Interview with Charlie Louvin, July 7, 2005

Partial Transcript: Hi, I'm Eddie Stubbs.

Segment Synopsis: Charlie Louvin is introduced. He talks about the first show he and his brother played for money, a county fair on July 4, 1941. Charlie Louvin was fourteen at the time. He talks about how much they were paid and compares it to his father's wages farming.

Keywords: Carnival rides; Charles Elzer Loudermilk (Artist); Charlie Loudermilk (Artist); Charlie Louvin (Artist); County fairs; Fathers; Flatrock (Ala.); Flying ginny; Income; Ira Lonnie Loudermilk (Artist); Ira Loudermilk (Artist); Ira Louvin (Artist); Loudermilk, Charles Elzer (Artist); Loudermilk, Charlie (Artist); Loudermilk, Ira (Artist); Loudermilk, Ira Lonnie (Artist); Louvin Brothers (Artist); Louvin, Charlie (Artist); Louvin, Ira (Artist); Money; Mules; Payment; Singing; Songs; Wages

Subjects: Bands (Music); Country music.; Music audiences; Music fans.; Music--Economic aspects.; Music--Performance.; Music.; Musical ability in children.; Musical ability.; Musical families; Musical groups.; Musical performance; Musicians; Songs.

Partial Transcript: Now you were actually born in a little area known as Section, Alabama.

Segment Synopsis: Louvin describes his memories of growing up in Section, Alabama and moving to Henagar, Alabama at a young age. He talks about their family's musical abilities and their songwriting from an early age.

Keywords: Bridges; Brothers; Charles Elzer Loudermilk (Artist); Charlie Loudermilk (Artist); Charlie Louvin (Artist); Fathers; Henagar (Ala.); Homes; Houses; I See A Bridge (Song); Ira Lonnie Loudermilk (Artist); Ira Loudermilk (Artist); Ira Louvin (Artist); Loudermilk, Charles Elzer (Artist); Loudermilk, Charlie (Artist); Loudermilk, Ira (Artist); Loudermilk, Ira Lonnie (Artist); Louvin Brothers (Artist); Louvin, Charlie (Artist); Louvin, Ira (Artist); Mothers; Moving; Mules; Porches; Sacred Harp singing; Scottsboro (Ala.); Section (Ala.); Shapenote singing; Sisters; Songwriting; Wagons

Subjects: Bands (Music); Childhood; Country music.; Lyric writing (Popular music); Music--Instruction and study.; Music--Performance.; Music.; Musical ability in children.; Musical ability.; Musical families; Musical groups.; Musical performance; Musicians; Popular music--Writing and publishing.; Songs.

Partial Transcript: How old were you when you first started getting interested in music, Charlie?

Segment Synopsis: Louvin talks about how he and his brother became interested in music at an early age, mainly through records which his father brought home. He talks about a method for silently listening to records that he and his brother invented. He talks about some of their favorite records and artists.

Keywords: 1930s; 78s; Acuff, Roy (Artist); Broom straws; Charles Elzer Loudermilk (Artist); Charlie Loudermilk (Artist); Charlie Louvin (Artist); Chuckwagon Gang (Artist); Delmore Brothers (Artist); Discipline; Ernest Tubb (Artist); Farmers; Fathers; Ira Lonnie Loudermilk (Artist); Ira Loudermilk (Artist); Ira Louvin (Artist); Lead; Listening; Loudermilk, Charles Elzer (Artist); Loudermilk, Charlie (Artist); Loudermilk, Ira (Artist); Loudermilk, Ira Lonnie (Artist); Louvin Brothers (Artist); Louvin, Charlie (Artist); Louvin, Ira (Artist); Monroe Brothers (Artist); Mothers; Record collections; Record stores; Roy Acuff (Artist); Selling; Singing; Tenor; Travel; Tubb, Ernest (Artist); Victrola; Vocal range

Subjects: Bands (Music); Childhood; Country music.; Music fans.; Music--Instruction and study.; Music--Performance.; Music.; Musical families; Musical groups.; Musical performance; Musicians; Records.; Songs.; Sound recordings.; Sound--Recording and reproducing

Partial Transcript: Talking about the thirties, the Depression was a very difficult time for everybody.

Segment Synopsis: Louvin briefly mentions how his family survived during the Great Depression.

Keywords: Biscuits; Charles Elzer Loudermilk (Artist); Charlie Loudermilk (Artist); Charlie Louvin (Artist); Family; Farmers; Flour; Food; Grits; Ira Lonnie Loudermilk (Artist); Ira Loudermilk (Artist); Ira Louvin (Artist); Loudermilk, Charles Elzer (Artist); Loudermilk, Charlie (Artist); Loudermilk, Ira (Artist); Loudermilk, Ira Lonnie (Artist); Louvin Brothers (Artist); Louvin, Charlie (Artist); Louvin, Ira (Artist); Pork; Red Cross; Smokehouses; Sugar

Subjects: Depressions--1929; Families.

Partial Transcript: You s--you were talking earlier about your singing.

Segment Synopsis: Louvin talks about why he began learning to play the guitar. He talks about playing with his brother Ira.

Keywords: Banjo players; Banjos; Charles Elzer Loudermilk (Artist); Charlie Loudermilk (Artist); Charlie Louvin (Artist); Chattanooga (Tenn.); Guitar players; Guitars; Ira Lonnie Loudermilk (Artist); Ira Loudermilk (Artist); Ira Louvin (Artist); Justice, Lonnie (Artist); Lead instruments; Lonnie Justice (Artist); Loudermilk, Charles Elzer (Artist); Loudermilk, Charlie (Artist); Loudermilk, Ira (Artist); Loudermilk, Ira Lonnie (Artist); Louvin Brothers (Artist); Louvin, Charlie (Artist); Louvin, Ira (Artist); Mandolin players; Mandolins; Radio programs; Radio shows; Singing

Subjects: Bands (Music); Country music.; Music--Instruction and study.; Music--Performance.; Music.; Musical ability.; Musical families; Musical groups.; Musical instruments.; Musical performance; Musicians; Songs.

