Charlie Louvin, the acclaimed country musician and one half of the Louvin Brothers, has died at the age of 83. The singer passed away today (26th January 2011) at his home in Wartrace, Tennessee, from complications of pancreatic cancer, reports the New York Times.
A key figure in the country music scene of the 1950's and 1960's, Louvin's music went on to influence several generations of rock musicians. The singer achieved his greatest fame with the Louvin Brothers, a popular country duo who echoed the vocal style of the Everly Brothers. The band's biggest hit, 'I Don't Believe You've Met My Baby', was a No. 1 country hit for two weeks in 1956 and they also found success with later singles such as 'When I Stop Dreaming' and 'Cash'. In the late 1950's, the brothers headlined a US tour that included a young Elvis Presley as support. Typically, Charlie would play guitar and take lead vocals while his brother Ira, who died in a car crash back in 1965, would play mandolin. In 2001, the brothers were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
After being diagnosed with cancer, Louvin underwent surgery back in July 2010 but the procedure was unsuccessful. A fund-raising benefit and auction was held for Louvin in October 2010 in Bell Buckle, Tennessee.