Photo: Anthony Pepitone · CC BY-SA 3.0 · credits
Timeline
25 events▣ Album 22◦ Birth 1★ Debut release 1† Death 1
1920s
1960s
· Debut release
Debut release: Less and Less and I Don't Love You Anymore
First documented Album in the MusicBrainz discography.
source: musicbrainz
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
Biography
English biography693 words · 2 sectionssource: wikipedia-en · licence CC BY-SA 4.0 · revision 1325974297
Biography
Charles Elzer Loudermilk (July 7, 1927 – January 26, 2011), known professionally as Charlie Louvin, was an American country music singer and songwriter. He is best known as one of the Louvin Brothers, and was a member of the Grand Ole Opry since 1955.
Biography
Born in Section, Alabama, Louvin was one of seven children and grew up working on the family farm in nearby Henagar. He started singing when he was eight years old.
Louvin began singing professionally with his brother Ira as a teenager on local radio programs in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The boys sang traditional and gospel music in the harmony style they had learned while performing in their church's choir.
After Charlie left the act briefly in 1945 to serve in the Army Air Forces during World War II, the brothers moved first to Knoxville and later to Memphis, working as postal clerks by day, while making appearances in the evening. Another brief disbandment due to Charlie's service in the Korean War led to the brothers' relocation to Birmingham, Alabama.
Primarily known as gospel artists, the Louvins were convinced by a sponsor, "you can't sell tobacco with gospel music," and began adding secular music to their repertoire. They began making appearances on the famed Grand Ole Opry during the 1950s, becoming official members in 1955. The Louvin Brothers released numerous singles, such as "When I Stop Dreaming", with over 20 recordings reaching the country music charts. Their rich harmonies served as an influence for later artists, such as Emmylou Harris, Gram Parsons, and The Byrds.
By the 1960s, Charlie and Ira's popularity had waned and the brothers split up in 1963. In 1965, Ira was killed in a car accident. Charlie continued to perform solo, making numerous appearances on the Grand Ole Opry and in later years acting as an elder statesman for country music.
In 2001, the Louvin Brothers were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
In the 2000s, Charlie had begun rebuilding his career. Although he readily admitted he was never much of a writer, Louvin released a disc of classics containing one new song, a tribute to Ira, and a gospel album on Tompkins Square Records produced by Mark Nevers. The songs mainly pair Louvin with other singers, such as George Jones, Jeff Tweedy of Wilco, Alex McManus of Bright Eyes, Elvis Costello and Derwin Hinson. He also wrote two songs with Rockabilly Hall of Famer Colonel Robert Morris, one of which is on Morris' trucking CD, Highway Hero.
As of 2003, Louvin lived in Manchester, Tennessee. He closed his Louvin Brothers museum in Nashville and was looking to open another one in Monteagle, Tennessee, near Chattanooga. He was a cousin of songwriter John D. Loudermilk.
After his July 2010 cancer surgery, Louvin made his first public appearance, and second to last, at Nashville's Americana Music Conference, Sept. 10th. He performed with Emmylou Harris and longtime Harris and Gram Parsons accompanist Al Perkins on steel guitar.
Louvin made one final public appearance on RFD-TV's The Marty Stuart Show, alongside his son, Sonny Louvin. He performed "See the Big Man Cry", after which country music icon Connie Smith spoke of her admiration for Louvin, before performing "I Don't Love You Anymore". Leroy Troy, alongside Lester Armistead and Dan Kelly, then performed "Bald Knob, Arkansas", which was written by Charlie's brother, Ira Louvin. Marty Stuart and his Fabulous Superlatives then performed the Louvin Brothers gospel song "The Family Who Prays". The show then closed with Louvin singing the Tom T. Hall song "Back When We Were Young", with Stuart accompanying him on mandolin.
The show aired on January 29, 2011, three days after Louvin's death. The show ended with a memorial message:
"This episode was taped on December 2, 2010. It was to be Mr. Louvin's last televised performance."
