Lou Rawls facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lou Rawls
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Rawls in 1995
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Louis Allen Rawls
December 1, 1933 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
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| Died | January 6, 2006 (aged 72) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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| Resting place | Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills) |
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| Years active | 1941–2006 |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instruments | Vocals |
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Louis Allen Rawls (born December 1, 1933 – died January 6, 2006) was an American singer, songwriter, and actor. He was also a record producer. Lou Rawls released over 60 music albums and sold more than 40 million records. He had many popular songs, with his most famous being "You'll Never Find Another Love like Mine". He also acted in movies and on TV. Lou Rawls won three Grammy Awards for his amazing singing.
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The Early Life of Lou Rawls
Lou Rawls was born in Chicago, Illinois, on December 1, 1933. His grandmother raised him in a neighborhood called the South Side. When he was seven years old, he started singing in his church choir. He also sang with local music groups. This is how he met other future music stars like Sam Cooke and Curtis Mayfield.
Lou Rawls' Music Career
After finishing high school, Lou Rawls sang with a gospel group called the Teenage Kings of Harmony. He later joined another group called the Holy Wonders. In 1951, he took Sam Cooke's place in a group called the Highway QC's. Then, he moved to Los Angeles to sing with the Chosen Gospel Singers and later the Pilgrim Travelers.
Serving in the Army
In 1955, Lou Rawls joined the United States Army. He became a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division. He made 26 jumps during his time in the Army. After three years, he left the Army as a Sergeant. He then rejoined the Pilgrim Travelers music group.
A Life-Changing Accident
In 1958, while on tour with the Travelers and Sam Cooke, Lou Rawls was in a serious car crash. He was thought to be dead at first. He then spent five and a half days in a coma. He took a whole year to get better, and it took months for his memory to fully return. Lou Rawls said this accident changed his life forever.
Becoming a Star Singer
In 1959, Lou Rawls performed at the famous Hollywood Bowl. He released his first songs, "Love, Love, Love" and "Walkin' (For Miles)". In 1962, he signed with Capitol Records. He sang backup vocals for Sam Cooke's songs like "Bring It On Home to Me". Lou Rawls later released his own popular version of "Bring It On Home".
His jazz album Stormy Monday came out in 1962. His next two albums, Black and Blue and Tobacco Road, became very popular. They helped make him a well-known singer.
In 1966, his album Live! sold many copies. But his biggest hit came later that year with the soul album Soulin'. This album included "Love Is a Hurtin' Thing", which was his first number one R&B song. In 1967, he won his first Grammy Award for "Dead End Street". He also performed at the first Monterey International Pop Music Festival.
After leaving Capitol Records in 1971, he signed with MGM. He released the song "Natural Man". In 1976, he signed with Philadelphia International. His album All Things in Time sold a million copies. His song "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine" became his most successful song. It sold a million copies and reached number one on the R&B and Adult Contemporary charts. The hit song "Lady Love" followed in 1977.
Helping Others: Charity Work
In 1980, Lou Rawls started the Lou Rawls Parade of Stars Telethon. This event helped raise money for the United Negro College Fund. This fund helps students attend historically black colleges and universities. The event, later called "An Evening of Stars", shared stories of successful students and featured musical performances. By the time Lou Rawls passed away in 2006, the event had raised over $250 million for education.
Acting on TV and in Movies
Lou Rawls appeared on the children's show Sesame Street to sing the alphabet. He was also a guest on The Muppet Show.
He acted in TV shows like The Big Valley, Mannix, and Fantasy Island. He also appeared in movies such as Leaving Las Vegas and Blues Brothers 2000. He had a role and sang in the independent film Lookin' Italian. He was also a guest host on the TV show Jazz Central.
For many years, Lou Rawls was a spokesperson for the Budweiser beer company. Budweiser also sponsored his telethon for the UNCF. His 1977 album title, When You've Heard Lou, You've Heard It All, was similar to Budweiser's slogan, "When You Say Bud, You've Said It All".
Lou Rawls also used his deep voice for cartoon characters. He voiced characters in shows like Hey Arnold!, Captain Planet and the Planeteers, and The Proud Family. He also sang songs for many of the Garfield TV specials.
Personal Life
Lou Rawls was married three times. His third wife, Nina, helped manage his career. They had one son, Aiden. Lou Rawls also had another son, Lou Rawls Jr., and two daughters, Louanna and Kendra. He had four grandchildren.
Death
In December 2005, it was announced that Lou Rawls was battling lung cancer that had spread to his brain. He passed away from this illness on January 6, 2006, in Los Angeles, California. He is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills).
His last TV performance was in September 2005, for the "An Evening of Stars" telethon. He honored Stevie Wonder and sang songs as a tribute to Frank Sinatra.
Awards and Honors
Lou Rawls sang the national anthem of the United States many times. He performed it before the Earnie Shavers-Muhammad Ali boxing match in 1977. His final performance of the anthem was in his hometown of Chicago in 2005, before a World Series baseball game.
In 1979, he won the American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist. In 1982, Lou Rawls received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He sang "Wind Beneath My Wings" at President Ronald Reagan's inauguration celebration in 1985.
In 2021, Lou Rawls was honored by being added to the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame.
Grammy Awards
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | "Dead End Street" | Best Male R&B Vocal Performance | Won |
| 1972 | "A Natural Man" | Best Male R&B Vocal Performance | Won |
| 1976 | "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine" | Best Male Pop Vocal Performance | Nominated |
| 1978 | Unmistakably Lou | Best Male R&B Vocal Performance | Won |
Lou Rawls' Legacy
Guion Bluford, the first African American astronaut, took Lou Rawls' album When the Night Comes into space with him. The album included the song "Wind Beneath My Wings".
