Lou Rawls dies at 72

My friend John shares this story about Lou and Tobacco Road:

A couple years ago, I had a long phone conversation
with songwriter, John D. Loudermilk. Among his most
famous songs is "Tobacco Road" -- performed by Lou
Rawls.

Loudermilk told me that his inspiration for "Tobacco
Road" was "Marvin's Alley" in East Durham.

This little lane was just east of the Angier/Alston
intersection. Loudermilk told me he delivered
telegrams and money orders to homes, with shades
drawn, along Marvin's Alley.

During a visit to Marvin's Alley, I bumped into
someone who owned much of the block.

Artis Plummer describes himself as a "Black Cherokee"
who played for the Cleveland Buckeyes in the Negro
League. He's around 80 years old and has stories to
tell.

He said Marvin's Alley was one of Durham's early White
slums. Eight houses lined the south side of the street
(sharing one water meter) and five houses lined the
north side (sharing another water meter).

Today the one-block dead end is called Morven's Place.
Past the dead end was the Gulf Oil depot. Just south
this street was an old hosiery mill (now standing
empty on Holman Street). The mills owned Marvin's
Alley and its houses.

Since, Marvin's Alley was private property, the police
would not drive down the street. According to Mr.
Plummer, every place on the block was a gambling
house, liquor house or a house of prostitutes.

Loudermilk was "born on a kitchen table on 8th Street"
(Iredell Street) near present-day Magnolia Grill in
Old West Durham.

He wrote "Tobacco Road" in 1962. It became a #5 hit
for the Nashville Teens in 1964 during the peak of the
civil rights movement in America.

"Tobacco Road" was also performed by David Lee Roth
and Edgar Winter. But, perhaps the most famous version
of the hit song was performed by Lou Rawls, who died
today at 72.

~John Schelp
Old West Durham