If you are wondering why I’m posting a 50 year old country video today, it’s because Charlie Louvin, one half of The Louvin Brothers, died earlier this week after a bout with cancer. The Louvin Brothers broke up in 1963, and Ira Louvin, the other half of the act, died in a car accident in 1965. But Charlie kept recording and touring, on and off, right up to the end.
I got to see Charlie when he played New York City back in 2007. Sitting next to me in the audience were musicians Dave Schramm and George Usher. And Amy Rigby has said that she learned to sing harmony by listening to The Louvin Brothers. Although Charlie’s voice had seen better days by then, his classic country songs, the love he got from the audience, his gentlemanly demeanor and cornball humor made it a wonderful show.
So I’ll say goodbye to Charlie with this video of the Louvin Brothers singing I Can’t Keep You in Love with Me.