In 2004, the United Negro College Fund honored Lou Rawls for his more than 25 years of charity work. Instead of hosting, he was celebrated by other artists like Stevie Wonder and Ashanti.
In 2009, there were plans to make a movie about Lou Rawls' life. His son, Lou Rawls Jr., was set to write the story for the film.
Music Albums by Lou Rawls
- Stormy Monday with Les McCann (Capitol, 1962)
- Black and Blue (Capitol, 1963)
- Tobacco Road (Capitol, 1964)
- Nobody But Lou (Capitol, 1965)
- Lou Rawls and Strings (Capitol, 1965)
- Live! (Capitol, 1966)
- Soulin' (Capitol, 1966)
- Carryin' On! (Capitol, 1966)
- Too Much! (Capitol, 1967)
- That's Lou (Capitol, 1967)
- Merry Christmas Ho! Ho! Ho! (Capitol, 1967)
- Feelin' Good (Capitol, 1968)
- You're Good for Me (Capitol, 1968)
- Central Park Music Festival with Ramsey Lewis, Maxine Brown (Music Images, 1968)
- Come On in, Mister Blues (Pickwick, 1968)
- The Way It Was, The Way It Is (Capitol, 1969)
- Your Good Thing (Capitol, 1969)
- You've Made Me So Very Happy (Capitol, 1970)
- Bring It On Home...and Other Great Sam Cooke Hits (Capitol, 1970)
- Natural Man (MGM, 1971)
- Silk & Soul (MGM, 1972)
- A Man of Value (MGM, 1972)
- The Soul of ... Charley with Don Costa (MGM, 1973)
- Live at the Century Plaza (MGM, 1973)
- She's Gone (Bell, 1974)
- Lou Rawls with Host Sam Riddle (Sounds Like The Navy, 1974)
- All Things in Time (Philadelphia International, 1976)
- Naturally (Polydor, 1976)
- Unmistakably Lou (Philadelphia International, 1977)
- When You Hear Lou, You've Heard It All (Philadelphia International, 1977)
- Live (Philadelphia International, 1978)
- Let Me Be Good to You (Philadelphia International, 1979)
- Sit Down and Talk to Me (Philadelphia International, 1980)
- Shades of Blue (Philadelphia International, 1981)
- Live On Stage (Philadelphia International, 1981)
- Here Comes Garfield (Epic, 1982)
- Now Is the Time (Epic, 1982)
- When the Night Comes (Epic, 1983)
- Close Company (Epic, 1984)
- Trying As Hard As I Can (Allegiance, 1984)
- Holiday Cheer with Lena Horne (Capitol, 1985)
- Love All Your Blues Away (Epic, 1986)
- Family Reunion (Gamble and Huff 1987)
- At Last (Blue Note, 1989)
- It's Supposed to Be Fun (Blue Note, 1990)
- Greatest Hits (Curb, 1990)
- Portrait of the Blues (Manhattan, 1993)
- Christmas Is the Time (Manhattan, 1993)
- Tonight: Lou Rawls Live (ABCD Music, 1993)
- In Concert (Skyline, 1995)
- Seasons 4 U (Rawls & Brokaw, 1998)
- Classic Soul (TKO Magnum Music, 1999)
- Swingin' Christmas (EMI-Capitol, 2000)
- I'm Blessed (Malaco, 2001)
- Oh Happy Day (601 Music/Malaco, 2002)
- Rawls Sings Sinatra (Savoy, 2003)
- Amen (Prism Platinum 2005)
- Live in Concert 1992/1995 (ABC Entertainment 2006)
- Merry Christmas, Baby (Capitol, 2006)
- Christmas (Time Life 2006)
Popular Songs by Lou Rawls
The following are some of Lou Rawls' most popular songs that reached the top 50 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
- "Love Is a Hurtin' Thing" - 1966, No. 13 (also No. 1 R&B)
- "Dead End Street" - 1967, No. 29
- "Show Business" - 1967, No. 45
- "Your Good Thing (Is About to End)" - 1969, No. 18 (sold over one million copies)
- "A Natural Man" - 1971, No. 17
- "You'll Never Find Another Love like Mine" - 1976, No. 2 (also No. 1 R&B and No. 1 Easy Listening); sold one million copies
- "Lady Love" - 1978, No. 24
Film and TV Appearances
- 1969: Angel, Angel, Down We Go as Joe
- 1969: "Joshua Watson" in The Big Valley
- 1972: "Lifeline" episode of Mannix as Vance Logan
- 1995: Leaving Las Vegas as Concerned Cab Driver
- 1996-2004: Hey Arnold! as Harvey the Mailman (voice in 18 episodes)
- 1997: “Still Breathing” as The Tree Man
- 1998: The Secret Files of the Spy Dogs (voice of Anubis)
- 1998: The Rugrats Movie as a newborn baby singer
- 1999: Kablam as himself
- 2000: Jazz Channel Presents Lou Rawls (Image)
- 2001: My Wife and Kids Episode: "Michael's Garden" (as himself)
- 2002: The Proud Family Episode "The Party"
- 2003: In Concert (BMG/Image)
- 2005: Prime Concerts: In Concert with Edmonton Symphony (Amalgamated)
- 2005: South Park as Tolkien Black (singing voice) in episode: "Wing"
- 2006: The Lou Rawls Show: With Duke Ellington & Freda Payne
- 2007: Live in Concert: North Sea Jazz. 1992-1995 (E-M-S)
Images for kids
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Rawls in 1995
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Rawls performing with Frank Gorshin in 1977
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Lou Rawls (right) at Baltimore's Inner Harbor (1980) being interviewed by local news anchor Curt Anderson, promoting the Lou Rawls Parade of Stars Telethon
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Lou Rawls's tomb at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills)
See also
In Spanish: Lou Rawls para niños
