Lou Rawls, who learned of gospel music through his grandmother in Chicago, became a successful singer, primarily from the 1950s through the 1980s. He was a high school classmate of music giant Sam Cooke, and they sang together in the Teenage Kings of Harmony, a '50s gospel group.
After graduating from Chicago's Dunbar Vocational High School, he sang briefly with Cooke in the Teenage Kings of Harmony, a local gospel group, and then with the Holy Wonders. In 1951, Rawls replaced Cooke in the Highway QC's after Cooke departed to join The Soul Stirrers in Los Angeles. Rawls was soon recruited by the Chosen Gospel Singers and himself moved to Los Angeles, where he subsequently joined the Pilgrim Travelers
After graduating from Chicago's Dunbar Vocational Career Academy, Rawls enlisted in the U.S. Army as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division. He left the "All-Americans" three years later as a sergeant, and hooked up with The Pilgrim Travelers as he traveled to Los Angeles. In 1958, while touring the South with the Travelers and Sam Cooke, Rawls was in a serious car crash. Rawls was pronounced dead before arriving at the hospital, where he stayed in a coma for five and a half days. It took him months to regain his memory, and a year to fully recuperate. Rawls considered the event to be life-changing.
Alongside Dick Clark as master of ceremonies, Rawls was recovered enough by 1959 to be able to perform at the Hollywood Bowl. He was signed to Capitol Records in 1962, the same year he sang the soulful background vocals on the Sam Cooke recording of "Bring it on Home to Me." Rawls himself charted with a cover of the song in 1970 (with the title shortened to "Bring It On Home").
Rawls' first Capitol solo release was Stormy Monday (a.k.a. I'd Rather Drink Muddy Water), a jazz album. On August 21, 1966, he opened for The Beatles at Crosley Field in Cincinnati.
Though his 1966 album Live! went gold, Rawls would not have a star-making hit until he made a proper soul album, appropriately named Soulin', later that same year. The album contained his first R&B #1 single, "Love Is a Hurtin' Thing". In 1967 Rawls won his first Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance, for the single "Dead End Street."
In 1969, the singer was co-host of NBC's summer replacement series for the Dean Martin Show along with Martin's daughter, singer Gail Martin.
After leaving Capitol in 1971, Rawls joined MGM, at which juncture he released his Grammy-winning single "Natural Man." He had a brief stint with Bell Records in 1974, where he recorded a cover of Hall & Oates' "She's Gone." In 1976, Rawls signed with Philadelphia International Records, where he had his greatest album success with the million-selling All Things in Time. The album produced his most successful single, "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine", which topped the R&B and Adult Contemporary charts and went to number two on the pop side, becoming Rawls' only certified million-selling single in the process.
Subsequent albums, such as 1977's When You've Heard Lou, You've Heard It All yielded such hit singles as "Lady Love". Other releases in the 1970s included the classic album Sit Down And Talk To Me.
In 1982, Rawls received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
On the night of September 29, 1977, Rawls performed the national anthem of the United States prior to the Earnie Shavers-Muhammad Ali title fight at Madison Square Garden. He would be requested to sing the anthem many times over the next 28 years, and his final performance of it came on October 23, 2005. The crowd at that performance may not have known that Rawls was extremely ill with cancer, but he reportedly delivered an electrifying performance to kick off Game Two of the 2005 World Series between the Chicago White Sox and Houston Astros.
In 1980, Rawls began the "Lou Rawls Parade of Stars Telethon" which benefits the United Negro College Fund. The annual event, known since 1998 as "An Evening of Stars: A Celebration of Educational Excellence", consists of stories of successful African-American students who have benefited from and/or graduated from one of the many historically black colleges and universities who receive support from the UNCF, along with musical performances from various recording artists in support of the UNCF's and Rawls' efforts. The event has raised over US$200 million in 27 shows for the fund through 2006.
In January 2004, Rawls was honored by the United Negro College Fund for his more than 25 years of charity work with the organization. Instead of hosting and performing as he usually did, Rawls was given the seat of honor and celebrated by his performing colleagues, including Stevie Wonder, The O'Jays, Gerald Levert, Ashanti, and many others. His final television performance occurred during the 2005-2006 edition of the telethon, honoring Stevie Wonder in September 2005, just months before entering the hospital and after having been diagnosed with cancer earlier in the year. This program, aired in January, 2006, contains his final public television performance, where he performed two classics, "You Are the Sunshine of My Life," and a final ode to Frank Sinatra with, "It Was A Very Good Year."
