Charlie Louvin, the remaining member of the country music duo the Louvin Brothers has died today at the age of 83.
While occasionally best remembered for the painfully sincere album cover for 1960s Satan is Real, the Louvin’s were both hugely influential (check out this cover of their song “Great Atomic Power” by alt-country pioneers Uncle Tupelo) and, more importantly, excellent. A few years ago the Onion AV Club did a great write-up on the duo’s legacy that is well worth a read today.
While Charlie and his brother’s songs of despair and a fear of the wrath of God are all pretty much unimpeachable, today I prefer to think of two of their sweetest songs, “I Don’t Believe You’ve Met My Baby” and “Hoping that You’re Hoping.” Louvin will be sorely missed.
