This rendition of The Star Spangled Banner is performed by singing legend Lou Rawls at start of Game 3 of the 1985 MLB World Series between the St. Louis Cardinals verses the Kansas City Royals.
Lou Rawls (December 1, 1933 – January 6, 2006) was an American singer, songwriter, actor, voice actor, and record producer…..who released more than 60 albums….while selling more than 40 million records….and having numerous charting singles….with his most notable song being “You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine”. Lou Rawls also worked as an actor in film and television….while also being a voice actor. He won three-time Grammy Awards throughout his career…..and was twice voted the winner, for Best Male R&B Vocal Performer.
With Dick Clark as master of ceremonies, Lou Rawls was able to perform at the Hollywood Bowl in 1959. His first two singles were “Love, Love, Love” and “Walkin’ (For Miles)” for Shar-Dee Records….which was a label owned by Herb Alpert….then “In My Little Black Book” and “80 Ways” were released a year later by Candix Records. In 1962 he signed a contract with Capitol Records….and sang backing vocals on “Bring It On Home to Me” and “That’s Where It’s At”….then Rawls charted with a cover of “Bring It On Home to Me” in 1970….with the title shortened to “Bring It On Home”.
A wonderful quote of Lou Rawls that rings so very true still today in 2019 is “Soul is truth…no matter where it comes from, no matter how it is presented.”
Stormy Monday, a jazz album with Les McCann, was released in 1962….followed by two more Capitol albums Black and Blueand Tobacco Road….which sold well and employed Onzy Matthews as musical director and a 17-piece big band. Both albums reached the Billboard magazine charts and propelled his career.
Alhough his 1966 album Live! was certified gold….Lou Rawls would not have a star-making hit until he made the soul album named Soulin’ ….which contained “Love Is a Hurtin’ Thing”….while becoming his first R&B # 1 single. In 1967 he won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance for the single “Dead End Street”. In 1967, he performed at the first evening of the Monterey International Pop Music Festival….and in 1985, he sang the USA National Anthem at Game 3 of the MLB World Series between the Cardinals and the Royals in the IH70 Series.