Louvin underwent surgery for pancreatic cancer on July 22, 2010. Doctors expected a full recovery, but "the surgery did not go as planned," according to Louvin's son Sonny, and "he will begin using alternative methods of treatment, going forward". Louvin died from its complications in the early morning of January 26, 2011, in his Wartrace, Tennessee, home, aged 83.
Discography & profile
Normalised profile
Percentiles are computed over every artist in the database, so a tier-3 artist can still sit in the 95th percentile on a single axis.
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 10 | 58.3th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 30 | 90.4th |
| Studio albums | 23 | 97.2th |
| Awards recorded | 0 | 0th |
| Timeline events | 25 | 95.6th |
| Recording span (years) | 45 | 85.8th |
| Genres | 2 | 74th |
Percentiles are computed at render time; missing values mean the artist has no data on that axis.
Discography (30 release groups · 23 studio albums)
Albums · 23
Less and Less and I Don't Love You Anymore
1965 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 31:32
A1I Don't Love You Anymore2:30A2I'll Have Made It to the Bridge2:45A3Once a Day2:20A4Just Between the Two of Us2:58A5I'm No Longer in Your Heart2:30A6I Don't Want It2:18B1Less and Less2:23B2See the Big Man Cry2:23B3I Think I'll Live2:49B4Plenty of Everything but You2:33B5What Can Any Man Do2:49B6Tall Dark Stranger3:14The Many Moods of Charlie Louvin
1966 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks
A1I Just Don't UnderstandA2Turn AroundA3I Take the ChanceA4I Don't Have Any Place to GoA5Dear HeartA6Life Begins at LoveB1Think I'll Go Somewhere and Cry Myself to SleepB2When I Stop DreamingB3I Gave My Love a CherryB4That's What Your Leavin's Done to MeB5Stolen LoveB6Month of Sundays1967 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 29:09
A1I Forgot to Cry2:30A2Too Little and Too Late2:32A3Looking for a Thing Called Happiness2:24A4Someone's Heartache3:00A5The Perfect Stranger2:36A6I'll Be Glad to Help You Out2:08B1On the Other Hand2:14B2Off and On2:18B3Drive Me Out of My Mind2:25B4No Other Way to Turn2:00B5You're the Sad in My Song2:45B6Sunday Morning2:171967 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 30:38
A1I'll Remember Always2:59A2When I Stop Dreaming2:01A3Scared of the Blues2:04A4While You're Cheating on Me (I'm Praying for You)2:19A5Alabama2:52A6Ruby's Song1:53B1Medley: A. I Don't Believe You've Met My Baby, B. Love Turned to Hate, C. My Baby's Gone, D. Must You Throw Dirt2:58B2I Can't Keep You in Love With Me2:28B3I Wish It Had Been a Dream2:22B4If You Love Me, Stay Away3:02B5I Take the Chance2:51B6Cash on the Barrel Head2:491968 · studio album
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Tracklist · 11 tracks · 27:18
A1Hey Daddy2:21A2Even the Loser Likes to Dream2:37A3Sounds of Goodbye3:10A4What Then2:30A5Heart of Clay2:37A6Are You Teasing Me2:26B1Love Takes Care of Me2:00B2It's Not a Big Thing (But It's Growing)2:16B3Next Time You're in Tulsa2:30B4The Edge of Your Memory2:45B5Born to Love You2:061968 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 31:58
A1Will You Visit Me on Sundays2:45A2Which-A-Way2:50A3Honey4:03A4Still Loving You2:32A5Say It's Not You2:28A6Tear Your Merry-Go-Round Down2:20B1The Only Way Out (Is to Walk Over Me)2:15B2Just for You2:24B3Tears, Wine and Flowers2:20B4The Last Foxhole3:04B5She Forgot to Take Me2:30B6The Proof Is in the Kissing2:271969 · studio album
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Tracklist · 11 tracks · 28:02
A1The Kind of Man I Am2:40A2She Called Me Baby2:15A3Yesterday's Letters2:58A4After Awhile2:28A5Until My Dreams Come True2:20A6Won't You Come Home and Talk to a Stranger2:40B1Let's Put Our World Back Together1:55B2Hungry Eyes3:34B3What Are Those Things (with the Big Black Wings)2:10B4Life to Go2:47B5A Million Years or So2:151970 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 27:40
