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Charlie Louvin was born in
Henager, Alabama on July 7, 1927. He and his older brother Ira
worked hard as common field hands on the family’s farm. They
never missed listening to the Grand Ole Opry on Saturday night
and longed for the day they would grace the stage of the Ryman
Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee.
The Louvin Brothers started
singing together at a very young age. Influenced by the
Delmore Brothers, they crafted a unique sound that would
propel them into stardom. The boys played their first paying
job on the 4th of July 1940 when Charlie was not
yet 13 years old. They earned three dollars each and were
amazed that people would pay to hear them sing. No doubt this
encourage them to seek their fortunes in country music.
After struggling a few years,
doing radio shows and personal appearances, the Louvins
finally got their big break. They landed a recording contract
with MGM Records. After one year of minimal success, they were
signed by Capitol Records, and went on to establish themselves
as America’s leading country duet.
The Louvins realized their
longtime dream when they were invited to join the Grand Ole
Opry in 1955. They were highly sought after for personal
appearances and television shows, and their recordings were
beginning to receive high acclaim. Two of their biggest hits
were “I Don’t Believe You’ve Met My Baby,” and “When I Stop
Dreaming.”
In 1964 the Louvins decided to
split up the act and go separate ways. The next year Ira and
his wife were killed in a car accident in Missouri, but
Charlie continued in the business, recording and doing shows.
His efforts paid off with two big hits, “I Don’t Love You
Anymore,” and “Will You Visit Me On Sundays.” They earned him
a Grammy, which he shared that year with Melba Montgomery.
Today, Charlie Louvin
continues to keep the flame of real country music burning with
appearances on the Grand Ole Opry every Friday and Saturday
night. He’s been a member of that prestigious institution for
over 40 years.
Happy Birthday Charlie Louvin!
Dusty Owens
TCM Radio News
Charlie’s Website
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