Mick Hartley

Country music legend Charlie Louvin has died at the age of 83: over 45 years after the death of his brother Ira.

God knows there's enough competition, but for me the Louvin Brothers were the finest of all those close harmony groups. I've posted this clip before….and, well, here it is again:

That's Charlie on the right with the guitar. As good as it gets.

Not forgetting the classic Country noir Knoxville Girl, or If I could win your love, or Cash on the Barrel Head, or…well, so many.

More links at this Metafilter post.

RIP.

Update: NYT obituary here:

Mr. Louvin’s solo career spanned five decades, but, as he told Terry Gross, the host of National Public Radio’s “Fresh Air” program, in 1996, he never got used to singing without his brother.

“When it comes time for the harmonies to come in, I will move to my left because my brother and I always used to use one microphone,” he said of performing solo.