At the time of Rawls' death, news and UNCF figures noted the significance of Rawls' final performance, "It Was a Very Good Year." The song is a retrospective of one's life and its lyrics include, "When I was seventeen, it was a very good year. It was a very good year for small town girls and soft summer nights...And now those days grow short, it is the autumn of years, and now I think about life as vintage wine from fine old kegs, from the brim to the dregs, it pours sweet and clear, it was a very good year."
Rawls appeared in a segment of the first season of Sesame Street, to sing the alphabet. He dismissed the concept of using cue cards for the performance, but reversed such decision when he forgot the order of the letters.
Throughout Rawls' singing career, he had the opportunity to appear in many films, television shows, and commercials. He can be seen in such films as Leaving Las Vegas, Blues Brothers 2000, and Angel, Angel, Down We Go. He had a supporting role in the Baywatch spin-off, Baywatch Nights. He also appeared in the western television series, Big Valley, (starring legend Barbara Stanwyck, along with Lee Majors and Linda Evans) where he played a hired hand. Here, he delivered the memorial line: "Ain't a horse that can't be rode; ain't a man that can't be throwed".
Rawls lent his rich baritone voice to many cartoons, including Hey Arnold! as the voice of Harvey The Mailman, Garfield, and The Proud Family. For many of the Film Roman Garfield specials, Rawls would often compose songs for them, which he would then sing usually doing a duet with Desiree Goyette. He also was famously in American sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.
For many years, he was a spokesperson for the Colonial Penn Life Insurance Company. He was also a spokesman for Budweiser, helping promote the brand on radio and TV to African-American markets much as Ed McMahon did for the white audience. Budweiser was a key sponsor for the Rawls telethon and UNCF.
Rawls was also a regular guest host on "Jazz Central", a program aired on the BET Jazz cable channel.
He appears as "Dr. Rawls" in a dream on an episode My Wife and Kids, where he breaks into a parody version of "You'll Never Find", which a frightened Damon Wayans is afraid of having a colonoscopy the following day. Rawls uses the scope as a microphone in the scene. Rawls appears as a commentator in the second half of the unrated commentary of Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy.
Rawls was also a guest star during the second season of The Muppet Show. He also made a brief appearance on the series finale of Martin. (The show's character Tommy is excited to see Lou Rawls at Nipsey's and mentioned that his favorite song is "Natural Man." Lou replied that he received a letter from a female claiming that she and her boyfriend broke up because of the song. This eludes to the episode where Tommy and Pam decide to move in together, but winded up fighting and ultimately breaking up because Tommy played the song "Natural Man" so much that it drove Pam crazy.)
The following is a list of Lou Rawls singles that made the top 50 on the Billboard Hot 100. His first Hot 100 entry was "Three O'Clock in the Morning" in 1965, and his final was "Wind Beneath My Wings" in 1983. In addition to those two, nine other singles peaked at positions below the top 50 on the Hot 100, and additional singles reached the R&B, Adult Contemporary and Bubbling Under charts.
* "Love Is a Hurtin' Thing" - 1966, #13 (also #1 R&B)
* "Dead End Street" - 1967, #29
* "Show Business" - 1967, #45
* "Your Good Thing (Is About to End)" - 1969, #18
* "A Natural Man" - 1971, #17
* "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine" - 1976, #2 (also #1 R&B and #1 Adult Contemporary); certified Gold for sales of one million copies
* "Lady Love" - 1978, #24
Groovy People
Lou Rawls Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I like to be around
Groovy, groovy people
I don't like nobody that's got an ego
I don't like to sit around and hold a conversation
With somebody who don't know where he wants to go
Full of fun and joy
Can't you see, I'm just a big ol' country boy
And I like groovy people
I'm talking 'bout
Groovy, down home people
I don't like nobody that's got an attitude
Walkin' 'round with their nose in the air
Them kind of people, I just can't use
I like to be relaxed
With my mind at ease
The best things in life
Is all I want for me
So give me some, groovy people
I said, groovy, groovy people
Talkin' 'bout groovy, groovy
Groovy, groovy people
Now baby, oh darlin', we don't have to put up
With them jive-time folks no more
Let's pretend that we're not at a-home
When they come knockin', knockin' on our door
I don't like nosy people
Get in my business and things
I done been through all of that, baby
And I know the bad feelings that it brings
Give me the simple life
Full of fun and joy
Can't you see I'm just a big ol' country boy?