Partial Transcript: Backtracking, we were talking about your mother and the Sacred Harp singing.

Segment Synopsis: Louvin talks about his mother's singing ability using the Sacred Harp singing style. He tells the story of how he and his brother were supposed to attend singing school but skipped to hang out with their friends. Upon returning home they lied to their father and got in a lot of trouble.

Keywords: Charles Elzer Loudermilk (Artist); Charlie Loudermilk (Artist); Charlie Louvin (Artist); Discipline; Education; Family; Fathers; First fourth after the fifth; Harmony singing; Ira Lonnie Loudermilk (Artist); Ira Loudermilk (Artist); Ira Louvin (Artist); Ken Nelson; Lies; Loudermilk, Charles Elzer (Artist); Loudermilk, Charlie (Artist); Loudermilk, Ira (Artist); Loudermilk, Ira Lonnie (Artist); Louvin Brothers (Artist); Louvin, Charlie (Artist); Louvin, Ira (Artist); Money; Mothers; Nelson, Ken; On key; Sacred Harp singing; Singing schools; Trouble

Subjects: Bands (Music); Country music.; Music--Instruction and study.; Music--Performance.; Music.; Musical ability in children.; Musical ability.; Musical families; Musical groups.; Musical instruments.; Musical performance; Musicians; Songs.

Partial Transcript: I know Bill Monroe made the statement, and I know you've heard it many times...

Segment Synopsis: Louvin talks about Bill Monroe's opinion of Ira Louvin as a tenor singer. He talks about Monroe allowing Ira Louvin to hold his mandolin, which was a rare occurrence. He talks about Monroe singing at Ira Louvin's funeral.

Keywords: Accidents; Bill Monroe (Artist); Charles Elzer Loudermilk (Artist); Charlie Loudermilk (Artist); Charlie Louvin (Artist); Compliments; Concerts; Ernest Tubb (Artist); Funerals; Gigs; Grand Ole Opry (Radio program); Hughes, Marvin (Artist); Ira Lonnie Loudermilk (Artist); Ira Loudermilk (Artist); Ira Louvin (Artist); Last show; Loudermilk, Charles Elzer (Artist); Loudermilk, Charlie (Artist); Loudermilk, Ira (Artist); Loudermilk, Ira Lonnie (Artist); Louvin Brothers (Artist); Louvin, Charlie (Artist); Louvin, Ira (Artist); Mandolin players; Mandolins; Marvin Hughes (Artist); Monroe, Bill (Artist); Shows; Swing Low (Song); Tenor singers; Tenor singing; The Jordanaires (Artist); Tubb, Ernest (Artist); Watermelon Park

Subjects: Bands (Music); Country music.; Music--Performance.; Music.; Musical ability.; Musical families; Musical groups.; Musical instruments.; Musical performance; Musicians; Songs.

Partial Transcript: Well, I want to backtrack, Charlie, because we were talking about the early days there...

Segment Synopsis: Louvin talks about how the Louvin Brothers were influenced by the Delmore Brothers, especially their singing style and phrasing. He talks about the Louvin Brothers doing a tribute to the Delmore Brothers. He talks about copyright issues in music.

Keywords: "Uncle" Dave Macon (Artist); Alcohol; American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP); Charles Elzer Loudermilk (Artist); Charlie Loudermilk (Artist); Charlie Louvin (Artist); Concerts; Copyright; Delmore Brothers (Artist); Drinking; Duets; George D. Hay; Gigs; Grand Ole Opry (Radio program); Guitar players; Guitar strings; Hall of Fame; Ham; Hay, George D.; Heroes; Influences; Ira Lonnie Loudermilk (Artist); Ira Loudermilk (Artist); Ira Louvin (Artist); Licensed for airplay; Loudermilk, Charles Elzer (Artist); Loudermilk, Charlie (Artist); Loudermilk, Ira (Artist); Loudermilk, Ira Lonnie (Artist); Louvin Brothers (Artist); Louvin, Charlie (Artist); Louvin, Ira (Artist); Macon, “Uncle” Dave (Artist); Phrasing; Problems; Professional; Shows; Singing; Solemn Old Judge; Tenor guitars; Tributes

Subjects: Bands (Music); Country music.; Lyric writing (Popular music); Music--Performance.; Music.; Musical ability.; Musical families; Musical groups.; Musical instruments.; Musical performance; Musicians; Popular music--Writing and publishing.; Records.; Songs.; Sound recordings.; Sound--Recording and reproducing

Partial Transcript: Your first work in radio was in Chattanooga, am I right?

Segment Synopsis: Louvin talks about the Louvin Brothers' first work on the radio in Chattanooga. He talks about how much they were paid for radio and tour dates. He talks about some of the other artists they played with and talks about Ira Louvin's impression of Minnie Pearl.

