Charlie Louvin. They helped popularize close harmony
, a genre of country music.
. Their first foray into secular music was the minor hit "The Get Acquainted Waltz", recorded with Chet Atkins
. Other hits included "Cash on the Barrelhead" and "When I Stop Dreaming". They joined the Grand Ole Opry
in 1955 and stayed there until breaking up in 1963.
Their songs were heavily influenced by their Baptist
faith and warned against sin. Ira Louvin
was notorious for his drinking and short temper. Married four times, his third wife shot him multiple times in the chest and hand after he allegedly beat her. Although seriously injured, he survived. When performing and drinking, Ira would sometimes become angry enough on stage to smash his mandolin
; otherwise his style was heavily influenced by Bill Monroe
. He died on June 20, 1965 when a drunken driver struck his car in Williamsburg, Missouri
. At the time, a warrant for Ira's arrest had been issued on a DUI charge.
After the group's breakup, each brother pursued a solo career. The brothers are cousins to John D. Loudermilk
, a Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame
member.
Country-rock pioneers The Byrds
recorded the Louvin-penned "The Christian Life" for their seminal 1968 release Sweetheart of the Rodeo
.
In 2001, the Louvin brothers were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. The tribute CD Livin', Lovin', Losin': Songs of the Louvin Brothers
, produced by Carl Jackson
and Kathy Louvin released in 2003, won the 2004 Grammy Award
for Best Country Album.
Although the brothers are still remembered today for their musical talent, they are also remembered for the unusual cover used for their 1960 album, Satan Is Real. Designed by Ira Louvin, the cover features the brothers standing in a rock quarry
in front of a 12 feet (3.7 m) plywood rendition of the Devil
as several hidden tires soaked in kerosene burn behind them as fire and brimstone. While some reviewers count this as being one of the "greatest iconic album covers of all time," the cover can also be found today on several Web sites celebrating unusual or bizarre album covers. The cover has also become an Internet meme
on a number of Web sites such as Fark.com
, where it has been posted in discussion threads as an example of religious views of the era.
The opening bars of the album's title track "Satan is Real" can be heard at the beginning of Hank Williams III
's "Medley: Straight to Hell / Satan is Real", on his Straight to Hell album of 2006. It is also excerpted in Will Ferrell
's 2009 one-man Broadway
show, You're Welcome America. A Final Night With George W Bush
.
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
duo composed of brothers Ira Lonnie Loudermilk (1924–1965) and Charlie Elzer Loudermilk
Charlie Louvin
Charles Elzer Loudermilk , known professionally as Charlie Louvin, was an American country music singer and songwriter. He is best known as one of the Louvin Brothers, and was a member of the Grand Ole Opry since 1955.-Biography:Born in Henagar, Alabama, Louvin was one of 7 children...
(1927–2011), better known as Ira and Charlie Louvin. They helped popularize close harmony
Close harmony
Close harmony is an arrangement of the notes of chords within a narrow range. It is different from open harmony or voicing in that it uses each part on the closest harmonizing note , while the open voicing uses a broader pitch array expanding the harmonic range past the octave...
, a genre of country music.
History
The brothers adopted the name Louvin Brothers in the 1940s as they began their career in gospel musicGospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
. Their first foray into secular music was the minor hit "The Get Acquainted Waltz", recorded with Chet Atkins
Chet Atkins
Chester Burton Atkins , known as Chet Atkins, was an American guitarist and record producer who, along with Owen Bradley, created the smoother country music style known as the Nashville sound, which expanded country's appeal to adult pop music fans as well.Atkins's picking style, inspired by Merle...
. Other hits included "Cash on the Barrelhead" and "When I Stop Dreaming". They joined the Grand Ole Opry
Grand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly country music stage concert in Nashville, Tennessee, that has presented the biggest stars of that genre since 1925. It is also among the longest-running broadcasts in history since its beginnings as a one-hour radio "barn dance" on WSM-AM...
in 1955 and stayed there until breaking up in 1963.
