Date of Birth: December 1, 1933
Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius
Date of Death: January 6, 2006
Biography
Louis Allen Rawls, better known as Lou Rawls, was an American singer, songwriter, actor, and voice actor. Born on December 1, 1933, in Chicago, Illinois, Rawls grew up singing in the Greater Mount Olive Baptist Church choir. He left school early to tour with gospel music groups, including the Pilgrim Travelers, before serving in the U.S. Army as a paratrooper. After his military service, Rawls transitioned to secular music and began a career in jazz, blues, and soul. Rawls gained national attention with his 1966 hit “Love Is a Hurtin’ Thing,” which was followed by a string of successful albums and singles. His smooth vocal style and versatile range earned him three Grammy Awards and a total of 13 nominations. Beyond music, Rawls was known for his work as a voice actor and his role as a spokesperson for the United Negro College Fund, helping to raise hundreds of millions of dollars for African-American education. Throughout his career, Rawls released over 60 albums and sold more than 40 million records worldwide. He also appeared in several films and television shows, including “Blues Brothers 2000” and “Baywatch Nights.” Lou Rawls continued to perform and record music until his death on January 6, 2006, in Los Angeles, California, from lung cancer and brain cancer.
5 Interesting Facts about Lou Rawls
1. Lou Rawls started his career singing gospel music before transitioning to secular genres like jazz, blues, and soul.
2. He served as a paratrooper in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.
3. Rawls won three Grammy Awards over the course of his career.
4. He was a notable voice actor, lending his voice to characters in animated series like “Garfield” and “Hey Arnold!”
5. Rawls was a long-time spokesperson for the United Negro College Fund and helped raise over $200 million for the organization.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Lou Rawls
1. “Music is the greatest communication in the world. Even if people don’t understand the language that you’re singing in, they still know good music when they hear it.”
2. “I’ve gone the full spectrum—from gospel to soul to jazz to blues.”
3. “The longer I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”
4. “When you’ve got something good, you don’t have to force it on people. They will come to you.”
5. “Success is not how high you have climbed, but how you make a positive difference to the world.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
At the peak of his career, Lou Rawls’ net worth was estimated to be around $10 million.
Children
Lou Rawls had four children: Lou Rawls Jr., Kendra Rawls, Aiden Rawls, and Louanna Rawls.
Relevant Links
1. [Lou Rawls Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lou_Rawls
3. [Grammy Awards – Lou Rawls](https://www.grammy.com/artists/lou-rawls/15868
4. [Lou Rawls on IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0712800/
5. [United Negro College Fund](https://uncf.org/