A1Come and Get It Mama2:20A2Is Home Sweet Home3:17A3I Take the Chance3:03A4Loving You Is a Way of Life With Me2:35A5She Even Woke Me Up to Say Goodbye2:58B1Love's Gotta Have a Little Breathing Room2:19B2I Couldn't Love You More2:56B3If I Were a Carpenter2:55B4Would I Want You If You Were Mine2:31B5Tiny Wings2:461970 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 26:50
A1Here's a Toast to Mama2:41A2Is the Joy Worth the Pain2:40A3Something Foolish to You3:19A4The Castle Isn't Mine2:18A5Workin' Man Blues2:47B1Little Reasons2:46B2Who Loves You2:40B3In the Morning2:06B4Show Me the Way Back to Your Heart2:50B5I Ain't Gonna Work Tomorrow2:431974 · studio album
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Tracklist · 11 tracks · 29:14
A1It Almost Felt Like Love2:43A2I Just Want a Happy Life2:16A3As Much as I Love You2:35A4When Love Is Gone3:27A5Honeymoon Feelin'2:53B1You're My Wife, She's My Woman2:44B2Bad People2:37B3Until I'm Out of Sight2:10B4I've Just Got to Know (How Loving You Would Be)2:21B5If I Have to Build a Bridge (I'll Get Over You)2:17B6Love Is the Foundation3:111980 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 28:06
A1Who's Gonna Love Me Now2:56A2Store Up Love2:12A3Warm, Warm Woman2:30A4A Fancy Place to Cry2:41A5She's Just an Old Love Turned Memory2:28B1When Love Is Gone3:26B2Apartment No. 92:23B3Wherever You Are3:33B4Can I Have What's Left3:09B5Nobody Cares2:481980 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 26:23
A1Silver Dish Cafe2:41A2Turn the Cap, Break the Seal3:27A3Are You Teasing Me2:06A4Sunday Morning Dream2:48A5We Had It All2:55B1Love2:02B2I Care No More2:50B3Don't Believe Me3:03B4See the Big Man Cry2:14B5(When My Memories) Become My Souvenirs2:171981 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 28:01
1Ten Years, Three Kids, and Two Loves Too Late3:452The Same Thing on Our Minds2:263The Best Mistake I Ever Made3:014Tonight I'm Going to the Gallos2:015If I Could Only Win Your Love2:286Will You Visit Me on Sundays2:517Think I'll Go Somewhere and Cry Myself to Sleep3:068See the Big Man Cry2:489Hoping That You're Hoping2:1610She Is3:191991 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 29:21
1I Feel Like Traveling On2:422If I Could Hear My Mother Pray Again3:093In the Cross3:084I See a Bridge2:405Where the Roses Never Fade3:076In the Sweet Bye and Bye2:187When They Ring Those Golden Bells3:188Nearer My God to Thee3:069I’ve Known a Lady1:5710Sweet Beulah Land3:561991 · studio album
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Tracklist · 11 tracks · 32:33
1Makin’ Music3:012Just Beyond the Pain2:583Memories Burnin’2:564This Darn Pen3:115Old Dreams3:376Are There Any Lonely Women Here Tonight2:277Ain’t You Even Gonna Cry2:148Back in Harmony2:309Country Boy’s Dream3:1710Takes Love to Know Love3:1511Precious Time3:071992 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 33:43
1Hoping That You're Hoping2:052When I Stop Dreaming2:313I Love You Best of All2:214Knoxville Girl3:475Nobody's Darlin' but Mine2:576Put Me on the Trail to Carolina3:037You'll Forget2:308Love and Wealth2:389Don't Laugh2:2710What About You2:5511I'll Be Home When I Can3:4612Stormy Horizons2:431995 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 38:26
1When I Stop Dreaming2:312In the Pines3:353Cash on the Barrelhead3:064I Don't Feel Like Dancing3:215Who Knows Where the Time Goes4:046Queen of the Bayou3:297Are You Wasting My Time2:278Stone-Deaf, Dumb and Blind3:199My Babby's Gone3:5610The Christian Life2:5511I Wanna Die Young (At a Very Old Age)2:5412Turn Around2:491999 · studio album