Keywords: "Radio Twins"; 1942; Alter ego; Amateur contests; Cannon, Sarah Ophelia Colley (Artist); Charles Elzer Loudermilk (Artist); Charlie Loudermilk (Artist); Charlie Louvin (Artist); Chattanooga (Tenn.); Comedians; Concerts; Courthouses; Fathers; Fiddle players; Fiddlers; Foggy Mountain Boys (Artist); Gigs; Income; Ira Lonnie Loudermilk (Artist); Ira Loudermilk (Artist); Ira Louvin (Artist); Jasper (Tenn.); Jobs; Loudermilk, Charles Elzer (Artist); Loudermilk, Charlie (Artist); Loudermilk, Ira (Artist); Loudermilk, Ira Lonnie (Artist); Louvin Brothers (Artist); Louvin, Charlie (Artist); Louvin, Ira (Artist); Mills; Minnie Pearl (Artist); Money; Payment; Pearl, Minnie (Artist); Percentage dates; Poodles; Radio shows; Sal Skinner (Artist); Sarah Ophelia Colley Cannon (Artist); Show dates; Shows; Silly songs; Skinner, Sal (Artist); Sleep; WDEF (Radio station); WDOD (Radio station); Winning; Work

Subjects: Bands (Music); Country music.; Music--Economic aspects.; Music--Performance.; Music.; Musical families; Musical groups.; Musical instruments.; Musical performance; Musicians; Radio programs.; Radio stations.

Partial Transcript: We're up to about 1945 in the chronology and that's the year you went into the service, I believe.

Segment Synopsis: Louvin talks about his own and his brother's military service and how they each got discharged.

Keywords: 1942; 1945; Accidents; Back injuries; Basic training; Charles Elzer Loudermilk (Artist); Charlie Loudermilk (Artist); Charlie Louvin (Artist); Concerts; Ditches; G.I. Bill; Gigs; Ira Lonnie Loudermilk (Artist); Ira Loudermilk (Artist); Ira Louvin (Artist); Jobs; Loudermilk, Charles Elzer (Artist); Loudermilk, Charlie (Artist); Loudermilk, Ira (Artist); Loudermilk, Ira Lonnie (Artist); Louvin Brothers (Artist); Louvin, Charlie (Artist); Louvin, Ira (Artist); Military discharge; Military service; Ropes; Shows; Volunteers; World War II

Subjects: Bands (Music); Country music.; Military service, Voluntary.; Military training camps; Music--Economic aspects.; Music--Instruction and study.; Music--Performance.; Music.; Musical families; Musical groups.; Musical performance; Musicians; World War, 1939-1945

Partial Transcript: And, uh--so I came back.

Segment Synopsis: Louvin talks about returning from the military and beginning to work with his brother again. He talks about the writing of the song, "Tiny Broken Heart." He talks about where Ira got his mandolin. He talks about being fired from working with Willy G. Brewster and Hoke Jenkins. He talks about some of their other shows and how much they were paid.

Keywords: Alabama (Song); Birchfield, Wiley (Artist); Blanchard, Lowell; Brewster, Willie G. (Artist); Cas Walker; Charles Elzer Loudermilk (Artist); Charlie Loudermilk (Artist); Charlie Louvin (Artist); Charlie Monroe (Artist); Ernest Ferguson (Artist); Ferguson, Ernest (Artist); Fired; Girlfriends; Glenn Thompson (Artist); Hepler, Page (Artist); Hoke Jenkins (Artist); Income; Ira Lonnie Loudermilk (Artist); Ira Loudermilk (Artist); Ira Louvin (Artist); Jenkins, Hoke (Artist); Loudermilk, Charles Elzer (Artist); Loudermilk, Charlie (Artist); Loudermilk, Ira (Artist); Loudermilk, Ira Lonnie (Artist); Louvin Brothers (Artist); Louvin, Charlie (Artist); Louvin, Ira (Artist); Lowell Blanchard; Lyrics; Mandolin players; Mandolins; Melody; Money; Monroe, Charlie (Artist); Page Hepler (Artist); Payment; Seven Year Blues (Song); Sharecroppers; Songwriting; Sponsors; Tent shows; Thompson, Glenn (Artist); Tiny Broken Heart (Song); WBIG (Radio station); WROL (Radio station); WWNC (Radio station); Wages; Walker, Cas; Wife; Wiley Birchfield (Artist); Willie G. Brewster (Artist)

Subjects: Asheville (N.C.); Bands (Music); Chattanooga (Tenn.); Country music.; Greensboro (N.C.); Knoxville (Tenn.); Lyric writing (Popular music); Military service, Voluntary.; Music--Economic aspects.; Music--Performance.; Music.; Musical families; Musical groups.; Musical performance; Musicians; Popular music--Writing and publishing.; Songs.

Partial Transcript: Now in the, in the meantime though, before you, uh--when you left Knoxville, uh, there was a period you went to Memphis in there too, wasn't there?

Segment Synopsis: Louvin briefly mentions being redrafted for the Korean War. He talks about beginning to work with Smilin' Eddie Hill in 1947 on WMPS in Memphis as the Lonesome Valley Trio. He talks about how they began working with the Acuff-Rose publishing company through Eddie Hill, who he says took credit for their songs. He talks about their first recording, "Alabama." He talks about Fred Rose working as an A&R man on their behalf and getting them record deals. He talks about how Fred Rose connected them with Ken Nelson. He talks about their record sales. He talks about their relationship with Fred Rose, Rose's talent as a songwriter, and his personality.

