Remembering Lou Rawls. My father and I saw him at the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas when I was 14. I’ve always been a big fan and was saddened to learn of his passing. I recently purchased a live album of his and I had to share it with you all. I love live albums with lots of crowd noise and short ramblings by the artists. This is an excellent example.

I usually write up my own passages about artists and their albums, but the text on Lou Rawls on the iTunes Music Store sums him it perfectly:

“A consummate career entertainer who brought a sense if refinement and polished style to soul, Lou Rawls was an unmistakable, unforgetable asset to the musical landscape.

Whether crooning, dipping into the grittier waters of R&B or perfecting pop songs, Rawls’ deep, rich vocals never failed to deliver. His greatest visibility was in the 70′s, when tracks like “Natural Man” and “You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Me” were acclaimed chart-toppers.

His dozens of albums over the years show a man who could handle a jazz combo just as well as he could a gospel chior — but the music was always charged with his own personality and vigor. Rawls’ passing on January 6th, 2006 left us with an incredible body of work as multifaceted and stylish as the man himself.”

Click the button below to be taken to Apple’s iTunes Music Store and sample this incredible album. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.