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Tracklist · 15 tracks · 51:40
1Ira4:182The World Keeps On Changing2:593Diana3:334Too Old to Die Young3:185Helen's Arms3:206This Old House5:147Mama's Angels2:598The World's a Better Place3:359Waiting on Tables3:4510Mama's Rocking Chair3:0611Fire and Rain3:2312Make My Day Tonight3:1713I Don't Love You Anymore3:3014America2:4215Goodbye, Goodbye2:412007 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 39:03
1Must You Throw Dirt in My Face2:352Great Atomic Power2:453Blues Stay Away From Me3:184The Christian Life2:255When I Stop Dreaming3:056Waiting for a Train3:467Kneeling Drunkard's Plea2:578Worried Man Blues3:059Grave on the Green Hillside3:4210Knoxville Girl4:1411Ira3:4812My Long Journey Home3:23Sings Murder Ballads and Disaster Songs
2008 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 36:44
1Darling Corey2:402Wreck of the Old 972:203Wreck on the Highway2:574Katy Dear2:215Down With the Old Canoe3:026The Little Grave in Georgia3:567Dark as a Dungeon3:288My Brothers Will3:439Dixie Boll Weevil2:2010Is This My Destiny3:1111Mary of the Wild Moor3:4012My Texas Girl3:062008 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 35:25
1Love at Home4:022How Beautiful Heaven Must Be4:543Precious Lord, Take My Hand3:504There’s a Higher Power2:295Where We’ll Never Grow Old5:416If We Never Meet Again This Side of Heaven3:247Just Rehearsing2:598When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder2:339I Feel Like Traveling On2:1310I Am Bound for the Promised Land3:202010 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 39:08
1Smoke on the Water3:442More Than a Name on a Wall3:583I Wonder If They Ever Think of Me2:574There's a Star Spangled Banner3:025Just Before the Battle Mother3:216What We're Fighting For3:357Mother I Thank You for the Bible3:058A Soldier's Last Letter3:299Weapon of Prayer3:1410Robe of White2:4511Searching for a Soldier's Grave2:3112Down by the Riverside3:27— · studio album
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Tracklist · 9 tracks · 23:56
1Lonesome Is Me2:282Life Begins At Love2:193Dear Heart2:444I Just Don't Understand2:385Think I'll Go Somewhere And Cry Myself To Sleep3:016Queen Unfaithful2:597I Gave My Love A Cherry2:508I Don't Have Any Place To Go2:259Stolen Love2:32
Album · 7
| Cover | Year | Title | Notes | First release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Louvin Loves 'Em / Charlie Louvin Family FavoritesSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 10 tracks · 30:12A1I Just Want a Happy Life2:16 A2Mama's Angels2:45 A3The American Trilogy3:27 A4Charlie Louvin Medley4:07 A5Turn Around2:32 B1When Love Is Gone3:26 B2Ramblin' Rose2:13 B3How Great Thou Art3:04 B4Louvin Bros. Medley3:20 B5I'll Not Have to Cross Jordan Alone3:02 | Compilation | 1973 | |
| 1993 | Live in HollandSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 19 tracks · 56:031When I Stop Dreaming3:01 2Love and Wealth2:31 3The Family Who Prays3:25 4The Hand That Rocks the Cradle3:03 5I Love You the Best of All3:10 6Make Him a Soldier2:21 7Must You Throw Dirt in My Face2:57 8This Darn Pen3:34 9Ruby's Song1:55 10In the Pines3:12 11My Baby's Gone3:24 12Freight Train Boogie3:01 13Mansion on the Hill2:55 14What About You3:02 15The Gospel Way2:25 16Nearer My God to Thee3:50 17Mama's Angels3:10 18You'll Meet Him in the Clouds2:38 19When Is He Coming Again2:29 | Live | 1993 | |
| 2006 | Echoes of the Louvin BrothersSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 14 tracks1When I Stop Dreaming 2In the Pines 3Cash on the Barrelhead 4I Don't Feel Like Dancing 5Who Knows Where the Time Goes? 6Queen of the Bayou 7Are You Wasting My Time 8Stone-Deaf, Dumb and Blind 9My Baby's Gone 10The Christian Life 11I Wanna Die Young (At a Very Old Age) 12Turn Around 13Precious Jewel 14In the Pines | Compilation | 2006 | |
