Lou Rawls: Age, Height, Wiki, Bio, Net Worth, and Wife

Lou Rawls was an American baritone singer, born December 1, 1933, in Chicago, who died January 6, 2006, at age 72.

He released 61 albums, sold over 40 million records, and won three Grammy Awards. His telethon raised more than $250 million for the United Negro College Fund. Estimates place his net worth at $10 million, and he married three times.

Quick Facts

How Old Was Lou Rawls? Age in 2026

Lou Rawls was 72 when he died. If he were alive on September 30, 2026, he would be 92.

Some sources disagree on his birth year. Here is what each one says.

This article uses 1933. Most reference sites, the IMDb record and Wikipedia agree on it.

How Tall Was Lou Rawls?

IMDb lists Lou Rawls at 5 feet 10 inches (1.78 m). CelebrityNetworth gives the same number.

Both figures come from public listings, not a medical record. Treat them as reliable but unofficial.

Lou Rawls Bio: From Chicago Church Choir to Grammy Winner

Rawls grew up in Chicago's Ida B. Wells housing projects. His grandmother raised him, and he joined the Greater Mount Olive Baptist Church choir at age seven (Wikipedia).

Wondering who shaped his sound? Gospel singer Sam Cooke did, and the two sang together as teens.

Career Timeline

1. 1951: He replaced Sam Cooke in the Highway QC's, then joined the Pilgrim Travelers in Los Angeles.

2. 1955: He enlisted in the U.S. Army as an 82nd Airborne paratrooper and made 26 jumps.

3. 1958: A car crash left him in a coma for five and a half days. He took a year to recover.

4. 1961: Producer Nick Venet found him at the Pandora's Box club. He signed with Capitol Records.

5. 1966: "Love Is a Hurtin' Thing" became his first R&B No. 1.

6. 1976: "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine" hit No. 2 on the pop chart.

7. 1980: He started the Lou Rawls Parade of Stars Telethon for UNCF.

8. 2005: He sang the anthem before Game 2 of the World Series in Chicago.

Source: Wikipedia; Encyclopedia.com.

Grammy Awards

Britannica Kids lists the same wins as 1967, 1971 and 1977. It uses the recording year, while Wikipedia uses the ceremony year.

His Biggest Songs

Source: Wikipedia chart tables (Joel Whitburn data).

Rawls also opened songs with spoken stories. Britannica Kids says this style pointed toward rap. If you love that era, read our BoomBap Reviews GZA 1999 deep dive.

Acting and Voice Work

• Sang the alphabet on the first season of Sesame Street.

• Voiced Harvey the Mailman in 18 episodes of Hey Arnold!

• Appeared in Leaving Las Vegas (1995) and Blues Brothers 2000 (1998).

• Sang for the Garfield TV specials.

• Became the Anheuser-Busch spokesman in 1976 (CBS News).

Who Was Lou Rawls' Wife?

Rawls married three times. His third wife, Nina Inman, was his wife when he died.

Dates vary by source, so the table flags the gaps.

Lou Rawls' Children

• Louanna Rawls and Kendra Smith, both daughters (Wikipedia).

• Lou Rawls Jr., a son, who died in 2023 (Wikipedia).

• Aiden Rawls, a son with Nina (Wikipedia).

• Four grandchildren at the time of his death (Wikipedia).

Lou Rawls Net Worth: $10 Million, Explained

CelebrityNetworth estimates his net worth at $10 million at the time of his death. A 2025 page on GMRU and a competitor biography repeat the same number.

As of September 2026, I found no newer or audited figure. So the estimate stays at $10 million.

Where His Income Came From

• 61 albums and more than 40 million records sold (Wikipedia).

• Live shows across jazz, blues, soul and pop for nearly five decades (CBS News).

• Film, TV and voice acting roles.

• Endorsements, including Budweiser and Colonial Penn Life Insurance.

What can this number not tell you? It does not show debts, taxes or estate costs. Celebrity estimates are outside guesses, not court records.

Want to compare another entertainer's worth? See how we handled Fábio Assunção's bio and net worth or Tony Hinchcliffe's 2026 net worth.

Lou Rawls' Charity Legacy

His biggest gift was not a song. Since 1980, his annual telethon supported the United Negro College Fund.

• It raised more than $250 million by 2006 (Wikipedia, citing The New York Times).

• In 2004, UNCF honored him for over 25 years of service.

• His last TV performance was the 2005 edition, honoring Stevie Wonder.

How Did Lou Rawls Die?

In December 2005, his family announced lung cancer that had spread to his brain. He died on January 6, 2006, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

Little Richard and David Hasselhoff attended his funeral (Wikipedia, citing the Sydney Morning Herald).

Honors Since His Death

• 1982: Hollywood Walk of Fame star (earned while alive).

• 2021: Posthumous induction into the Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame.

• Chicago named a South Side street Lou Rawls Drive (NPR).

References

1. Wikipedia: Lou Rawls

2. IMDb: Lou Rawls biography

3. CelebrityNetworth: Lou Rawls net worth

4. Encyclopedia.com: Lou Rawls

5. Britannica Kids: Rawls, Lou

6. CBS News: Cancer Claims Lou Rawls

7. NPR: Rawls Leaves Rich Musical, Philanthropic Legacy

8. Find a Grave: Lou Rawls