Lou Rawls

[Mayonnaise]

Lou Rawls died today. For those too young to remember, please seek out a Lou Rawls record. The classic "Lou Rawls Live" has been reissued on CD and is a wonderful. Betcha didn't know Lou Rawls was a rapper. Spirited soul music.

RIP

[* jack *]

Just put "Love is a Hurtin' Thing" on the turntable.

R.I.P Lou :(

p.s. His live set from the 1967 Monterey Int'l Pop Festival is also very good, maybe I'll listen to that next.

[nicomachus]

Hey Jack, did you see Schelp's post (ABCD listserv) about Rawls' connection to Durham? If not...

CNN Breaking News (06 Jan 2006)

Soul singer Lou Rawls died today from lung cancer.

****

A couple years ago, I had a long phone conversation
with songwriter, John D. Loudermilk. Among his most
famous songs is "Tobacco Road" -- performed by Lou
Rawls.

Loudermilk told me that his inspiration for "Tobacco
Road" was "Marvin's Alley" in East Durham (see lyrics
below).

This little lane was just east of the Angier/Alston
intersection. Loudermilk told me he delivered
telegrams and money orders to homes, with shades
drawn, along Marvin's Alley.

During a visit to Marvin's Alley, I bumped into
someone who owned much of the block.

Artis Plummer describes himself as a "Black Cherokee"
who played for the Cleveland Buckeyes in the Negro
League. He's around 80 years old and has stories to
tell.

He said Marvin's Alley was one of Durham's early White
slums. Eight houses lined the south side of the street
(sharing one water meter) and five houses lined the
north side (sharing another water meter).

Today the one-block dead end is called Morven's Place.
Past the dead end was the Gulf Oil depot. Just south
this street was an old hosiery mill (now standing
empty on Holman Street). The mills owned Marvin's
Alley and its houses.

Since, Marvin's Alley was private property, the police
would not drive down the street. According to Mr.
Plummer, every place on the block was a gambling
house, liquor house or a house of prostitutes.

Loudermilk was "born on a kitchen table on 8th Street"
(Iredell Street) near present-day Magnolia Grill in
Old West Durham.

He wrote "Tobacco Road" in 1962. It became a #5 hit
for the Nashville Teens in 1964 during the peak of the
civil rights movement in America.

"Tobacco Road" was also performed by David Lee Roth
and Edgar Winter. But, perhaps the most famous version
of the hit song was performed by Lou Rawls, who died
today at 72.

~Schelp
Old West Durham

****

Tobacco Road
written by John D. Loudermilk

I was born in a dump
Mama died and daddy got drunk
Left me here to die or grow
In the middle of Tobacco Road

Grew up in a rusty shack
All I owned was a-hangin' on my back
Only Lord knows how I loathe
This place called Tobacco Road

But it's home
The only life I've ever knowed
But the Lord knows I loathe
Tobacco Road

Gonna leave, get a job
With the help and the grace of God
Save my money, get rich, I know
Bring it back to Tobacco Road

Bring a dynamite
and a crane
Blow it up and start all over again
Build a town, be proud to show
Keep the name "Tobacco Road"

'Cause it's home
The only life I've ever knowed
I despite you, 'cause you're filthy
But I love you, 'cause you're home
Tobacco Road

****

[* jack *]

Hey Jack, did you see Schelp's post (ABCD listserv) about Rawls' connection to Durham? If not...
No, haven't seen his post yet, thanks for the info.

I know that song well, Lou performed "Tobacco Road" at Monterey...

[lotek]

damn, we are just losing to many lately.

marty

[CyLowe97]

I remember seeing him sing the National Anthem at Game One of the 1982 World Series in St. Louis.

He sang it again in Chicago during the 2005 World Series.

Great voice. Just that confident sound that seemed to come effortlessly.