Died On This Date (January 26, 2011) Charlie Louvin / Country Music Icon
themusicsover Charlie Louvin (Born Charles Loudermilk)
July 7, 1927 – January 26, 2011
Charlie Louvin was a longtime country singer and songwriter who became a national treasure singing alongside his brother Ira Louvin as the Louvin Brothers. From 1940 to 1963, the Louvin Brothers created a catalog of country and folk music that ushered in the use of close harmonies to the genres and would be a direct influence on the likes of the Byrds, the Everly Brothers, Emmylou Harris, Gram Parsons, Alison Krauss, and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Starting out as a Gospel group, the Louvin Brothers soon began singing secular songs so they could reach a larger audience. That lead to appearances at the Grand Ole Opry and several charting singles. The duo disbanded in 1963 and then in 1965, Ira was tragically killed in a car accident, so Charlie forged on as a solo artist. In recent years, Louvin’s career experienced a renaissance thanks to recognition from the likes of Jeff Tweedy of Wilco, Elvis Costello, and Bright Eyes to name just a few. Outside of tributes, his songs have been recorded by Uncle Tupelo, Roy Orbison, Willie Nelson, Wanda Jackson, Tammy Wynette, Hank Williams Jr., Doc Watson, and many many more. In 2003, a Grammy winning tribute to the Louvin Brothers entitled Livin’, Lovin’, Losin’: Songs Of The Louvin Brothers was released. It included performances by Vince Gill, Dierks Bentley, Dolly Parton, Marty Stuart, and Merle Haggard, to name a few. Louvin continued to release critically acclaimed albums and enjoy the spotlight as recently as 2010. His final three, including 2010’s The Battle Rages On are considered three of his best. Charlie Louvin was 83 when he died as a result of pancreatic cancer on January 26, 2011.
What You Should Own
Jim Williamson was a respected Nashville recording engineer who worked on several of the most iconic recordings in pop music history. His behind-the-board talent can be heard on such records as 
Lefty Frizzell was a country singer and songwriter, popular in the 1950s and one of the leaders of the honky tonk movement. His singing and playing style were a major influence on the likes of George Jones, Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson. Frizzell kept very busy throughout most of the ’50s, either recording or touring the honky tonk circuit, and even as rock ‘n roll was dominating the Ameican phsyche by 1959, Frizzell was still scoring hits with his traditional country sound, including the Grammy nominated “Long Black Veil.” By the ’70s, Frizzell had moved to Bakersfield, California and became the first Country artist to perform at the Hollywood Bowl. But unfortunately, Frizzell’s battle with alcohol was starting to catch up with him, both physically and by damaging his business and personal relationships due to his heavy mood swings and angry tirades. Lefty Frizzell died on July 19, 1975 after suffering a stroke.