Their songs were heavily influenced by their Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
faith and warned against sin. Ira Louvin
Ira Louvin
Ira Lonnie Loudermilk , known professionally as Ira Louvin, was an American country music singer, mandolinist and songwriter. He was a cousin of songwriter John D. Loudermilk.-Biography:...
was notorious for his drinking and short temper. Married four times, his third wife shot him multiple times in the chest and hand after he allegedly beat her. Although seriously injured, he survived. When performing and drinking, Ira would sometimes become angry enough on stage to smash his mandolin
Mandolin
A mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
; otherwise his style was heavily influenced by Bill Monroe
Bill Monroe
William Smith Monroe was an American musician who created the style of music known as bluegrass, which takes its name from his band, the "Blue Grass Boys," named for Monroe's home state of Kentucky. Monroe's performing career spanned 60 years as a singer, instrumentalist, composer and bandleader...
. He died on June 20, 1965 when a drunken driver struck his car in Williamsburg, Missouri
Williamsburg, Missouri
Williamsburg is an unincorporated community in eastern Callaway County, Missouri, USA. It is part of the Jefferson City, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is home to Nine Mile Presbyterian church, presided over by James W. Cruickshank...
. At the time, a warrant for Ira's arrest had been issued on a DUI charge.
After the group's breakup, each brother pursued a solo career. The brothers are cousins to John D. Loudermilk
John D. Loudermilk
John D. Loudermilk is an American singer and songwriter.-Biography:Born in Durham, North Carolina, Loudermilk grew up in a family who were members of the Salvation Army faith and was influenced by the church singing. His cousins Ira and Charlie Loudermilk were known professionally as the Louvin...
, a Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame
Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame
The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame was established by the Nashville Songwriters Foundation, Inc. in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. A non-profit organization, its objective is to honor and preserve the songwriting legacy that is uniquely associated with music community in the city of...
member.
Country-rock pioneers The Byrds
The Byrds
The Byrds were an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles, California in 1964. The band underwent multiple line-up changes throughout its existence, with frontman Roger McGuinn remaining the sole consistent member until the group disbanded in 1973...
recorded the Louvin-penned "The Christian Life" for their seminal 1968 release Sweetheart of the Rodeo
Sweetheart of the Rodeo
Sweetheart of the Rodeo is the sixth album by American rock band The Byrds and was released on August 30, 1968 on Columbia Records...
.
In 2001, the Louvin brothers were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. The tribute CD Livin', Lovin', Losin': Songs of the Louvin Brothers
Livin', Lovin', Losin': Songs of the Louvin Brothers
At the Grammy Awards of 2004, Livin', Lovin', Losin won the Grammy Award for Best Country Album and James Taylor and Alison Krauss won the Grammy Award for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals for their duet on "How's the World Treating You"...
, produced by Carl Jackson
Carl Jackson
Carl Jackson is an American country and bluegrass musician. Jackson's first Grammy was awarded in 1992 for his duet album with John Starling titled "Spring Training." In 2003 Jackson produced the Grammy Award-winning CD titled Livin', Lovin', Losin': Songs of the Louvin Brothers - a tribute to Ira...
and Kathy Louvin released in 2003, won the 2004 Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
for Best Country Album.
Satan is Real album
Quarry
A quarry is a type of open-pit mine from which rock or minerals are extracted. Quarries are generally used for extracting building materials, such as dimension stone, construction aggregate, riprap, sand, and gravel. They are often collocated with concrete and asphalt plants due to the requirement...
in front of a 12 feet (3.7 m) plywood rendition of the Devil
Devil
The Devil is believed in many religions and cultures to be a powerful, supernatural entity that is the personification of evil and the enemy of God and humankind. The nature of the role varies greatly...
as several hidden tires soaked in kerosene burn behind them as fire and brimstone. While some reviewers count this as being one of the "greatest iconic album covers of all time," the cover can also be found today on several Web sites celebrating unusual or bizarre album covers. The cover has also become an Internet meme
Internet meme
The term Internet meme is used to describe a concept that spreads via the Internet. The term is a reference to the concept of memes, although the latter concept refers to a much broader category of cultural information.-Description:...
on a number of Web sites such as Fark.com
Fark.com
Fark is a community website created by Drew Curtis that allows members to comment on a daily batch of news articles and other items from various websites. As of June 2009, the site boasts approximately four million unique visitors per month, which puts it among the top 100 English language websites...
