It’s easy to look at Lou Rawls by the numbers: 60-plus albums, three Grammies, 13 Grammy nominations, platinum and gold albums, and more than 40 years in the music business.
But when he performs Thursday through July 11 in Seattle, listeners won’t care about the numbers because they’ll be soaking up his strong, sweet, smooth voice.
Rawls has worked his way through gospel, blues, jazz, soul and pop, and still draws a crowd. He started singing gospel, was guided by doo-wop into harmonizing with classmate Sam Cooke, and had two stints with a gospel group sandwiched around serving as an Army paratrooper.
A car accident nearly killed him, but after a year’s recovery, he hit the R&B-pop-soul circuit when a Capitol producer heard him and signed him. His 1966 “Love is a Hurtin’ Thing” was twice Grammy nominated.
In what might be called pre-rap, Rawls started performing monologues, and in 1967, “Dead End Street” won a Grammy. A few years later he was Downbeat magazine’s poll’s favorite male vocalist, edging out Frank Sinatra.
In 2003 he released his latest album, “Rawls Sings Sinatra.”
He’s also acted on television and on Broadway, was the singing voice of the animated Garfield, and performed the title song for the animated series “Jungle Cubs.”
Jem. The Welsh singer has already hit the second spot on Amazon’s Breakthrough Artists chart with a pop-, rock- and trip-hop-influenced album, “Finally Woken.” She sings Wednesday in Seattle. Her “Nothing Fails” was sung by Madonna on the “American Life” album.
Nashville Star Tour. USA Network’s talent-search series morphs into a road show Tuesday in Seattle. In its first season, the series launched Buddy Jewell. This tour features the 2004 winner and three runners-up, as well as the Nashville Star Band.
World Music in the Park. Bring your lawn chairs for the summer concert series in Kenmore with music and regional treats from Bastyr College’s whole-foods cafeteria. The second concert is led by The Gaels’ traditional tunes from the Emerald Isle. Other Thursday concerts will feature the reggae of Clinton Fearon and Boogie Brown, Greencards’ Australian string fling, Madagascar delights by D’Gary, and Chinese music by Silk Road Music.
Allman Brothers. The only time The Dead (see story, this page) and the Allman Brothers are scheduled to play together in the United States this year is Saturday at the Gorge Amphitheater. The Hall of Fame band best-known for its blues-based jamming is an icon of 1970s Southern rock as well as for its trademark lengthy song performances. The band’s recent “Hitting the Note” album earned a Grammy nomination.
Papa Grows Funk. The New Orleans funk-jam band stops for a two-night stand Tuesday and Wednesday in Seattle. The band won the Offbeat Music Awards’ Best Funk Band in 2002 and 2003. Keyboardist John Gros played mostly in cover bands before starting Papa Grows Funk and seems to have found his niche.
Where to hear it
Lou Rawls: 8 p.m. Thursday through July 11, Jazz Alley, 2033 Sixth Ave., Seattle; $28, $30; 206-628-0888.
Jem: 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Crocodile Cafe, 2200 Second Ave., Seattle; $10.77; 206-628-0888.
Nashville Star Tour: 8 p.m. Tuesday, Moore Theater, 911 Pine St., Seattle; $29, $30; 206-628-0888.
Where to hear it
Lou Rawls: 8 p.m. Thursday through July 11, Jazz Alley, 2033 Sixth Ave., Seattle; $28, $30; 206-628-0888.
Jem: 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Crocodile Cafe, 2200 Second Ave., Seattle; $10.77; 206-628-0888.
Nashville Star Tour: 8 p.m. Tuesday, Moore Theater, 911 Pine St., Seattle; $29, $30; 206-628-0888.
World Music in the Park: 7 p.m. Thursday, St. Edward’s State Park, Kenmore; free; 425-602-3103.
Allman Brothers: 4 p.m. Saturday, Gorge Amphitheater; $56.70; 206-628-0888.
Papa Grows Funk: 8 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, Jazz Alley, 2033 Sixth Ave., Seattle; $16, $18; 206-628-0888.
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