Charlie Louvin singing his way to Spaceland
What is it with these mountain men singers that keeps them going decade after decade? Charlie Louvin, one half of the Louvin Brothers, perhaps the greatest country harmonizing team ever, turned 81 this year, but he’s been active enough as of late to keep someone half his age breathless.
Louvin has not only put out three strong albums in the last two years, including his newly Grammy-nominated gospel collection, “Steps to Heaven,” but he’ll also be schlepping across the country with his full band for a Feb. 7 gig at Spaceland.
Like mountain music patriarch Ralph Stanley, who's still frequently on the road at age 81, and octogenarian Porter Wagoner, who tapped into a whole new following shortly before his death last year at 80, Louvin is finding young roots-conscious fans turning out along with those who first heard his other world duets with his brother Ira 40, 50 and 60 years ago.
Charlie’s latest, “Charlie Louvin Sings Murder Ballads and Disaster Songs,” revisits a cache of material that once served as news and cultural commentary in country standards as well-known as “Wreck of the Old 97” and as obscure as “Down With the Old Canoe,” with hits moralistic spin on the sinking of the Titanic.
Expect to see everyone who’s anyone in Southland country and roots music circles on hand for this one. And maybe Louvin will coax one or two of them up on stage for a little help from his many friends.
-- Randy Lewis
Photo: Big Hassle
