Spoiler : Rawls, Lou (birth name was Louis Allen Rawls) Born in Chicago, Illinois 12/1/1935; died 1/6/2006 at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California. He had been battling lung and brain cancer from May of 2005. He had been living in Scottsdale, Arizona since 2003. Married and divorced to Lana Jean Rawls (1961-1973); Nina Malek Inman (2004-2005 his death). Rawls was a classmate of singer Sam Cooke. Graduated from Dunbar Tech School, and began his career with the touring gospel singing group, the Pilgrim Travelers. He left the group in 1956 when he was drafted into the US Army, serving with the 101st Airborne Division. In 1958, Rawls and Sam Cooke were injured in an auto accident in Arkansas which killed their chauffeur. Rawls was so severly injured, he was pronounced dead on the way to the hospital, then spent five days in a coma.

Spoiler : In the late 1950s he performed in Los Angeles clubs, then appeared with Dick Clark at the Hollywood Bowl in 1959. In the middle 1970s, he became a commercial spokesman for the Anheuser Busch Brewery. Screen debut playing Joe in Angel, Angle, Down We Go (1969). Last movie was playing King Tooetu in Uh Oh! (2003).

Spoiler : His distinctively rich baritone voice has been described in the press as "dark as mahogany, as deep as a rolling river" and "as warm as smooth gravel heated over a fireplace. Vocalist Frank Sinatra once stated Rawls as having "the classiest singing and silkiest chops in the singing game." A recording artist beginning in 1962 with a jazz album titled, "Stormy Monday" which was released by Capitol Records. He went on to record some 70 albums, winning 3 Grammy Awards, and was nominated for 13 Gramys. During his career, he had one platinum album, five gold albums and one gold single. Singer on television from 1960 to 2004, including Dean Martin Presents the Golddiggers for NBC (1968, 1969, 1970); This Is America, Charlie Brown for CBS (1988); CD Highway (1999). Rawls was the singing voice of Garfield the Cat for television and movies. Host of Lou Rawls Parade of Stars (1984). Singer of the theme song on New Love, American Style on ABC-TV (1985). Provided his voice for the character of Doctor Rice on the animated series, Captain Planet and the Planeteers for TNT and in syndication (1990). Provided his voice for the character of the Bat on the animated series, Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child. Lou Raymond on the syndicated television series, Baywatch Nights (1995-1996). Provided his voice for the character of Harvey on the Nickelodeon animated television series, Hey Arnold (1996-1999).