Interview with Charlie Louvin, July 7, 2005
Project: Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum Oral History Project
Interview Summary
Beginning with their first paid performance, Charlie Louvin describes the career and legacy of the Louvin Brothers. He talks about their childhood musical influences, their first radio shows, and their early songwriting. He talks about their relationships with Bill Monroe, Smilin' Eddie Hill, Fred Rose, Ken Nelson, and others in the music industry. He talks about their gospel music, competing with Elvis Presley, and their work with Capitol Records. He talks about Ira Louvin's songwriting ability and his issues with his temper and alcohol.Interview Accession
Interviewee Name
Interviewer Name
Interview Date
Interview Keyword
Louvin Brothers (Artist) Louvin, Charlie (Artist) Charlie Louvin (Artist) Louvin, Ira (Artist) Ira Louvin (Artist) Charles Elzer Loudermilk (Artist) Loudermilk, Charles Elzer (Artist) Charlie Loudermilk (Artist) Loudermilk, Charlie (Artist) Ira Lonnie Loudermilk (Artist) Loudermilk, Ira Lonnie (Artist) Ira Loudermilk (Artist) Loudermilk, Ira (Artist) World War, 1939-1945 Military service, Voluntary. Sacred Harp singing Monroe, Bill (Artist) Bill Monroe (Artist) Grand Ole Opry (Radio program) Delmore Brothers (Artist) Songwriting Gospel music Capitol RecordsInterview LC Subject
Bands (Music) Music audiences Music fans. Music. Musical families Musical groups. Musical performance Musicians Music--Economic aspects. Music--Performance. Musical ability in children. Musical ability. Songs. Music--Instruction and study. Records. Sound recordings. Sound--Recording and reproducing Childhood Musical instruments. Popular music--Writing and publishing. Lyric writing (Popular music) Radio stations Radio programs Country musicInterview Rights
All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.Interview Usage
Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.Restriction
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Louvin, Charlie Interview by Eddie Stubbs. 07 Jul. 2005. Lexington, KY: Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.
Louvin, C. (2005, July 07). Interview by E. Stubbs. Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum Oral History Project. Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries, Lexington.
Louvin, Charlie, interview by Eddie Stubbs. July 07, 2005, Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum Oral History Project, Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.
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