Keywords: 1947; Acuff-Rose Music publishing company; Alabama (Song); Attitudes; Capitol Records; Carson, Jenny Lou (Artist); Charles Elzer Loudermilk (Artist); Charlie Loudermilk (Artist); Charlie Louvin (Artist); Christian Scientists; Cowriters; Deals; Decca Records; Demos; Fan mail; Fred Rose; Glasses; Hank Williams (Artist); Headaches; Hill, Sr., James Edward “Smilin' Eddie” (Artist); I Know What You're Talking About (Song); Ira Lonnie Loudermilk (Artist); Ira Loudermilk (Artist); Ira Louvin (Artist); James Edward “Smilin' Eddie” Hill, Sr. (Artist); Jenny Lou Carson (Artist); Lonesome Valley Trio (Artist); Loudermilk, Charles Elzer (Artist); Loudermilk, Charlie (Artist); Loudermilk, Ira (Artist); Loudermilk, Ira Lonnie (Artist); Louvin Brothers (Artist); Louvin, Charlie (Artist); Louvin, Ira (Artist); MGM Records; Memphis (Tenn.); Military draft; Nashville (Tenn.); Personality; Record labels; Redrafted; Rose, Fred; Rose, Wesley; Sales; Sleep; Songwriters; Songwriting; WMPS (Radio station); WNOX (Radio station); Wesley Rose; Williams, Hank (Artist)

Subjects: Bands (Music); Country music.; Korean War, 1950-1953; Lyric writing (Popular music); Music audiences; Music fans.; Music--Economic aspects.; Music--Performance.; Music.; Musical ability.; Musical families; Musical groups.; Musical performance; Musicians; Popular music--Writing and publishing.; Records.; Songs.; Sound recordings.; Sound studios; Sound--Recording and reproducing

Partial Transcript: In those early days, the Louvin Brothers were cutting primarily gospel songs exclusively.

Segment Synopsis: Louvin talks about why the Louvin Brothers were only allowed to record gospel music. He talks about the problems this caused when they played live shows, either by having to play unknown secular songs or playing gospel songs at bars. He talks more about their songwriting.

Keywords: Are You Missing Me? (Song); Are You Teasing Me? (Song); Bars; Capitol Records; Carl Smith (Artist); Carnival acts; Charles Elzer Loudermilk (Artist); Charlie Loudermilk (Artist); Charlie Louvin (Artist); Clubs; Concerts; Gigs; Gospel music; Hit songs; Hits; Ira Lonnie Loudermilk (Artist); Ira Loudermilk (Artist); Ira Louvin (Artist); Jim and Jesse and the Virginia Boys (Artist); Knoxville (Tenn.); Loudermilk, Charles Elzer (Artist); Loudermilk, Charlie (Artist); Loudermilk, Ira (Artist); Loudermilk, Ira Lonnie (Artist); Louvin Brothers (Artist); Louvin, Charlie (Artist); Louvin, Ira (Artist); Nashville (Tenn.); Record contracts; Secular music; Shows; Smith, Carl (Artist); Songwriting; Spiritual songs; Venues

Subjects: Bands (Music); Country music.; Lyric writing (Popular music); Music audiences; Music fans.; Music--Performance.; Music.; Musical ability.; Musical families; Musical groups.; Musical performance; Musicians; Popular music--Writing and publishing.; Records.; Songs.; Sound recordings.; Sound--Recording and reproducing

Partial Transcript: So you went back to Knoxville in, uh--I think that was in about 1950...

Segment Synopsis: Louvin talks about returning to Knoxville, Tennessee and playing music with Page Hepler and Wiley Birchfield. He talks about their shows and their pay. He talks about moving to Greensboro, North Carolina and then Danville, Virginia. He talks more about the difficulty of playing gospel music at bars.

Keywords: 1950; Advertising; Airplay; Alcohol; Birchfield, Wiley (Artist); Birmingham (Ala.); Booking; Charles Elzer Loudermilk (Artist); Charlie Loudermilk (Artist); Charlie Louvin (Artist); Clubs; Concerts; DJs; Danville (Va.); Deejays; Disc jockeys; Drinking; Drunk; Gigs; Gospel music; Grand Ole Opry (Radio program); Greensboro (N.C.); Hepler, Page (Artist); Income; Ira Lonnie Loudermilk (Artist); Ira Loudermilk (Artist); Ira Louvin (Artist); Jesse McReynolds (Artist); Knoxville (Tenn.); Loudermilk, Charles Elzer (Artist); Loudermilk, Charlie (Artist); Loudermilk, Ira (Artist); Loudermilk, Ira Lonnie (Artist); Louvin Brothers (Artist); Louvin, Charlie (Artist); Louvin, Ira (Artist); McReynolds, Jesse (Artist); Money; Page Hepler (Artist); Payment; Pentecostal churches; Percentage dates; Radio shows; Schools; Shows; Venues; WDVA (Radio station); Wages; Wiley Birchfield (Artist); bars

Subjects: Bands (Music); Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Country music.; Korean War, 1950-1953; Music audiences; Music fans.; Music--Economic aspects.; Music--Performance.; Music.; Musical ability.; Musical families; Musical groups.; Musical performance; Musicians; Radio programs.; Radio stations.; Songs.

Partial Transcript: You took a job in the post office in Memphis.

Segment Synopsis: Louvin talks about working at the post office in Memphis and Ira's work at a grocery store. He talks about their work on the radio in Birmingham, Alabama, where they made very little money. He talks about how they came to work at the Grand Ole Opry through the influence of Ken Nelson. He talks about the personality conflicts they had with Mr. Denny.

