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  • SATURDAY JANUARY 7 2006 10:00 AM

You'll Never Find Someone Who Sings Tender Like He Did

Submitted by PRockGirlScout

Edited by Dr_Frank

Multi-talented performer and philanthropist Lou Rawls, 72, died of cancer today. Perhaps best remembered for his hit “You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine,” or by some of us for serving as a punchline to a snap in Pharcyde’s “Ya Mama,” he was more than a one-hit wonder.

While he continued to perform to sold-out crowds, he also explored acting and voice-over work. He parlayed his talents into successful collaborations with the Anheuser Busch company (for which he was a spokesman for many years), raising impressive amounts of money for the United Negro College Fund. He said the fund "helps children to become educated, useful human beings."

Having served in the Army’s 82nd Airborne division decades earlier, his dedication to the armed forces continued:

Since 1980, Lou Rawls has presented a series of worldwide concerts for American military bases co-sponsored by Anheuser Busch, the U.S.O., and the Department of Defense. During Christmas of 1983, for example, Rawls toured bases in Korea, Japan and the Phillipines. "I initiated this program to highlight the importance of the job that the military is doing, and to show my appreciation to the servicemen and to my country," he says.



Much of his humanitarian nature may have arisen after a life-changing accident resulted in a 5 day coma for Rawls:

"I really got a new life out of that, and saw a lot of reasons to live. I realized I had a immature attitude about life. I began to learn acceptance, direction, understanding and perception - all elements that had been sadly lacking in my life. I might have lived long enough to learn all this in the long haul, but I would have been just another soul taking up time and space for a long spell before I learned."



His talent and good-hearted nature will be missed.

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Comments
_panda_

_panda_

I'm lost
November 2005

JAN 07, 2006 10:25 AM

Good stuff. I keep him in the mix, and am presently surprised when he pops up right after a hard rockin song...

quietlythere

quietlythere

USA
June 2004

JAN 07, 2006 11:56 AM

his voice was awesome frown

Lufy

Lufy

Ithaca, NY
May 2004

JAN 07, 2006 02:19 PM

This is so sad. frown

I can't believe I'm admitting this - but I first got into Lou Rawls becasue of the Garfield animated shorts that used to play in the 80's.

Even back then I knew his voice was awesome.

ChazStrummer

ChazStrummer

Cedartown, GA
OLD SKOOL

JAN 07, 2006 05:54 PM

Lufy said:
This is so sad. frown

I can't believe I'm admitting this - but I first got into Lou Rawls becasue of the Garfield animated shorts that used to play in the 80's.

Even back then I knew his voice was awesome.


I'd forgotten about those.

TheFly

TheFly

Eagle Springs, NC
November 2003

JAN 07, 2006 07:20 PM

I used to see him every night in those Colonial Penn Life Insurance commercials. The guy's peddling (I liked the way it said he was a "compensated endorser") life insurance but that voice keeps you enthralled after years of seeing the commercial.

Sticking with that commercial, it's truly sad that Mr. Rawls didn't die "due to age." 2006 is shaping up to be as sad in celebrity deaths as 2005

jeffvader

jeffvader

San Diego, CA
November 2004

JAN 07, 2006 07:28 PM

good night lou... frown smile

thefreak

thefreak

NEWSWIRE

Gardner, MA

JAN 07, 2006 08:11 PM

See, I'm familiar w/the name, but sadly, I'm not familiar w/the songs. Anyone have some download suggestions?

Uh, legally, of course. wink

-TM

Goatfish

Goatfish

Los Angeles, CA
September 2004

JAN 07, 2006 08:17 PM

My parents used to play his records (and 45's) all the time, when I was little. A powerful. yet elegant voice, he had. RIP Mr. Rawls! frown

ritzboy

ritzboy

Baltimore, MD
February 2005

JAN 07, 2006 09:10 PM

Rest well Brother Rawls. Your time here shall not be forgotten!!!

StickyRice

StickyRice

Atlanta, GA
January 2003

JAN 07, 2006 09:21 PM

Sad. I liked him. Mellow, smooth voices like that are all but gone.

pearldiver

pearldiver

San Antonio, TX
November 2005

JAN 10, 2006 09:28 AM

He had a wonderful voice. It has been said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Blowfly did a comedy song, "The Begging For Pussy Medley", based upon You'll Never Find. In which he croons, "you'll never find, a dick as big as mine." Check it out, it is priceless. smile

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