| 2006 | Charlie Louvin and FriendsSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 11 tracks · 32:331Makin’ Music3:01 2Just Beyond the Pain2:58 3Memories Burnin’2:56 4This Darn Pen3:11 5Old Dreams3:37 6Are There Any Lonely Woman Here Tonight2:27 7Ain’t You Even Gonna Cry2:14 8Back in Harmony2:30 9Country Boy’s Dream3:17 10Takes Love to Know Love3:15 11Precious Time3:07 | Compilation | 23 June 2006 | |
| 2007 | Live At Shake It RecordsSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 13 tracks1Wabash Cannonball 2You're Running Wild 3The Christian Life 4Will You Visit Me on Sundays 5Cash on the Barrelhead 6My Long Journey Home 7My Baby's Gone 8Mama's Angels 9Praying 10Waiting for a Train 11The Hand That Rocks the Cradle 12See the Big Man Cry 13Charlie's Wish | Live | 2007 | |
| 2009 | Less and Less and I Don't Love You Anymore / Lonesome Is MeSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 24 tracks · 31:321I Don't Love You Anymore2:30 2I'll Have Made It to the Bridge2:45 3Once a Day2:20 4Just Between the Two of Us2:58 5I'm No Longer in Your Heart2:30 6I Don't Want It2:18 7Less and Less2:23 8See the Big Man Cry2:23 9I Think I'll Live2:49 10Plenty of Everything but You2:33 11What Can Any Man Do2:49 12Tall Dark Stranger3:14 13Lonesome Is Me 14Making Plans 15Queen Unfaithful 16I Want a Happy Life 17As Long as There's a Sunday 18To Tell the Truth I Told a Lie 19All the Lies Are True 20Something's Wrong 21Something to Think About 22Two Minus One 23We're Still Together 24You Finally Said Something Good | Compilation | 26 January 2009 | |
| 2010 | Hickory Wind: Live at the Gram Parsons Guitar Pull, Waycross GASearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 14 tracks1Long Journey Home 2Must You Throw Dirt in My Face 3The Kind of Man I Am 4Hickory Wind 5If You Love Me, Stay Away 6Wreck on the Highway 7The Christian Life 8I Still Miss Someone 9Think I'll Go Somewhere and Cry Myself to Sleep 10Workin' Man Blues 11Let Her Go, God Bless Her 12Please Don't Tell Me How the Story Ends 13I Don't Love You Anymore 14Cash on the Barrelhead | Live | 2010 |
Stats & PK
Percentile within all 23,672 published artists.Put Charlie Louvin head-to-head →
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 10 | 58.3th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 30 | 90.4th |
| Studio albums | 23 | 97.2th |
| Awards recorded | 0 | 0th |
| Timeline events | 25 | 95.6th |
| Recording span (years) | 45 | 85.8th |
| Genres | 2 | 74th |
Awards & honours
Line-up
| Name | From | To | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Louvin Brothers(band) | — | present | |
| The Louvin Brothers(band) | — | present |
Where this record comes from
portrait—Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0 · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Charlie_Louvin_-_NYC_10-24-08_-_Photo_by_Anthony_Pepitone.jpgaliases/urls—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/a174a588-cda4-49cc-8d53-e05e3a42ab4fdiscography—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/a174a588-cda4-49cc-8d53-e05e3a42ab4fcore—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3296979genre—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3296979seed-list—wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Louvinbiography—wikipedia-en · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Louvin
Why this artist is in the database
- List of country music performers
Tier rule: curated genre/region list
Image: Anthony Pepitone · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Wikidata: Q3296979 · MusicBrainz: a174a588-cda4-49cc-8d53-e05e3a42ab4f
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