Keywords: 1954; 1955; Attitudes; Birmingham (Ala.); Charles Elzer Loudermilk (Artist); Charlie Loudermilk (Artist); Charlie Louvin (Artist); Civil service exams; Concerts; Denny, Jack; Denny, Jim; Drafted; Fired; Firing; Gigs; Gosdin Brothers (Artist); Grand Ole Opry (Radio program); Grocery stores; Income; Ira Lonnie Loudermilk (Artist); Ira Loudermilk (Artist); Ira Louvin (Artist); Jack Denny; Jack Stapp; Jim Denny; Jobs; Ken Nelson; Leaving; Loudermilk, Charles Elzer (Artist); Loudermilk, Charlie (Artist); Loudermilk, Ira (Artist); Loudermilk, Ira Lonnie (Artist); Louvin Brothers (Artist); Louvin, Charlie (Artist); Louvin, Ira (Artist); Mary Claire Rhodes (Artist); Memphis (Tenn.); Military drafts; Money; Nelson, Ken; Ozark Jubilee (Radio program); Payment; Pellettieri, Vito; Phillip Morris Tour; Post offices; Postal clerks; Publishing companies; Radio shows; Relationships; Rhodes, Mary Claire (Artist); Shows; Songwriting; Sons; Stapp, Jack; Vito Pellettieri; WVOK (Radio station); Wages; Wife; Work

Subjects: Bands (Music); Country music.; Lyric writing (Popular music); Music--Economic aspects.; Music--Performance.; Music.; Musical ability.; Musical families; Musical groups.; Musical performance; Musicians; Popular music--Writing and publishing.; Records.; Songs.; Sound recordings.; Sound--Recording and reproducing

Partial Transcript: So 1955, you come to the Opry. That was the early part of the year.

Segment Synopsis: Louvin talks about the Louvin Brother's transition from gospel music to secular music and why it was so difficult.

Keywords: Atkins, Chet (Artist); Carson, Martha (Artist); Changes; Charles Elzer Loudermilk (Artist); Charlie Loudermilk (Artist); Charlie Louvin (Artist); Chet Atkins (Artist); Gospel music; Grand Ole Opry (Radio program); Hit songs; Hits; Ira Lonnie Loudermilk (Artist); Ira Loudermilk (Artist); Ira Louvin (Artist); Ken Nelson; Loudermilk, Charles Elzer (Artist); Loudermilk, Charlie (Artist); Loudermilk, Ira (Artist); Loudermilk, Ira Lonnie (Artist); Louvin Brothers (Artist); Louvin, Charlie (Artist); Louvin, Ira (Artist); Martha Carson (Artist); Nelson, Ken; Prince Albert Show; Secular music; Tobacco; When I Stop Dreaming (Song)

Subjects: Bands (Music); Country music.; Music audiences; Music fans.; Music--Performance.; Music.; Musical ability.; Musical families; Musical groups.; Musical performance; Musicians; Records.; Songs.; Sound recordings.; Sound studios; Sound--Recording and reproducing

Partial Transcript: I want to talk about the sound of the Louvin Brothers on record.

Segment Synopsis: Louvin talks about how Chet Atkins, Jimmy Capps, and other session musicians influenced the sound of Louvin Brothers' records. He talks about the importance of the electric guitar to the Louvin Brothers' sound.

Keywords: Albums; Atkins, Chet (Artist); Band members; Capitol Records; Capps, Jimmy (Artist); Charles Elzer Loudermilk (Artist); Charlie Loudermilk (Artist); Charlie Louvin (Artist); Chet Atkins (Artist); Electric bass; Electric guitars; Electricity; Flutes; Fred Rose; Instrumental styles; Ira Lonnie Loudermilk (Artist); Ira Loudermilk (Artist); Ira Louvin (Artist); Jimmy Capps (Artist); Loudermilk, Charles Elzer (Artist); Loudermilk, Charlie (Artist); Loudermilk, Ira (Artist); Loudermilk, Ira Lonnie (Artist); Louvin Brothers (Artist); Louvin, Charlie (Artist); Louvin, Ira (Artist); Malaguena (Song); Mandolin players; Mandolins; Military draft; Musical styles; Osborne Brothers (Artist); Paducah (Ky.); Paul Yandell (Artist); RCA Records; Record labels; Recording sessions; Rehearsals; Road musicians; Rose, Fred; Sound; Straight pick style; Yandell, Paul (Artist)

Subjects: Bands (Music); Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Country music.; Music--Performance.; Music.; Musical ability.; Musical families; Musical groups.; Musical instruments.; Musical performance; Musicians; Records.; Songs.; Sound recordings.; Sound studios; Sound--Recording and reproducing

Partial Transcript: I want to talk about the songwriting of the Louvin Brothers.

Segment Synopsis: Louvin talks about Ira's songwriting ability and his attitude about his songs, throwing away whole songs instead of making changes. He talks about Ira's short temper and his alcoholism.

Keywords: Alcoholism; Astrology; Attitudes; Bible; Changes; Charles Elzer Loudermilk (Artist); Charlie Loudermilk (Artist); Charlie Louvin (Artist); Co-writing; Credits; Disposition; Drinking; Elvis Presley (Artist); God; I See A Bridge (Song); Ideas; Ira Lonnie Loudermilk (Artist); Ira Loudermilk (Artist); Ira Louvin (Artist); Ken Nelson; Loudermilk, Charles Elzer (Artist); Loudermilk, Charlie (Artist); Loudermilk, Ira (Artist); Loudermilk, Ira Lonnie (Artist); Louvin Brothers (Artist); Louvin, Charlie (Artist); Louvin, Ira (Artist); Lyrics; Mandolin players; Mandolins; Melody; Miserable; Nelson, Ken; Personality; Popularity; Preachers; Presley, Elvis (Artist); Relationships; Religion; Short temper; Song titles; Songwriting; Sound; Suggestions; Throw away; Toilet paper; Tortured souls; Trends; Tunes; Wife

Subjects: Bands (Music); Country music.; Lyric writing (Popular music); Music--Performance.; Music.; Musical ability.; Musical families; Musical groups.; Musical instruments.; Musical performance; Musicians; Popular music--Writing and publishing.; Records.; Songs.; Sound recordings.; Sound--Recording and reproducing

Partial Transcript: Well, even in the days of Elvis and what Elvis' phenomenon, uh, did to country music and how much it hurt it, you guys were able to survive.

