MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR From Charlie Louvin and Family!
New album December 9th, 2008!
Buy It Here!
New album Sept 16th, 2008!
Buy It Here!
51 ST. ANNUAL GRAMMY AWARD NOMINEE: Charlie Louvin 'Steps To Heaven' - Best Southern, Country or Bluegrass Gospel Album. We are Proud to Announce Charlies 2008 Release "Steps To Heaven" has been Nominated for a Grammy Award! Congratulations Charlie!
Charlie Louvin:
Country Music Hall of Famer and half of the legendary country duo The Louvin Brothers, Charlie Louvin will release two new albums on New York City’s Tompkins Square label.
Steps to Heaven, due September 16th, 2008, features ten traditional gospel classics including two Louvin Brothers songs. The release will be followed by Charlie Louvin Sings Murder Ballads & Disaster Songs, out December 9, 2008. Both albums were produced, recorded and mixed by Mark Nevers (Bonnie “Prince” Billy, Andrew Bird, Bobby Bare Sr.)
Instead of hanging back at age 80, Charlie has instead chosen to challenge himself. Steps to Heaven was recorded live with a gospel choir comprised of three sisters, journeyman gospel pianist Derrick Lee, and Chris Scruggs adding doghouse bass and electric guitar. Louvin had never recorded with black gospel musicians before, and in doing so discovered a new musical path. "I did things on the gospel record I had no idea I could do. I'd be thinking along the way, ‘How can I do things I've never done before?’ And I did it."
Although some might be surprised at a thematic Charlie Louvin album dealing with death and destruction, one needn’t look any further than the very first Louvin Brothers album to find a connection. Tragic Songs of Life, released in 1956, is full of emotional songs detailing heartbreak, betrayal, violence and loss. Inspired by Tompkins Square’s recent Grammy-nominated 3CD box set People Take Warning! Murder Ballads & Disaster Songs, 1913-1938, Charlie reached back for a couple of songs from that first Louvins album, and pulled nine songs from the box set to create a moving and sometimes raucous new take on traditional songs of tragedy.
Influences
AUTOGRAPHED PHOTOS: By Fan Request! We are Now Offering Autographed Photos of Charlie Louvin Available Online! To Order Your Personally Autographed Photos Today Select from the Following Posted Photographs. We Currently have 3 Photos to Choose From. These are 8X10 Black and White Photos for $3.00 Each! All Prices Include Shipping an Handling Charges! This is a LIMITED TIME OFFER Prices are Subject to Change in the Near Future! Each Photo will be Personally Signed by CHARLIE LOUVIN! Also Available for Purchase we have the NEW - CHARLIE LOUVIN - LIVE AT SHAKE IT CD! CD's are $15.00 each! This Includes Shipping an Handling Charges! These Special offers are available for CONTINENTAL U.S. ORDERS ONLY! ALL SALES FINAL! ALL ORDERS will be Shipped U.S.P.S First Class Mail! TO ORDER: Send Cashiers Checks or Money Orders ONLY! In the Correct Amount of TOTAL ORDER PRICE! Along with Complete Order Details and Correct Shipping Address Information to the Following Address: Charlie Louvin Photos, 2851 Sainville Rd., Manchester,TN 37355.
Sounds Like
Charlie Louvin,Webpage By Randy Ventle! Photo's By Charlie Louvin and Friends, Thank You All! View The World Premier Video of The New Charlie Louvin "Ira" Country Music Video!
Charlie Louvin and Billy Bob Thorton!
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Stars Of Country Music!
For Booking Information Contact:
John Laird, Americana Agency, 2708 Agusta Dr., Durham, NC 27707, Phone: (919)-489-4824 Email:
johnlaird@americanaagency.com
http://www.tompkinssquare.com
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Josh Rosenthal
The term "living legend" gets thrown around quite a bit, but it actually applies to Country Music Hall of Famer Charlie Louvin.
The magical harmonies and depth of feeling found on Louvin Brothers recordings of the 50's and 60's inspired a new generation of musicians, firmly establishing the Louvins' stature as one of the most influential duos in country music history.
In 2006, the Tompkins Square label reached out to Charlie about making his first new studio album in over ten years. They enlisted Mark Nevers, who engineered sessions for many top country artists, and produced Calexico, Lambchop, Candi Staton among others. Guests on the album include Elvis Costello, George Jones, Jeff Tweedy, Will Oldham, Tom T. Hall, Tift Merritt, Marty Stuart, Bobby Bare Sr., David Kilgour, members of Bright Eyes, Lambchop, Clem Snide, Superchunk and more.
Louvin enjoyed the experience. "Mark Nevers is one of the best engineers I've ever worked with. My brother and I cut our teeth on some of those old songs and they influenced us tremendously. I'm glad we're able to remind people of them."Charlie was born July 7, 1927 in Henager, Alabama. He and his older brother Ira worked as field hands on the family farm. In the evening, they would listen to the country hits of the day on their father's Victrola. Inspired by the tight-harmony duets of The Delmore Brothers, Monroe Brothers and Blue Sky Boys, the brothers began developing a distinctive style called "shape note singing" based on gospel harmonies they had learned in church.The duo nailed down steady work in the 40's on local radio stations in Knoxville and Memphis. They also toured heavily in Alabama, Arkansas and Tennessee during this period. On one swing through Dyess, Arkansas, Charlie remembers an encounter with a teenager named Johnny Cash. "We were playing with Eddie Hill. I was selling tickets and I saw this young man standing outside alone. I asked him to show me where the bathroom was. As we walked back, he noticed I had two soda crackers in my shirt pocket. He asked me why, and I said, 'To keep from starving to death.' I invited him in to the show I could tell he didn't have any money. Years later in his book (Man In Black, 1975), he said he always ate two soda crackers before he went on stage." Cash also recalls the date in an intro to his version of the Louvin's "When I Stop Dreaming" on the recent Columbia/Legacy release, Personal File.
