Columnist Joe Delaney: You’ll never find another career like Rawls’

Joe Delaney

Friday, March 27, 1998 | 9:40 a.m.

CHICAGO'S LOU RAWLS started singing in public at the age of 7, in the choir of the Mount Olive Baptist Church. ... At 19, Rawls was a member of the Gospel group The Pilgrim Travellers, along with the late Sam Cooke. ... After a stint in the Army, he began singing in small nightclubs.

These were small black neighborhood nightclubs; first in Chicago, then Los Angeles, working for difficult audiences and very little money. ... It was during this daunting apprenticeship that he developed a style of soliloquizing his way into a song, quieting the audience.

Rawl's first recording was made in 1966. ... He gathered a group of friends in the studio to reproduce the atmosphere of those small "chitlin' circuit" nightclubs. ... The result was "Lou Rawls, Live" which merited a second album, "Soulin"' and his first hit single.

That first hit

"Dead End Street" established Rawls as a national attraction. ... It was 10 years later, in 1976, that he earned his first gold record for "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine" on the Philadelphia International label. ... This took Lou from the lounges to headliner status at the LV Hilton and in other major venues.

Even more important than his recording and in-person triumphs was his association as a spokesman for Budweiser Beer and his hosting of the United Negro College Fund telethons all these years, which gave him humanitarian status as well.

Rawls is appearing in the Orleans Hotel showroom through Sunday. ... That is Lou on those local Summerlin TV commercials and it was Joe Williams, previously. ... Lou Rawls has come a long way, the hard way. ... He wears his merited success well.

College hoops

March Madness continues this weekend with North Carolina vs. Utah and Stanford vs. Kentucky with the two winning teams meeting on Monday. ... It has been two weeks of exciting match-ups, major upsets, and nail-biting, buzzer-beating finishes. ... We cannot remember a more exciting March. ... Please don't call while the games are on.

Sports and sports betting in moderation qualifies as entertainment. ... The major hotels didn't spend all that money on state-of-the-art, high-tech race and sports books in vain. ... Check them out this Saturday afternoon, any weekend afternoon, that's entertainment.

Congratulations, all concerned at Thomas & Mack and the Sam Boyd Stadium on your most successful year yet. ... They're off to a good start in 1998. ... The renovation and improvement plans for both facilities are exciting, so vital to retaining the National Finals Rodeo.

Jazz notes

Jerome Jazz fans, please note: The 10th and Last Jerome Jazz Party is set for Oct. 9-11 in Aspen, Colorado. ... Ralph Sutton, Dave McKenna, Dick Hyman, Bob Haggart, Jack Lesberg, Jake Hanna, Frank Capp, Bucky Pizzarelli, Plas Johnson, Norris Turney, George Masso, Al Grey and Roy Williams are some of the names who are set to sit in on the sessions.

Call Sunnie Sutton (303-838-4240) or Barbara Gay (970-925-7164). ... You can write Barbara at Box 412, Aspen, CO 81612 for details. ... Seating is limited; the $250 tab is well worth it.

Marv Koral's All-Stars are at Brittany's, 7-11 p.m. while Irv Kluger & Co. hold forth at Pogo's, both on Fridays. ... Sundays, we recommend The Jazz Organ-ization, noon-3 p.m. (Santa Fe Pavilion). ... Mondays belong to Don Menza' Big Band (Riviera). ... Also recommended: Joe Darro, et al, weekends at Ruth's Chris West.

Friday addenda

Friday concerts: Kartik Seshadri, sitar, 8 p.m. (Reed Whipple Center) and pianist Robert McDonald, 7:30 p.m., UNLV's Ham Hall. ... Recommended: Pianist-songwriter George Bischoff's "Shepherd," the story of David and Goliath, 8 p.m. Sunday, UNLV's Ham Hall. ... The Grass Roots and The Turtles perform, 7 & 9:30 p.m. (Sunset Station).

Saturday, it's UNLVino at Bally's, 3-8 p.m., "Take A Sip For a Scholarship." ... Mark Chesnutt, David Lee Murphy and Gary Allan perform, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Buffalo Bill's Star of the Desert Arena. ... Singer Sandi Patty performs at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Flamingo-Hilton showroom; $6 for show and brunch. ... See you next Thursday.