Segment Synopsis: Louvin talks about how they could not get any records pressed due to Elvis Presley's popularity. He talks about how Presley's mother liked the Louvin Brothers' gospel music.

Keywords: Changes; Charles Elzer Loudermilk (Artist); Charlie Loudermilk (Artist); Charlie Louvin (Artist); Elvis Presley (Artist); Enjoyment; Fads; Gladys Love Presley; Gospel music; Ira Lonnie Loudermilk (Artist); Ira Loudermilk (Artist); Ira Louvin (Artist); Loudermilk, Charles Elzer (Artist); Loudermilk, Charlie (Artist); Loudermilk, Ira (Artist); Loudermilk, Ira Lonnie (Artist); Louvin Brothers (Artist); Louvin, Charlie (Artist); Louvin, Ira (Artist); Mothers; Music industry; My Baby's Gone (Song); Popularity; Presley, Elvis (Artist); Presley, Gladys Love; RCA Records; Record companies; Record pressings; Sales; Travel; Trends

Subjects: Bands (Music); Country music.; Music audiences; Music fans.; Music--Economic aspects.; Music--Performance.; Music.; Musical ability.; Musical families; Musical groups.; Musical performance; Musicians; Records.; Songs.; Sound recordings.; Sound studios; Sound--Recording and reproducing

Partial Transcript: The Louvin Brothers had a publishing company too for a while, didn't you?

Segment Synopsis: Louvin talks about the Louvin Brothers' publishing company, C & I Music. He talks about deals with other publishing companies and record companies.

Keywords: Acuff-Rose Music publishing company; C & I Music; C and I Music; Capitol Records; Central Songs, Inc.; Charles Elzer Loudermilk (Artist); Charlie Loudermilk (Artist); Charlie Louvin (Artist); Cliffie Stone (Artist); Deals; Hazel Houser (Artist); Houser, Hazel (Artist); Income; Ira Lonnie Loudermilk (Artist); Ira Loudermilk (Artist); Ira Louvin (Artist); Jack Stapp; Ken Nelson; Logos; Loudermilk, Charles Elzer (Artist); Loudermilk, Charlie (Artist); Loudermilk, Ira (Artist); Loudermilk, Ira Lonnie (Artist); Louvin Brothers (Artist); Louvin, Charlie (Artist); Louvin, Ira (Artist); Money; Nelson, Ken; Payment; Seeing eye; Sold; Stapp, Jack; Stone, Cliffie (Artist); Wages

Subjects: Bands (Music); Country music.; Lyric writing (Popular music); Music--Economic aspects.; Music--Performance.; Music.; Musical ability.; Musical families; Musical groups.; Musical performance; Musicians; Popular music--Writing and publishing.; Records.; Songs.; Sound recordings.; Sound studios; Sound--Recording and reproducing

Partial Transcript: I wanted to ask you about Ken Nelson.

Segment Synopsis: Louvin talks about the Louvin Brothers' relationship with Ken Nelson. He tells stories about Nelson's personality and their experiences with him in the recording studio. He mentions his son being named after Ken Nelson.

Keywords: Attitudes; Behind the scenes; Capitol Records; Charles Elzer Loudermilk (Artist); Charlie Loudermilk (Artist); Charlie Louvin (Artist); Ear for music; Fixing; Grady Martin (Artist); I Wish I Was A Little Boy Again (Song); Ira Lonnie Loudermilk (Artist); Ira Loudermilk (Artist); Ira Louvin (Artist); Ken Nelson; Loudermilk, Charles Elzer (Artist); Loudermilk, Charlie (Artist); Loudermilk, Ira (Artist); Loudermilk, Ira Lonnie (Artist); Louvin Brothers (Artist); Louvin, Charlie (Artist); Louvin, Ira (Artist); Martin, Grady (Artist); Namesakes; Nelson, Ken; Orphans; Personality; Recording sessions; Relationships; Song arrangement; Songwriting; Sons; Tribute shows; WJJD (Radio station)

Subjects: Bands (Music); Country music.; Lyric writing (Popular music); Music--Performance.; Music.; Musical ability.; Musical families; Musical groups.; Musical performance; Musicians; Popular music--Writing and publishing.; Records.; Songs.; Sound recordings.; Sound studios; Sound--Recording and reproducing

Partial Transcript: You obviously had a strong affinity for Capitol Records.

Segment Synopsis: Louvin talks about their work with Capitol Records, including playing for free on WPLO's Appreciation Day. He talks about Capitol's distribution of their records.

Keywords: Albums; Appreciation Day; Capitol Artists; Capitol Records; Charles Elzer Loudermilk (Artist); Charlie Loudermilk (Artist); Charlie Louvin (Artist); England; International sales; Ira Lonnie Loudermilk (Artist); Ira Loudermilk (Artist); Ira Louvin (Artist); Loudermilk, Charles Elzer (Artist); Loudermilk, Charlie (Artist); Loudermilk, Ira (Artist); Loudermilk, Ira Lonnie (Artist); Louvin Brothers (Artist); Louvin, Charlie (Artist); Louvin, Ira (Artist); National sales; New York City (N.Y.); Promoting; Radio shows; Record distribution; Travel; WPLO (Radio station)

Subjects: Bands (Music); Country music.; Music audiences; Music--Economic aspects.; Music--Instruction and study.; Music--Performance.; Music.; Musical ability.; Musical families; Musical groups.; Musical performance; Musicians; Radio programs.; Radio stations.; Records.; Songs.; Sound recordings.; Sound studios; Sound--Recording and reproducing

Partial Transcript: Talking about records, I want to talk to you about some of the concept albums tat you and your brother did.

