Lou Rawls

THANKS "V" THIS MAN WAS AN ICON-SUPER COOL AND A PERFECT GENTLEMAN;;THEY JUST DON'T MAKE EM LIKE THAT ANY MORE---------------MARCO

Born in Chicago, LOU RAWLS became an ICON early in life. LOU started singing gospel in the South Side, part of his BAPTIST Church Choir at age 7!!! He went to high school with the legendary SAM COOKE. After a three year stint in the Air Force, Sargent Rawls hooked up with COOKE and toured the country. While doing that, they were involved in a deadly traffic accident that left LOU in a COMA, he was actually pronounced dead at one time. He returned five days later with some memory loss and a new, fresh outlook on life. It was off to Los Angeles, where he worked the local R & B , Jazz club circuit. Capitol records signed him, infatuated with LOU'S four-octave range. The hits started coming soon afterwards. LOVE IS A HURTIN' THING(1966), followed that same year with TABACCO ROAD. In 1967 he won his first GRAMMY for DEADEND STREET. By 1971, he was one of the most popular male vocalists around, more popular then FRANK SINATRA who called LOU'S vocal talents,"The Classiest, silkiest chops in the game". Then another GRAMMY for NATURAL MAN. Then came DISCO> In 1975, KENNY GAMBLE and LEON HUFF signed him to their PHILADELPHIA INTERNATIONAL label, and soon LOU'S biggest hit, and third GRAMMY was YOU'LL NEVER FIND(ANOTHER LOVE LIKE MINE). This song took over DISCO. Everyone burned it out from constant play. It's smooth vocals made it irresistible.--- Now it was full speed ahead in a fabulous career that found LOU everywhere doing everything. He started the LOU RAWLS Parade of Stars Telethon to benefit the UNITED NEGRO COLLEGE FUND(uncf). He was the spokesman for a national ad campaign for ANHEUSER BUSH. He did commercials. We saw him all over television on Talk shows, on Variety shows, on Dramas, on sit-coms and then in movies. Even Broadway wasn't immune to LOU RAWLS, as he appeared in SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE. What one word describes LOU RAWLS?----COOL!! GOD BLESS YOU.

Again too few comments are written here. Lou Rawls was one of the best male vocalists ever. I remember doing a fantastic re-mix of YOU'LL NEVER FIND, I would put one record four beats behind the other, and echo it every time he hit a crescendo. It was such an awesome sounding re-mix. One of my all time favorites. I will do some soul-searching, some research, and come back to this site with a proper obituary for a man who deserves so much more!

I GREW UP ON LOU RAWLS. HIS PASSING WAS A SHOCK TO ME WHEN IT HAPPENED.IM GOING TO MISS YOUR MUSIC, IM GOING TO MISS YOU, REST IN PEACE.

YES,,I second that Delmar, he is now, and alway will be a gift to all of us...he will be missed big time..rest in peace Lou..thanks for the memories..

A man whose vocals were heard on many songs through the years and work to help others was a gift that'll surely be missed!

R.I.P. - Lou Rawls