New York:
Country music legend CharlieLouvin, the surviving half of the 'The Louvin Brothers', diedafter losing his battle with cancer.
He was 83.
One of the pioneers of country music, the singerpassed away at his home in Wartrace, Tennessee, yesterday dueto complications related to pancreatic cancer, The New YorkTimes reported.
An influential figure in the country music scene ofthe 1950's and 1960's, Louvin's music went on to influenceseveral generations of rock musicians.
The singer achieved his greatest fame with the LouvinBrothers, a popular country duo who echoed the vocal style ofthe Everly Brothers.
The band's biggest hit, 'I Don't Believe You've Met MyBaby', was a No 1 country hit for two weeks in 1956 and theyalso found success with later singles such as 'When I StopDreaming' and 'Cash'.
Their other hits include 'In the Pines', 'KnoxvilleGirl' and 'The Christian Life'.
In the late 1950's, the brothers headlined a US tourthat included Elvis Presley as support. Typically, Charliewould play guitar and take lead vocals while his brother Ira,who died in a car crash back in 1965, would play mandolin. In2001, the brothers were inducted into the Country Music Hallof Fame.
Their popularity waned in the 60s and in 1963declining record sales and Ira's drinking led the brothers todissolve their partnership and pursue solo careers.
Charlie continued his solo career, which spanned fivedecades, but the singer later admitted that he never got usedto singing without his brother.
After being diagnosed with cancer, the singerunderwent surgery back in July 2010 but the procedure wasunsuccessful.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Betty HarrisonLouvin; three sons, Charlie Jr, Glenn and Kenneth; threesisters, Geraldine McDonald, Ailene Parker and FloraLauderdale; and five grandchildren.
He was 83.
One of the pioneers of country music, the singerpassed away at his home in Wartrace, Tennessee, yesterday dueto complications related to pancreatic cancer, The New YorkTimes reported.
An influential figure in the country music scene ofthe 1950's and 1960's, Louvin's music went on to influenceseveral generations of rock musicians.
The singer achieved his greatest fame with the LouvinBrothers, a popular country duo who echoed the vocal style ofthe Everly Brothers.
The band's biggest hit, 'I Don't Believe You've Met MyBaby', was a No 1 country hit for two weeks in 1956 and theyalso found success with later singles such as 'When I StopDreaming' and 'Cash'.
Their other hits include 'In the Pines', 'KnoxvilleGirl' and 'The Christian Life'.
In the late 1950's, the brothers headlined a US tourthat included Elvis Presley as support. Typically, Charliewould play guitar and take lead vocals while his brother Ira,who died in a car crash back in 1965, would play mandolin. In2001, the brothers were inducted into the Country Music Hallof Fame.
Their popularity waned in the 60s and in 1963declining record sales and Ira's drinking led the brothers todissolve their partnership and pursue solo careers.
Charlie continued his solo career, which spanned fivedecades, but the singer later admitted that he never got usedto singing without his brother.
After being diagnosed with cancer, the singerunderwent surgery back in July 2010 but the procedure wasunsuccessful.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Betty HarrisonLouvin; three sons, Charlie Jr, Glenn and Kenneth; threesisters, Geraldine McDonald, Ailene Parker and FloraLauderdale; and five grandchildren.