Segment Synopsis: Louvin talks about the Louvin Brothers' Christmas album and why it did not sound much like the Louvin Brothers' style once the Jordanaires were called in as backup musicians.

Keywords: Atkins, Chet (Artist); Charles Elzer Loudermilk (Artist); Charlie Loudermilk (Artist); Charlie Louvin (Artist); Chet Atkins (Artist); Christmas albums; Concept albums; Country acts; Educated musicians; Ford, Tennessee Ernie (Artist); Gordon Stoker (Artist); Ira Lonnie Loudermilk (Artist); Ira Loudermilk (Artist); Ira Louvin (Artist); Ken Nelson; Loudermilk, Charles Elzer (Artist); Loudermilk, Charlie (Artist); Loudermilk, Ira (Artist); Loudermilk, Ira Lonnie (Artist); Louvin Brothers (Artist); Louvin, Charlie (Artist); Louvin, Ira (Artist); Musical styles; Nelson, Ken; Sound; Stoker, Gordon (Artist); Tennessee Ernie Ford (Artist); The Jordanaires (Artist); Tributes

Subjects: Bands (Music); Country music.; Music--Performance.; Music.; Musical ability.; Musical families; Musical groups.; Musical performance; Musicians; Records.; Songs.; Sound recordings.; Sound studios; Sound--Recording and reproducing

Partial Transcript: You all also recorded, uh, uh, an album, uh, a tribute to Roy Acuff songs.

Segment Synopsis: Louvin talks about their album tribute to Roy Acuff and how it resulted in Paul White at Capitol Records being fired.

Keywords: Acuff, Roy (Artist); Budgets; Capitol A&R; Capitol Records; Charles Elzer Loudermilk (Artist); Charlie Loudermilk (Artist); Charlie Louvin (Artist); Country Music Hall of Fame, Nashville, Tennessee; Fired; Ira Lonnie Loudermilk (Artist); Ira Loudermilk (Artist); Ira Louvin (Artist); Ken Nelson; Loudermilk, Charles Elzer (Artist); Loudermilk, Charlie (Artist); Loudermilk, Ira (Artist); Loudermilk, Ira Lonnie (Artist); Louvin Brothers (Artist); Louvin, Charlie (Artist); Louvin, Ira (Artist); Nelson, Ken; Paul White; Roy Acuff (Artist); White, Paul

Subjects: Bands (Music); Country music.; Music fans.; Music--Economic aspects.; Music--Performance.; Music.; Musical ability.; Musical families; Musical groups.; Musical performance; Musicians; Records.; Songs.; Sound recordings.; Sound studios; Sound--Recording and reproducing

Partial Transcript: Then you guys did, uh, several gospel albums, I know.

Segment Synopsis: Louvin talks more about their gospel music, specifically their album "Satan is Real." He talks about creating the album cover. He talks about the Louvin Brothers' popularity over time.

Keywords: Album covers; Albums; Changes; Charles Elzer Loudermilk (Artist); Charlie Loudermilk (Artist); Charlie Louvin (Artist); Famous; Fires; Gospel music; Gravel pits; Ira Lonnie Loudermilk (Artist); Ira Loudermilk (Artist); Ira Louvin (Artist); Ken Veeder; Legacy; Loudermilk, Charles Elzer (Artist); Loudermilk, Charlie (Artist); Loudermilk, Ira (Artist); Loudermilk, Ira Lonnie (Artist); Louvin Brothers (Artist); Louvin, Charlie (Artist); Louvin, Ira (Artist); Meaning; Photographers; Plywood; Popularity; Rain; Relatable; Satan is Real (Album); Tires; Veeder, Ken

Subjects: Bands (Music); Country music.; Lyric writing (Popular music); Music audiences; Music fans.; Music--Performance.; Music.; Musical ability.; Musical families; Musical groups.; Musical performance; Musicians; Popular music--Writing and publishing.; Records.; Songs.; Sound recordings.; Sound--Recording and reproducing

Partial Transcript: I want to talk about the last few years of the Louvin Brothers.

Segment Synopsis: Louvin talks more about Ira Louvin's temper and alcoholism and how it led to their last show together in 1963. He talks about how their pay fluctuated up and down throughout their career. He talks about how his brother's negative reputation later affected his own reputation. He talks about recording his last album with Ira and speculates on when Ira's drinking problems began.

Keywords: 1958; 1963; 1965; Albums; Alcohol; Annie Lou Roberts; Attitudes; Bobbi Louvin; Bookers; Breaking; Buyers; Capitol Records; Capps, Jimmy (Artist); Charles Elzer Loudermilk (Artist); Charlie Loudermilk (Artist); Charlie Louvin (Artist); Demand; Desertion; Divorce; Downfall; Drinking; Fae Louvin; Frustrations; Grand Ole Opry (Radio program); Incidents; Income; Ira Lonnie Loudermilk (Artist); Ira Loudermilk (Artist); Ira Louvin (Artist); Jimmy Capps (Artist); Kansas City (Mo.); Ken Nelson; Last shows; Loudermilk, Charles Elzer (Artist); Loudermilk, Charlie (Artist); Loudermilk, Ira (Artist); Loudermilk, Ira Lonnie (Artist); Louvin Brothers (Artist); Louvin, Bobbi; Louvin, Charlie (Artist); Louvin, Fae; Louvin, Ira (Artist); Luthiers; Mandolin players; Mandolins; Mandotar (instrument); Memphis (Tenn.); Money; Nelson, Ken; Payment; Personality; Problems; Promoters; Quitting; Relationships; Reputations; Roberts, Annie Lou; Sober; Sociable; Tempers; Tensions; Wages; Wife

Subjects: Bands (Music); Country music.; Music audiences; Music fans.; Music--Economic aspects.; Music--Performance.; Music.; Musical ability.; Musical families; Musical groups.; Musical instruments.; Musical performance; Musicians; Records.; Songs.; Sound recordings.; Sound studios; Sound--Recording and reproducing

Partial Transcript: I've heard you say many times that today the music of the Louvin Brothers is more popular today than when it was out brand new on record fifty years ago.