And I like groovy people
I'm talkin' 'bout a groovy
Down home people
Talkin' 'bout groovy, groovy
Groovy, groovy people
Talkin' 'bout groovy people
(Groovy people)
I'm talking about people
(Groovy, groovy people)
That I can hold a conversation with
(Groovy people)
I'm talking about a people
(Groovy, groovy people)
That ain't goin' on no ego trip
(Groovy people)
I'm talkin' about people
(Groovy, groovy people)
That know how to love one another
(Groovy people)
I'm talking 'bout people
(Groovy, groovy people)
That know how to love their brothers
(Groovy people)
Talkin' about people
(Groovy, groovy people)
Who know how to get together
(Groovy people)
I'm talkin' about people
(Groovy, groovy people)
Who know how to brave the stormy weather
(Groovy people)
The lyrics of Lou Rawls's song "Groovy People" express the singer's preference for uncomplicated and easygoing people in his life. He values simple pleasures, and seeks company that is not tainted by egos, attitudes or unnecessary drama. Rawls seems to be a man who enjoys the basic joys of life, and his idea of a good conversation is one that takes him places instead of going in circles. He does not want to associate with nosy people who pry too much into his life or cause bad feelings, and instead, he prefers to keep it simple with groovy people who love and support each other through thick and thin. In essence, the song hints at the beauty of living a uncomplicated life and cherishing the down to earth people in our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Groovy people
I enjoy being around people who are easy-going and enjoyable to be around
I like to be around
Being around other people is important to me
Groovy, groovy people
I really like cool, down to earth people
I don't like nobody that's got an ego
I don't want to be around anyone who thinks they are better than others
I don't like to sit around and hold a conversation
Small talk is not my favorite thing to do
With somebody who don't know where he wants to go
I don't like talking to people who don't have a plan or direction in life
Give me the simple life
I don't need anything extravagant or complicated
Full of fun and joy
I want to enjoy life as much as possible
Can't you see, I'm just a big ol' country boy
I am just a simple, down to earth person
And I like groovy people
I really enjoy being around chill people
I'm talking 'bout
What I mean is
Groovy, down home people
I prefer people who are relaxed and easy to be around
I don't like nobody that's got an attitude
I don't like being around people who are negative or angry all the time
Walkin' 'round with their nose in the air
I don't like people who act like they are better than others
Them kind of people, I just can't use
I don't find those types of people useful or enjoyable to be around
I like to be relaxed
I like to be calm and chill
With my mind at ease
I don't like to be stressed or anxious
The best things in life
I don't need anything extravagant or fancy
Is all I want for me
I am happy with the simple things in life
Now baby, oh darlin', we don't have to put up
We don't have to tolerate these types of people anymore
With them jive-time folks no more
We don't have to be around those fake people anymore
Let's pretend that we're not at a-home
Let's act like we're not home when they come over
When they come knockin', knockin' on our door
When they try to visit us
I don't like nosy people
I don't like people who pry or are too curious
Get in my business and things
I don't like people who are too involved in my life
I done been through all of that, baby
I have already dealt with those types of people
And I know the bad feelings that it brings
I know how those types of people can make me feel
I said, groovy, groovy people
I mean, really cool and relaxed people
Talkin' 'bout a groovy
I am referring to really cool people
That ain't goin' on no ego trip
I like people who don't think they are better than others
That know how to love one another
I appreciate people who are kind and loving towards others
That know how to love their brothers
I like people who are capable of loving and caring for their fellow human beings
Who know how to get together
I like being around people who know how to have a good time
Who know how to brave the stormy weather
I appreciate people who are strong and able to get through tough times
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: KENNETH GAMBLE, KENNY GAMBLE, LEON HUFF
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Eric Foote
My dad used to play his Lou Rawls albums a lot and this was one of my favorites.
Karen Howard
This is a new song for me. I love it. I was looking for a song of his & couldn't find it in the list. It is one where he talks about the garbage strike, & also when you were told to do something, you did it.Then he sings. I don't know the name of it, but it's good. I I've his talking & singing voice.
Lashonda Anderson
You're blessed I jus happened to hear him & fell in love with his music 🥰🤫🥲🥰🥰🥰🥰
Shawn N
Eric, you’re father had great taste in music and artists
K M
The beat is just sooo damn groovy!!! Can’t sit still!!!
Lianne Dombrowski
The lyrics are still so relevant today
PeekaBooo22
A special shout out to all you groovy people on here!! Continue to R.I.P. Mr. Rawls
McNabbulous
I put this song on when I am feeling down. It always makes me feel, well groovy!
Phillis Mitchell
Loooove this song 🎵. The lyrics are so true. Definitely in my Playlist. 😊🙏🏾❤🖤💚
Brandon Allen
Growing up I only recognized Lou Rawls from the Garfield specials. Had no idea he had a successful music career. Got his greatest hits album now.