LOS ANGELES – Soul-stirring music and laughter – two of Lou Rawls’ favorite things – made for a joyous celebration of the late singer’s life Friday.
The 21/2-hour church funeral was filled with affection and memories of Rawls, who died Jan. 6 of lung cancer. The program gave his age as 72, although other records indicate he was 70.
“We’re going to miss his love because it was real, it’s pure,” singer Stevie Wonder told mourners. “We got you, Lou. We got you forever and always.”
Among the hundreds of mourners were Little Richard, actors Lou Gossett Jr., Angela Bassett and David Hasselhoff, and Kenny Gamble, who produced Rawls’ 1976 hit “You’ll Never Find.”
They clapped and swayed to the performances of gospel singer and pastor Andre Crouch, Wonder, actress Della Reese and 1960s peace activist Joan Baez, who had the crowd on its feet and singing along to “Amazing Grace.”
Willie Rogers of the Soul Stirrers gospel quartet, which Rawls performed with, brought the house down on “A Change is Gonna Come.”
Granddaughter Katrina Smith remembered the way Rawls spoiled her and sister Chayil.
“He used to take us on late candy runs,” Smith said. “He wouldn’t let us go to bed till we ate all of it.”
Reese and the Rev. Jesse Jackson, who presided over the service, recalled visiting Rawls in the hospital toward the end of his life.
“We laughed and we talked about all these things we used to do that I won’t tell you,” said Reese, who met Rawls when he was an unknown backup singer for soul legend Sam Cooke. “Lou knew who he was and where he belonged.”
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