, where it has been posted in discussion threads as an example of religious views of the era.
The opening bars of the album's title track "Satan is Real" can be heard at the beginning of Hank Williams III
Hank Williams III
Shelton Hank Williams, known as Hank 3 , is a neotraditional country and punk metal singer, drummer, bassist, and guitarist. In addition to his honky tonk recordings, Williams' style alternates among country, punk and metal...
's "Medley: Straight to Hell / Satan is Real", on his Straight to Hell album of 2006. It is also excerpted in Will Ferrell
Will Ferrell
John William "Will" Ferrell is an American comedian, impressionist, actor, and writer. Ferrell first established himself in the late 1990s as a cast member on the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live, and has subsequently starred in the comedy films Old School, Elf, Anchorman, Talladega...
's 2009 one-man Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
show, You're Welcome America. A Final Night With George W Bush
You're Welcome America
You're Welcome America. A Final Night with George W Bush is a comedic Broadway play starring Will Ferrell as George W. Bush. It was broadcast live on the HBO cable channel, as well as in Canada, on March 14, 2009, at 9:00PM EST. Ferrell, who has famously depicted Bush on Saturday Night Live, also...
.
Partial discography
- 1956: The Louvin Brothers (MGM)
- 1956: Tragic Songs of LifeTragic Songs of Life (The Louvin Brothers album)Tragic Songs of Life is an album by American country music duo The Louvin Brothers, released in 1956. "Knoxville Girl" was released as a single three years later and reached number 19 on the Billboard Country Singles chart.-History:...
(CapitolCapitol RecordsCapitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
) - 1957: Nearer My God to TheeNearer My God to Thee (Louvin Brothers album)Nearer My God to Thee is a Gospel album by American country music duo The Louvin Brothers, released in 1957.It was the duo's first Gospel album for Capitol after the release of several Gospel singles from 1952-1955...
(Capitol) - 1958: Ira and CharlieIra and CharlieIra and Charlie is an album by American country music duo The Louvin Brothers, released in 1958.-Reception:Writing for Allmusic, music critic Richie Unterberger wrote of the album "It's solid enough, but some of their other Capitol work is more imaginative, and places a greater weight on original...
(Capitol) - 1958: The Family Who PraysThe Family Who PraysThe Family Who Prays is a Gospel album by American country music duo The Louvin Brothers, released in 1958.All the songs had previously been singles released by Capitol from 1952-1955.-Reissues:...
(Capitol) - 1958: Country Love BalladsCountry Love BalladsCountry Love Ballads is an album by American country music duo The Louvin Brothers, released in 1958.Producer Ken Nelson set up recording sessions in August 1958 to record enough tracks for two albums. The first was to become Country Love Ballads, the second the gospel music for Satan Is Real...
(Capitol) - 1959: Satan Is RealSatan Is RealSatan Is Real is a gospel album by American country music duo The Louvin Brothers, released in 1959.- History :Producer Ken Nelson set up recording sessions in August 1958 to record enough tracks for two albums. The first was to become Country Love Ballads, the second the gospel music for Satan is...
(Capitol) - 1960: My Baby's GoneMy Baby's GoneMy Baby's Gone is an album by American country music duo The Louvin Brothers, released in 1960. The lead-off single "My Baby Came Back" b/w "She Didn't Even Know I Was Gone" did not chart although the follow-up single "My Baby's Gone" b/w "Lorene" reached number 9 on the Billboard Country Singles...
(Capitol) - 1960: A Tribute to the Delmore BrothersA Tribute to the Delmore BrothersA Tribute to the Delmore Brothers is an album by American country music duo The Louvin Brothers, released in 1960.The Delmore Brothers were country music pioneers and stars of the Grand Ole Opry in the 1930s.-Reception:...
