Loudon Wainwright III facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Loudon Wainwright III
Background information
Birth name	Loudon Snowden Wainwright III
Born	(1946-09-05) September 5, 1946 (age 78) Chapel Hill, North Carolina, U.S.
Origin	Bedford, New York, U.S.
Genres	Folk rock blues comedy
Occupation(s)	Musician actor
Instruments	Vocals guitar piano banjo ukulele percussion
Years active	1967–present
Labels	Atlantic Columbia Legacy Arista Radar Rounder Silvertone Charisma Hannibal Demon Verve Rykodisc Red House Sanctuary Records 2nd Story Sound Records Sovereign Artists Concord Proper Records

Wainwright at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in 2015, where he received a lifetime achievement award.

Loudon Snowden Wainwright III (born September 5, 1946) is an American singer, songwriter, and actor. He has released many albums, including studio, live, and compilation records. Some of his most famous songs are "The Swimming Song" and "Dead Skunk".

In 2007, he worked with musician Joe Henry to create music for the film Knocked Up. Besides music, he has acted in several TV shows and movies. This includes three episodes of the TV series M*A*S*H. In 2017, Wainwright released his autobiography, Liner Notes: On Parents & Children, ... and a Few of My Other Favorite Things. He is the brother of singer Sloan Wainwright. He also has four children, including musicians Rufus Wainwright, Martha Wainwright, and Lucy Wainwright Roche.

Early Life and Family Background

Loudon Wainwright III was born in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. His mother, Martha Taylor, was a yoga teacher. His father, Loudon Wainwright Jr., was a writer and editor for Life magazine.

Even though his father was not a professional musician, he played piano and wrote songs. He introduced his children to musicians like Tom Lehrer. These artists later inspired Loudon Wainwright III. He grew up in Bedford, New York. His sister, Sloan Wainwright, is also a singer.

Music Career Highlights

Wainwright started his music career in the late 1960s. He had played guitar in school but later sold it. While in Rhode Island, his grandmother helped him get a job. An old lobsterman there inspired him to write his first song, "Edgar".

He soon bought his own guitar and wrote many songs. He performed in folk clubs in Boston and New York City. He was discovered by Milton Kramer, who became his manager. He signed a record deal with Atlantic. His first album, Loudon Wainwright III, came out in 1970.

Famous Songs and TV Roles

Wainwright is well-known for his 1972 song "Dead Skunk (in the Middle of the Road)". He also played Captain Calvin Spalding, the "singing surgeon", on the TV show M*A*S*H. He appeared in three episodes during the show's third season (1974–1975).

Wainwright uses a clever and funny style in his music. He has released over twenty albums. Three of his albums have been nominated for Grammy Awards. These include I'm Alright (1985) and More Love Songs (1986). In 2010, he won a Grammy for Best Traditional Folk Album for High Wide & Handsome: The Charlie Poole Project.

Acting and Other Appearances

Wainwright has also appeared in several movies. These include The Aviator, Big Fish, and Knocked Up. He also acted in TV series like Undeclared and Parks and Recreation.

In the UK, he recorded music for John Peel starting in 1971. He became more popular in Britain in the late 1980s. This was when he appeared on comedian Jasper Carrott's show Carrott Confidential. He was also a musical guest on Saturday Night Live in 1975.

Wainwright has shared that seeing Bob Dylan at the Newport Folk Festival in 1963 inspired him. In the early 1970s, many young folk singers were called the "new Dylan". Wainwright later made fun of this in his song "Talking New Bob Dylan".

After his mother passed away in 1997, Wainwright went through a difficult time. He thought he might not be able to write music again. He spent time at his mother's cabin and got help. He eventually recovered and recorded Last Man Man on Earth in 2001.

Wainwright and musician Joe Henry created the music for the 2007 film Knocked Up. Wainwright also had a role in the film as a doctor. He has also written music for a theater play called Lucky You. This play first showed at the 2008 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Personal Life and Family Connections

Wainwright's first marriage was to singer-songwriter Kate McGarrigle. They had two children, Rufus and Martha. Both of them are also musicians.

Later, Wainwright had a relationship with singer Suzzy Roche. They had a daughter, Lucy Wainwright Roche, who is also a musician. Wainwright and Suzzy Roche are still friends and sometimes perform together.

Wainwright's second marriage was to Ritamarie Kelly. They had a daughter named Alexandra (Lexie) Kelly Wainwright. Since 2015, Wainwright has lived with Susan Morrison. She is an editor at The New Yorker.

Songs Inspired by Family

Wainwright's first wife, Kate McGarrigle, wrote her song "Go Leave" about him. Their daughter, Martha, has said it is a very emotional song.

Wainwright's son, Rufus, inspired two of his songs: "Rufus Is a Tit Man" and "A Father and a Son". Rufus also wrote the song "Dinner at Eight" about his relationship with his father.

Martha and her father sang a duet called "Father Daughter Dialogue". They also worked together on the song "You Never Phone". Wainwright wrote songs about Martha, including "That Hospital" and "Pretty Little Martha". He also wrote "Hitting You" and "I'd Rather Be Lonely". Martha has shared that some of his songs about her were surprising.

Discography

Studio albums

Filmography

• M*A*S*H (1974–1975) (TV) .... Capt. Calvin Spalding, the singing surgeon. (3 episodes)
• Saturday Night Live (1975) (TV) .... Season 1, episode 5
• The T.V. Show (1979) (TV) .... Dead Man on Telethon/Spinal Tap keyboardist
• The Slugger's Wife (1985) .... Gary
• Jacknife (1989) .... Ferretti
• 28 Days (2000) .... Guitar guy
• Undeclared (2001) (TV) .... Hal Karp
• Ally McBeal (2002) (TV) .... Jerome Trouper
• Big Fish (2003) .... Beamen
• The Aviator (2004) .... Coconut grove vocalist No. 2
• The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005) .... Priest
• Elizabethtown (2005) .... Uncle Dale
• For Your Consideration (2006) .... Nominee Ben Connelly
• Knocked Up (2007) .... Dr. Everett Howard (also composed music)
• G-Force (2009) .... Grandpa Goodman
• Parks and Recreation (2009) (TV) .... Barry, a community-forum attendee (Episode 1)
• Person of Interest (2012) (TV) .... Mr. Frey
• Sleepwalk with Me (2012) .... Uncle Max
• Mosaic (2018) .... Casey Delacroix/Dennis Klein

See also

In Spanish: Loudon Wainwright III para niños