Charlie Louvin R.I.P.

CHARLIE LOUVIN, 83, Grand Ole Opry and Country Music Hall of Fame member, lost his battle with pancreatic cancer early this morning. Born Charlie Elzer Loudermilk in 1927, he grew up in the Sand Mountain region of Alabama and worked beside his brother Ira in the cotton mills and fields. As teenagers, they developed a harmonic singing style which would take them to the top of the ‘50s country charts with standards like “I Don’t Believe You’ve Met My Baby,” “When I Stop Dreaming” and “You’re Running Wild.” After the duo disbanded in 1963 and brother Ira was killed in a 1965 automobile accident, Louvin had solo success with hits such as “I Don’t Love You Anymore” and “See the Big Man Cry.” He continued recording and making live performances through 2010, all the while being cited as a musical influence by an array of successful artists. Livin’, Lovin’, Losin’: The Songs of the Louvin Brothers featured Charlie, as well as many of those the duo influenced, winning a Grammy for Best Country Album in 2004. (1/26p)