Satan Is Real: The Ballad of the Louvin Brothers

Written by Charlie Louvin and Benjamin Whitmer

Narrated by Arthur Flavell

Get ready for one of America's great untold stories: the true saga of the Louvin Brothers, a mid-century Southern gothic Cain and Abel and one of the greatest country duos of all time.

The beautiful and tragic saga of the Louvin Brothers-one of the most legendary country duos of all time-is one of America's great untold stories. Charlie Louvin was a good, God-fearing, churchgoing singer, but his brother, Ira, had the devil in him and was known for smashing his mandolin to splinters onstage, cussing out Elvis Presley, and trying to strangle his third wife with a telephone cord.

The Los Angeles Times called them "the most influential harmony team in the history of country music," but Emmylou Harris may have hit closer to the heart of the matter, saying "there was something scary and washed in the blood about the sound of the Louvin Brothers." For readers of Johnny Cash's irresistible autobiography and Merle Haggard's My House of Memories, no country music library will be complete without this raw and powerful story of the duo that everyone from Dolly Parton to Gram Parsons described as their favorites: the Louvin Brothers.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tantor Media, Inc
• Release date: Feb 11, 2020
• ISBN: 9781705202524

Charlie Louvin

Born in Henagar, Alabama, Charlie Louvin recorded from 1947 to 1962 with his brother, Ira, as the Louvin Brothers. In 1955, they became members of the Grand Ole Opry and churned out thirteen hits on the Billboard country chart, including "When I Stop Dreaming," "Cash on the Barrelhead," and "Knoxville Girl." Charlie's solo career began in 1964 with the top five hit "I Don't Love You Anymore," and he followed it with twenty-nine Billboard-charting singles and four Grammy nominations. Benjamin Whitmer is the author of the novel Pike and a lifelong country music fan. He lives and writes in Denver.

Reviews for Satan Is Real

[Arvin Phelps · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A wonderful look into the lives of Charlie and Ira. I learned so much about so many other entertainers that I’d never heard anywhere else. Truly great book!