January 06, 2006

Lou Rawls has passed away. The Man Frank Sinatra said had "the classiest singing and silkiest chops in the singing game." His smoky-smooth soulful voice, recorded over a prolific career, will be missed.
posted by petebest 18 years ago
  • We will never find / another voice so fine.
  • It was always better to have Lou Rawls and not need him than need Lou Rawls and not have him...
  • Merry Christmas Baby - the angels got a whole lot more soul now.
  • Also, Lou started and hosted for many years the "Lou Rawls Parade of Stars Telethon" for the United Negro College Fund. Which rocks. Ironically, The 2006 show, "'An Evening of Stars' tribute to Stevie Wonder: A celebration of educational excellence benefiting The United Negro College Fund." is tomorrow. If you're a pledging person, in lieu of flowers, etc.
  • CNN article
  • maybe i'll try again to watch the blues brothers 2000
  • I am very sad about this. I have always loved Lou Rawls gorgeous, panty-wetting voice.
  • Yow!
  • Too young.
  • I just bought some of his old work on vinyl. Great stuff. He will be missed. I remember somewhere that in the 1988 United Negro College Fund teleton, while singing "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine," he farted, and it was piced up by the mics. The studio audience heard it, the TV audience heard it, and no one could stop laughing. There's a moment for ya. But serieously, the man was smooth. Here's a bit of Lou from the days of 'Cold Power' detergent, found on the 365 days project site: Cold Power I don't want this post seem disrespectful, but when people pass away I'm always the guy to turn to humor first.
  • Lou would have laughed.
  • His farts are panty-wetting, too.
  • That Cold Power 8-minute album is surprisingly groovy.
  • Sexiest damn detergent I ever heard of. Farewell Lou! You made that "Garfield" TV cartoon bearable. Also, you were the man.
  • My fondest Lou Rawls memory, Lou Rawls secret agent. "You'll never find, that microfilm of mine."
  • Also I believe he was the first African-American singer to cover Sinatra tunes.
  • Oh man, he will be missed. "You'll Never Find..." is so perfect to sing when you have that first tiny glimmer that things are going to be just fine after a breakup.
  • "Show and Tell" Just p2p'd a few hits. End of an era.
  • I'll See You When I Get There.
  • The award for "Best N00b Username" goes to... Felonius Drunk! reminds me of the apocryphal story from Clinton's first campaign where he was interviewed by Tabitha Soren and said that his favorite jazz musician was Thelonius Monk. According to this tale, Ms. Soren was later heard to ask "Who is 'the loneliest monk?'"
  • Anyone not heard that "new" Monk/Trane record (Live at Carnegie Hall)? It's amazing, the real deal.
  • I heard some interview about it on NPR just prior to the release, but didn't get to hear any of the music. I imagine that it's transcendantly awesome.
  • The award for "Best N00b Username" goes to... Felonius Drunk! Thanks folks (I hope you mean noob in the nice sense) And thanks Wolof, I'm looking for that disc online as we speak.
  • Lou Rawls' final fundraiser airs Rawls, in his singular velvet tones, first performed "You Are the Sunshine of My Life." In his second appearance on stage at the Kodak Theater, he turned to a song most closely identified with Frank Sinatra, with a special resonance. "It Was a Very Good Year" was done in a swinging, big-band arrangement, with a nod to the evening's honoree. During his telethon appearance, Rawls perched briefly on a stool but otherwise stood and sang, giving no hint of the health crisis he was facing. Cool.
  • I listen to Rawls most often in pandora.com, singing "Come Fly With Me". Great voice. RIP, Lou.