Brief thoughs on Charlie Louvin

It is difficult to explain how important Charlie Louvin was to the history of country music.

Recording with his brother, Ira, the duo made some of the greatest music the genre (or any genre) has seen — as the above video can attest.

I was lucky enough to see Charlie Louvin a few years ago when he opened for Lucinda Williams on Long Island and the did several duets that were magical. I have a CD that he signed and I listen to on more than a rare occasion.

Louvin’s death leaves a void, but the music lives on and will live on.

(Check out Livin’, Lovin’, Losin’, a remarkable tribute album to get a sense of the duo’s importance — or just pick up some Louvin Brothers songs.)

• Send me an e-mail.
• Read poetry at The Subterranean.
• Certainties and Uncertainties a chapbook by Hank Kalet, will be published in November by Finishing Line Press. It can be ordered here.
• Suburban Pastoral, a chapbook by Hank Kalet, available here.

Author: hankkalet

Hank Kalet is a poet and freelance journalist. He is the economic needs reporter for NJ Spotlight, teaches journalism at Rutgers University and writing at Middlesex County College and Brookdale Community College. He writes a semi-monthly column for the Progressive Populist. He is a lifelong fan of the New York Mets and New York Knicks, drinks too much coffee and attends as many Bruce Springsteen concerts as his meager finances will allow. He lives in South Brunswick with his wife Annie. View all posts by hankkalet