Grammy Award winning singer Lou Rawls has died at the age of 72. Rawls was best known for his velvety smooth voice and his hit 'You'll Never Know Another Love Like Mine.' The cause of death was cancer.
Rawls died with his wife by his side at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. He had cancer of the lungs and brain.
The singer was proud of his diverse career. 'I've gone the full spectrum, from gospel to blues to jazz to soul to pop,' Rawls once wrote in a posting on his Web site. 'And the public has accepted what I've done through it all.'
Rawls was first introduced to gospel music by his grandmother. He signed with Capital Records in 1962 and made a total of 28 records for the company during his career. He first topped the charts in 1966 with 'Love Is a Hurtin' Thing.' He went on to win three Grammys.
In addition to his singing career, Rawls appeared in films and on television. Among his credits are 'Leaving Las Vegas,' and 'Blues Brothers 2000' on the big screen and 'Fantasy Island' and 'The Fall Guy' on television.
Rawls also was involved in charity work, holding telethons throughout the 1980s to raise funds for the United Negro College Fund.
Lou Rawls was diagnosed with lung cancer in December 2004. Five months later, cancer was discovered in his brain.
In addition to his wife, Rawls is survived by four children. Funeral arrangements had yet to be announced.
