Christian Songs

n the contemporary tradition of Christian songs that is available for the listening and enjoyment of the practicing Christian in the United States today as well as any outside observers who may be interested in gaining new sources of insight into and appreciation for the traditions of American Christianity, a particularly interesting and significant contribution to the tradition of Christian song in the United States can be found in the form of the output of Christian songs of the classic country-and-western duo known as the Louvin Brothers, who in reality were a pair of brothers named Charles and Ira Loudermilk. As recording and touring artists, the Louvin Brothers, who had been raised in the Baptist faith, created both secular and Christian songs using an early form of the technique of “close harmony” in their singing, which had a substantial effect on the early formation of what would eventually become the American country music industry. A particularly well-known Christian song created by the Louvin Brothers can be found in the classic country and western composition “Satan is Real,” which appeared on the album of the same title and had an effect on both secular and religious music practices.
Prior to becoming the Louvin Brothers, the Loudermilk brothers were born in Section, Alabama. Their musical tastes were heavily influenced by the country music pioneers known as the Delmore Brothers and the Monroe Brothers, the latter of whom Ira Loudermilk played mandolin with in the 1940s. Outside of the realm of known musical acts, the duo were influenced by their early experience singing Christian songs in their local church choir, which helped to form their basic styles of singing. They would later support themselves by working in a post office as their day job while performing secular and Christian songs in the evenings at concert dates, with another brief interruption called for by Charlie’s decision to join the service again during the Korean War. During the decade of the 1950s the Louvin Brothers became more well known in the country music world and performed at the Grand Ole Opry, becoming members in 1955. One of their major contributions to that style of music and to the area of Christian song came with the recording in 1959 of the album Satan is Real. Even beyond the first appearance of the well-known Christian song “The Christian Life” and the title track of the album, the album also enjoys a reputation today beyond its original intention of addressing the fans of Christian song with its unusual album cover, which features the Louvin Brothers dressed in white suits and black string ties being menaced by the background figure of a plywood representation of the Devil with flames, produced at the photo shoot by setting tires alight with gasoline, appearing to sprout from around his ankles. “The Christian Life” later became well known as a classic Christian song when the Byrds decided to cover the track on their 1968 country tribute album Sweetheart of the Rodeo.