The Louvins scored their first record deal with Apollo in 1947, released a single on Decca in 1949, and recorded 12 sides for MGM in 1951 and 1952. One of those sessions took place with Hank Williams waiting outside for his turn in the studio. Their recording and performing schedule was sporadic due to Charlie's military service during the Korean War. Upon his return to the States, they began recording for Capitol Records, which remained their label home until the brothers parted ways in 1963.
Marking a shift from gospel to secular material, the Louvins scored their commercial breakthrough in 1955 with the top ten hit "When I Stop Dreaming." They toured in early 1955 with soon-to-be superstar Elvis Presley as their opening act, and became members of the Grand Ole Opry. From 1955 through 1962, the Louvin Brothers churned out 12 hits on the Billboard country chart, including "I Don't Believe You've Met My Baby," "You're Running Wild," "Cash On The Barrelhead" and "Knoxville Girl."
Although the Louvins hit machine had slowed by the early 60's, they instead created a string of themed albums, cult favorites that still resonate with today's alt-country audience, including A Tribute to the Delmore Brothers and Satan Is Real. By 1963, with a shifting marketplace and interpersonal tensions mounting, the Louvin Brothers parted ways. Ira released his lone solo album, The Unforgettable Ira Louvin, in 1964. He died in a car crash in Missouri on June 20, 1965.Charlie's solo career began in 1964 with the top five hit "I Don't Love You Anymore," and he followed it with six Billboard-charting singles from 12 Capitol LPs. By the late 60's, a renewed interest in the music of the Louvin Brothers began to take shape.
The Louvins' continued legacy is at least partly attributed to Gram Parsons, who, according to legend, paid people to scour LA record shops looking for their out-of-print sides. His versions of Louvins classics "The Christian Life" from the Byrds' Sweetheart of the Rodeo, or "Cash on the Barrelhead" from Grevious Angel, serve as the blueprint for so much "alt-country" that was to follow. Emmylou Harris' first hit was the Louvins' "If I Could Only Win Your Love." Uncle Tupelo covered "Great Atomic Power" on their third album, March 16-20, 1992. "The Christian Life" has been worked into The Raconteurs' live set recently.The Louvin Brothers were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in October 2001.
In 2003, Charlie was invited to open on a national tour with Cheap Trick and Cake. That year also saw the release of Livin', Lovin' Losin': Songs of the Louvin Brothers on Universal South, a Louvin Brothers tribute album featuring James Taylor, Merle Haggard, Dolly Parton, and Johnny Cash among others. The collection went on to win two Grammy Awards in 2004.
CD Ordering Information: If you would like to Purchase either of these Great CD's or any others that are Available Please Contact: Ernest Tubb Record Shops, P.O.Box 500, Nashville,TN 37202. Telephone: (615)-255-7503. You may also Order Online at (http://www.ernesttubb.com). www.ernesttubb.com
Charlie Louvin "Official MySpace"'s Friend Space (Top 40)
Charlie Louvin "Official MySpace" has 1613 friends.
hi Charlie my name is edoardo i'am italian painter.i love the country and rock'n'roll music.what about my paintings?thank for your friendship see you soon my friend ,compliments for your last cd is wonderful
Happy Birthday Charlie! I hope you had a great day!!! I'm in Calgary playing the Stampede.. we played Ranchmans last night and we play again today. My CD hits stores across Canada July 14th distributed through EMI Music Canada. Hope to see you soon!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY "TODAY", CHARLIE on July 7th. I HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT TIME WHERE EVER YOU ARE. JUST STAY WELL AND BE CAREFUL. I SENT YOU A CARD TO THE HOUSE, HOPE YOU GOT IT BY TODAY.
THANKS FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP AND ALL YOUR HELP THRU THE YEARS. HAVE MANY, MANY MORE!!! :)) May God be with you on the road.
Thank you for adding me as a friend. I grew up listening to the Louvin Brothers and the entire family would sit around singing with them. Have a good night.
Headed to Nashville hopefully 6-12 thru 6-13 to see the opry and take mom to her Opry Fan Club Brunch. You met Mom and Dad in 06 there. Maybe I'll get to meet you if you are there this time.
Charlie, We enjoyed the show May 1st in Ft. Worth. Sonny and the Band were great and, YOU did some fine singing, as usual. I enjoyed our long visit as it was great to see you again. Charlie, your friendship has been special to me thru the years, so again, Thanks for these special memories. Your Friend in Mesquite, Texas... WANDA CLARK
Hi, Charlie... Boy, you are a busy man and I know you are enjoying it, too! I hope to see you on May 1st in Ft. Worth. Gonna do my best to be there by 7 PM, so I can get to visit with you for a few minutes.
I'm coming from Dallas so it'll take me an hour or more to get there by 7 PM. I'm so looking forward to see you once again since 2004. Thank goodness my Band is off that night.
I hope you and Betty are doing well. Say Hello to Sonny, too! Can't wait to see your show Friday night, May 1st.
Love, your friend, WANDA CLARK 'Southern Spur Band' www.myspace.com/southernspurband
Thanks for coming to Tampa and playing New World! Please check out my blog on the show here: http://blogs.creativeloafing.com/tampacalling/2009/03/31/charlie-louvin-makes-new-world-debut/. Hope to see another show soon!
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