Lou Rawls dies at 72

January 6, 2006 11:00 PM

Lou Rawls dies You'll never find... A "velvety baritone" like Lou Rawls, who died Friday of lung cancer at Cedars-Sinai in LA. He moved with his mother from Chicago in the 1950s, was a friend of Sam Cooke, and sang the National Anthem at Game 2 of the 2005 World Series in Chicago. Rawls sang with Sam Cooke, was awarded three Grammys, sold one platinum and five gold albums. He said: There are no limits to music, so why should I limit myself?"
posted by SeeAych4 (31 comments total)

They dined on mince and slices of quince
Which they ate with a runcible spoon;
And hand in hand on the edge of the sand
They danced by the light of the moon,
The moon, the moon,
They danced by the light of the moon.

"The Owl and the Pussycat" was my introduction to Mr. Rawls when I was a child.

He certainly didn't limit himself.
posted by exlotuseater at 11:12 PM on January 6, 2006

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posted by scody at 11:14 PM on January 6, 2006

My introduction to him was Garfield's Halloween Adventure, a wonderful piece of work that somehow escaped the Garfield franchise before it collapsed into the sellout singularity. Lou Rawls sang on several of the songs, which, whether by dint of sentiment or quality, I still find catchy 20 years later. And familiarity with those songs are how I could recognize his vocals when I started hearing him occasionally played on Nick Spitzer's American Roots. What a voice.

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posted by weston at 11:39 PM on January 6, 2006

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He was Lou Fucking Rawls. Respect.
posted by beaucoupkevin at 11:41 PM on January 6, 2006 [1 favorite]

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posted by trip and a half at 11:53 PM on January 6, 2006

For no clear reason, he is part of the commentary tack for the DVD of Anchirman, which seems to puzzle him to. At one point, if I recall correctly, Will Ferrell challenges him to a sing-off.
posted by Astro Zombie at 11:56 PM on January 6, 2006

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posted by Robot Johnny at 12:00 AM on January 7, 2006

AnchORman.
posted by Astro Zombie at 12:06 AM on January 7, 2006

His version of "You Make Me So Very Happy" (produced/arranged by David Axelrod) is smooth soul sublimity.

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posted by joseph_elmhurst at 12:21 AM on January 7, 2006

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posted by amberglow at 12:34 AM on January 7, 2006

You'll never find, it'll take the end of all time
Someone to understand you like I do
You'll never find the rhythm, the rhyme
All the magic we shared, just us two.

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posted by ?! at 12:37 AM on January 7, 2006

What a voice...amazing. Didn't realize he had been so ill.

Cherish the music.
posted by davidmsc at 1:26 AM on January 7, 2006

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posted by Mijo Bijo at 2:54 AM on January 7, 2006

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also, fuck cancer.
posted by wakko at 3:46 AM on January 7, 2006

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posted by tpl1212 at 4:13 AM on January 7, 2006

Props to the late Mr. Rawls for his Lou Rawls Parade of Stars (later retitled An Evening of Stars) on behalf of the United Negro College Fund.
posted by alumshubby at 5:28 AM on January 7, 2006

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posted by cookie-k at 5:53 AM on January 7, 2006

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(Loo Rolls)
posted by nylon at 6:10 AM on January 7, 2006

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wakko nailed it.
posted by JeffK at 6:11 AM on January 7, 2006

In the early '70s, Lou Rawls did a recruitment film for the Navy. It's way funky, so watch it and be awed by the amazing sounds of Port Authority.
Also, .
posted by NoMich at 6:57 AM on January 7, 2006

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posted by horsemuth at 7:06 AM on January 7, 2006

When I was in elementary school, if you farted you had to say "Lou Rawls" or people could hit you. I'm still not sure why.
posted by klangklangston at 7:49 AM on January 7, 2006

I really like Groovy People. .
posted by Navek Rednam at 8:02 AM on January 7, 2006

Peace out.

I hope he had that insurance he was always trying to sell my grandma between the steady flow that is the Price is Right.
posted by gunthersghost at 9:37 AM on January 7, 2006

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posted by nola at 11:20 AM on January 7, 2006

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posted by First Post at 12:11 PM on January 7, 2006

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my mom loves Lou Rawls.

...haven't told her yet.
posted by Smedleyman at 12:41 PM on January 7, 2006

We're gonna miss
We're gonna miss
We're gonna miss his lov'n
posted by tkchrist at 1:05 PM on January 7, 2006

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posted by Smart Dalek at 5:34 PM on January 7, 2006

Groovy People *is* great, Navek Rednam, one of those unknown gems buried on his 70s albums, but it's got a bit too much of that disco-era production feel to really show off his voice. I prefer the more raw, bluesy, jazzy stuff from a few years earlier, like "Natural Man" or "My Ancestors," both incredibly powerful soul-jazz songs. RIP to a great singer.
posted by mediareport at 8:38 PM on January 7, 2006

If you want to hear prime Rawls, check out Stormy Monday Blues- just him with the Les McCann trio in 1959. Drink Muddy Water, Willow Weep for Me... that amazing voice applied to vintage gems. Desert island stuff.
posted by QuietDesperation at 10:33 PM on January 7, 2006