The Louvin Brothers

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The Louvin Brothers were an American roots music duo composed of brothers Ira Lonnie Loudermilk and Charlie Elzer Loudermilk, better known as Charlie and Ira Louvin. They helped popularize close harmony, a genre of country music.

Contents 1 History 1.1 Satan is Real album cover 2 Partial discography 3 Notes 4 External links

[edit] History

The brothers adopted the name Louvin Brothers in the 1940s as they began their career in gospel music. Their first foray into secular music was the minor hit "The Get Acquainted Waltz," recorded with Chet Atkins. Other hits included "Cash on the Barrelhead" and "When I Stop Dreaming." They joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1955 and stayed there until breaking up in 1963.

Ira Louvin was killed in a car accident on June 20, 1965. Charlie pursued a solo career and lives in Manchester, Tennessee. They are cousins to John D. Loudermilk, a Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member.

Country-rock pioneers The Byrds recorded the Louvin-penned "The Christian Life" for their seminal 1968 release Sweetheart of the Rodeo.

In 2001, the Louvin brothers were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. The tribute CD Livin, Lovin, Losin: The Songs of the Louvin Brothers, produced by Carl Jackson and released in 2003, won the 2004 Grammy Award for Best Country Album.

[edit] Satan is Real album cover

Although the brothers are still remembered today for their musical talent, they are also remembered for the unusual cover used for their 1960 album, Satan Is Real. Designed by Ira Louvin, the cover features the brothers standing in a rock quarry in front of a 12-foot tall plywood rendition of the Devil as several hidden tires soaked in kerosene burn behind them as fire and brimstone.^[1] While some reviewers count this as being one of the "greatest iconic album covers of all time,"^[2] the cover can also be found today on several Web sites celebrating unusual or bizarre album covers. The cover has also become an Internet meme on a number of Web sites such as Fark.com, where it has been posted in discussion threads as an example of religious views of the era.^[3]

[edit] Partial discography

• Tragic Songs of Life (Capitol 1956)
• Nearer My God to Thee (Capitol 1957)
• The Family Who Prays (Capitol 1958)
• Charlie & Ira (Capitol 1958)
• Satan Is Real (Capitol 1960)
• A Tribute to The Delmore Brothers (Capitol 1960)
• My Baby's Gone (Capitol 1960)
• The Weapon of Prayer (Capitol 1962)
• Christmas With The Louvin Brothers (Capitol 1961)
• Keep Your Eyes on Jesus (Capitol 1963)
• The Louvin Brothers Sing and Play Their Current Hits (Capitol 1964)
• Close Harmony (Bear Family an 8 CD collection released in 1992)

[edit] Notes

[edit] External links

• Country Music Hall of Fame, Nashville - report on Charlie Louvin's 80th birthday, 2007
• State of Mind - A Word with Charlie Louvin - January 2009