(Capitol) - 1961: EncoreEncore (Louvin Brothers album)Encore is an album by American country music duo The Louvin Brothers, released in 1961. It is made up of singles and B-Sides previously released by Capitol, dating as far back as 1957...
(Capitol) - 1961: Christmas with the Louvin Brothers (Capitol)
- 1962: The Weapon of Prayer (Capitol)
- 1963: Keep Your Eyes on Jesus (Capitol)
- 1964: The Louvin Brothers Sing and Play Their Current Hits (Capitol)
- 1965: Thank God for My Christian Home (Capitol)
- 1966: Ira and Charles (Hilltop)
- 1967: Two Different Worlds (Capitol)
- 1967: The Great Roy Acuff Songs (Capitol)
- 1968: Country Heart and Soul (Capitol)
- 1973: The Great Gospel Singing of The Louvin Brothers (Capitol)
- 1975: Live at New River Ranch (Collectors Classic)
- 1976: I Don't Believe You Met My Baby (Hilltop)
- 1978: Songs That Tell a Story (RounderRounder RecordsRounder Records, originally of Cambridge, Massachusetts, but now based in Burlington, Massachusetts, is a record label founded in 1970 by Ken Irwin, Bill Nowlin and Marian Leighton-Levy, while all three were still university students...
) - 1990: Early MGM Recordings (Rounder)
- 1992: Close HarmonyClose Harmony (Louvin Brothers album)Close Harmony is a box set of The Louvin Brothers recordings. It is an eight-CD box set and was released in 1992.-History:Close Harmony contains 219 songs from the duo's years with Capitol, Decca, MGM, and Apollo, presented in chronological order along with session notes.The recordings include such...
(Bear Family Records) - 1995: Greatest Hits (Capitol)
- 1995: When I Stop Dreaming: The Best of the Louvin Brothers (Razor & TieRazor & TieRazor & Tie is a New York-based corporation founded in 1990 by Cliff Chenfeld and Craig Balsam. The company encompasses a record label with major label distribution , a home video company, a media buying company, a music publishing business, a marketing, promotion and sales team, and a direct...
) - 2006: The Essential Louvin Brothers 1955-1964: My Baby's Gone (Raven)
Charted singles
| Year | Single | Chart Positions |
|---|---|---|
| US Country Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales... |
||
| 1955 | "When I Stop Dreaming" | 8 |
| 1956 | "I Don't Believe You've Met My Baby" | 1 |
| "Hoping That You're Hoping" | 7 | |
| "You're Running Wild" | 7 | |
| "Cash on the Barrelhead Cash on the Barrelhead "Cash on the Barrelhead" is a song written by Charlie and Ira Louvin, known professionally as the Louvin Brothers, which was first recorded and released in 1956 as the B-side of "You're Running Wild"... "A |
7 | |
| 1957 | "Don't Laugh" | 11 |
| "Plenty of Everything but You" | 14 | |
| 1958 | "My Baby's Gone" | 9 |
| 1959 | "The Knoxville Girl The Knoxville Girl "The Knoxville Girl" is an Appalachian murder ballad. It is derived from the 19th century Irish ballad The Wexford Girl, itself derived from the earlier English ballad "The Oxford Girl". Other versions are known as the "Waxweed Girl", "The Wexford Murder"... " |
19 |
| 1961 | "I Love You Best of All" | 12 |
| "How's the World Treating You" | 26 | |
| 1962 | "Must You Throw Dirt in My Face" | 21 |
- AB-side to "You're Running Wild."
External links
- Official Charlie Louvin and the Louvin Brother's Web Site
- Charlie Louvin interview - July 2010 www.AwaitngTheFlood.com
- Country Music Hall of Fame, Nashville - report on Charlie Louvin's 80th birthday, 2007
- State of Mind - A Word with Charlie Louvin - January 2009
- Livin' Lovin' Losin' the Louvin Way. Retrieved January 22, 2010.
- Charlie's life from 1927 to the present on Raised Country!