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Loudon Wainwright III

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Loudon Wainwright III
Loudon Wainwright III
source
NameLoudon Wainwright III
CaptionWainwright performing in 2011
Birth date5 September 1946
Birth placeChapel Hill, North Carolina, U.S.
GenreFolk, folk rock, comedy music
OccupationSinger-songwriter, actor
Years active1967–present
LabelAtlantic, Columbia, Rounder, Silvertone, Hannibal, Sovereign Artists, Proper, 2nd Story Sound Records
Associated actsKate McGarrigle, Martha Wainwright, Rufus Wainwright, Sloan Wainwright
Websitelwiii.com

Loudon Wainwright III is an American singer-songwriter, folk musician, and actor known for his witty, confessional, and often acerbic songwriting. His career, spanning over five decades, has produced a prolific discography that blends folk music, folk rock, and comedy music with deeply personal and observational lyrics. He is also the patriarch of a prominent musical family, which includes his former wife Kate McGarrigle and children Rufus Wainwright, Martha Wainwright, and Lucy Wainwright Roche.

Early life and education

He was born in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, the son of Loudon Wainwright Jr., a prominent writer and editor for *Life* magazine. He spent much of his youth in the Westchester County town of Bedford and attended the St. Andrew's School in Delaware. He later studied acting at Carnegie Mellon University before dropping out to pursue a career in music, initially performing in the folk music revival scene of the late 1960s.

Musical career

His self-titled debut album was released on Atlantic Records in 1970, featuring the novelty hit "Dead Skunk." He subsequently moved to Columbia Records, releasing albums like *Album III* and *Attempted Mustache*. His career saw periods of major-label affiliation and independent work, with notable albums on Rounder Records and Silvertone Records. A critical resurgence came in the 1990s and 2000s with acclaimed albums such as *History*, *Last Man on Earth*, and *High Wide & Handsome: The Charlie Poole Project*. He has also composed music for television, including themes for *M*A*S*H* and Judging Amy, and for film, notably for Knocked Up and *The Aviator*.

Musical style and themes

His work is characterized by spare, acoustic guitar-driven arrangements that foreground his literate and often humorous lyrics. Central themes include family dysfunction, mortality, romantic failure, and self-deprecation, delivered with a talk-singing vocal style. He is frequently compared to troubadour figures like Randy Newman and John Prine for his sharp character studies and satirical edge. His songs often draw directly from his own life, creating a deeply autobiographical and sometimes uncomfortably candid body of work.

Personal life

His personal relationships have been a frequent source of material for his songwriting. He was married to singer-songwriter Kate McGarrigle from 1971 to 1976; their children are musicians Rufus Wainwright and Martha Wainwright. He later had a daughter, Lucy Wainwright Roche, with singer Suzzy Roche of The Roches. He has been married to actress Ritamarie Kelly since 1997. The complex dynamics within this musical family have been documented in films like *The McGarrigle Sisters* and the album *The Wainwright Family*.

Discography

A prolific recording artist, his studio albums include *Loudon Wainwright III* (1970), *Album III* (1972), *Attempted Mustache* (1973), *History* (1992), *Last Man on Earth* (2001), *Strange Weirdos* (2007), *Older Than My Old Man Now* (2012), and *Lifetime Achievement* (2022). He has also released numerous live albums, such as *Career Moves* (1993), and compilation sets like *40 Odd Years* (2011). His work for other media is collected on *The BBC Sessions* and *The Guardian Angel*.

Awards and recognition

He won a Grammy Award for Best Traditional Folk Album in 2010 for *High Wide & Handsome: The Charlie Poole Project*. His album *History* was nominated for a Grammy for Best Contemporary Folk Album. In 2023, he received the Folk Alliance International Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to folk music. His songs have been covered by artists including Johnny Cash, Mose Allison, and Bonnie Raitt, cementing his influence within the American folk music canon.

Category:American folk singers Category:American male singer-songwriters Category:1946 births Category:Living people Category:Grammy Award winners Category:Musicians from North Carolina