Segment Synopsis: Louvin talks about the current popularity of the Louvin Brothers, including record pressings, artists covering their songs, and a tribute to the Louvin Brothers on the Grand Ole Opry. He briefly mentions their influence on bluegrass music.

Keywords: Alison Krauss (Artist); Awareness; Bear Family Boxed Sets; Capitol Records; Carl Jackson (Artist); Charles Elzer Loudermilk (Artist); Charlie Loudermilk (Artist); Charlie Louvin (Artist); Cover songs; Emmylou Harris (Artist); Flatt and Scruggs (Artist); Gram Parsons (Artist); Grand Ole Opry (Radio program); Harris, Emmylou (Artist); Highest rated show; Influences; International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA); Ira Lonnie Loudermilk (Artist); Ira Loudermilk (Artist); Ira Louvin (Artist); Jackson, Carl (Artist); James Taylor (Artist); Jim and Jesse and the Virginia Boys (Artist); Krauss, Alison (Artist); Loretta Lynn (Artist); Loudermilk, Charles Elzer (Artist); Loudermilk, Charlie (Artist); Loudermilk, Ira (Artist); Loudermilk, Ira Lonnie (Artist); Louvin Brothers (Artist); Louvin, Charlie (Artist); Louvin, Ira (Artist); Lynn, Loretta (Artist); Parsons, Gram (Artist); Popularity; Record pressings; Rhonda Vincent (Artist); Sales; Show dates; Song covers; Taylor, James (Artist); Television; Travel; Tribute albums; Tributes; Vincent, Rhonda (Artist)

Subjects: Bands (Music); Country music.; Music audiences; Music fans.; Music--Economic aspects.; Music--Performance.; Music.; Musical ability.; Musical families; Musical groups.; Musical performance; Musicians; Records.; Songs.; Sound recordings.; Sound studios; Sound--Recording and reproducing

Partial Transcript: 2001, you received the highest honor that anybody can--in country music can receive with the induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Segment Synopsis: Louvin talks about the honor of being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. He talks about relying on his wife over the years, especially during times when they were being paid very little as musicians. He talks about how people think artists become overnight successes, but they don't see the years of work behind it.

Keywords: Alabama (Artist); Betty Louvin; Charles Elzer Loudermilk (Artist); Charlie Loudermilk (Artist); Charlie Louvin (Artist); Concerts; Country Music Hall of Fame, Nashville, Tennessee; Finalists; Gigs; Grand Ole Opry (Radio program); Hard times; Honors; Income; Induction; Ira Lonnie Loudermilk (Artist); Ira Loudermilk (Artist); Ira Louvin (Artist); Jobs; Loudermilk, Charles Elzer (Artist); Loudermilk, Charlie (Artist); Loudermilk, Ira (Artist); Loudermilk, Ira Lonnie (Artist); Louvin Brothers (Artist); Louvin, Betty; Louvin, Charlie (Artist); Louvin, Ira (Artist); Money; Overnight success; Owen, Randy (Artist); Payment; Perseverance; Randy Owen (Artist); Reliance; Shows; Wages; Wife

Subjects: Bands (Music); Country music.; Music audiences; Music fans.; Music--Economic aspects.; Music--Performance.; Music.; Musical ability.; Musical families; Musical groups.; Musical performance; Musicians

Partial Transcript: Well, Charlie I know you still work some show dates and, uh, you're still at the Opry.

Segment Synopsis: Louvin talks about wanting to continue to play music and perform at the Grand Ole Opry. He talks about how he would like to be remembered, focusing on his reputation and believability.

Keywords: Believable; Charles Elzer Loudermilk (Artist); Charlie Loudermilk (Artist); Charlie Louvin (Artist); Future; Handshake dates; Honesty; Honor; Influences; Ira Lonnie Loudermilk (Artist); Ira Loudermilk (Artist); Ira Louvin (Artist); Legacies; Legacy; Loudermilk, Charles Elzer (Artist); Loudermilk, Charlie (Artist); Loudermilk, Ira (Artist); Loudermilk, Ira Lonnie (Artist); Louvin Brothers (Artist); Louvin, Charlie (Artist); Louvin, Ira (Artist); Off-key; Quitting; Remembered; Retirement; Singing; Truth

Subjects: Bands (Music); Country music.; Music audiences; Music fans.; Music--Economic aspects.; Music--Performance.; Music.; Musical ability.; Musical families; Musical groups.; Musical performance; Musicians; Songs.

Partial Transcript: [This portion of the interview is silent.]

Segment Synopsis: Photographs of the Louvin Brothers are displayed. This portion of the interview is silent.

Keywords: Charles Elzer Loudermilk (Artist); Charlie Loudermilk (Artist); Charlie Louvin (Artist); Ira Lonnie Loudermilk (Artist); Ira Loudermilk (Artist); Ira Louvin (Artist); Loudermilk, Charles Elzer (Artist); Loudermilk, Charlie (Artist); Loudermilk, Ira (Artist); Loudermilk, Ira Lonnie (Artist); Louvin Brothers (Artist); Louvin, Charlie (Artist); Louvin, Ira (Artist)

Subjects: Bands (Music); Country music.; Music--Performance.; Music.; Musical families; Musical groups.; Musical instruments.; Musical performance; Musicians