Ask American Profile

Tom T. Hall, Katrina Elam, Wallace Beery, Lou Rawls

Where is Tom T. Hall and what is he doing?
—Phil L., Indiana

The singer/songwriter from Olive Hill, Ky. (pop. 1,813), lives with his wife, who is known as Miss Dixie, in Franklin, Tenn. (pop. 41,842). Though Hall retired six years ago, he and his wife are still active musically. "We built an acoustic music studio on the farm and spend our time writing bluegrass songs and helping struggling young bands get a start in the music business," Hall, 68, says. The Halls recently received the International Bluegrass Music Association’s distinguished service award for their work. The couple also has homes in Virginia and Florida and spends time traveling between them and writing songs along the way.

I went to a Country Gold concert that featured Katrina Elam. Can you tell me anything about her?
—Jason P., Iowa

The 20-year-old singer from Bray, Okla. (pop. 1,035), released her first album, called Katrina Elam, in October. A born performer, Elam showed the world that she could belt out a song when she took the stage at a local 4-H talent show at age 9. She never stopped singing after that, and moved to Nashville, Tenn., at age 17 to pursue a career. "It was weird going from a town where everybody knows each other to a place where nobody knows you at all," she says. Now she’s got a single on the radio and is touring with Keith Urban. "I was doing a show in Kansas City, Mo., singing my single, and I looked out and saw a woman singing along! To think someone knew the words to my song already was so cool."

I am an old fan of Wallace Beery. Can you give me some information about him? I am interested in titles to some movies he was in long ago.
—Helen C., Maryland

The beloved character actor made some 220 movies, but none were as colorful as his own life. Born in Kansas City, Mo., in 1885, he joined the Ringling Brothers Circus at 16 as an elephant trainer. Two years later, he left after a leopard attacked and clawed his arm. From musical variety shows in New York, he segued to screen work in the Sweedie comedies, where he met first wife Gloria Swanson. In 1931, he won a best actor Oscar for The Champ, and went on to memorable roles in 1933’s Dinner at Eight and 1934’s Treasure Island. He died from a heart attack in 1949 at age 64.

A Year of Honors for Lou Rawls

Singer Lou Rawls, who turns 69 on Dec. 1, has received three major honors this year, but he’s showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon. In August, he received an honorary doctorate from Wilberforce University, the nation’s oldest, private historically black college that’s just outside of Dayton, Ohio. "That was unbelievable," Rawls says. "Growing up in Chicago, I was aware of Wilberforce University because every year they would have the Tuskegee-Wilberforce football game. That was something we looked forward to." In September, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Temecula Valley International Film and Music Festival in Temecula, Calif. (pop. 57,716). In October, he attended the grand opening of the Lou Rawls’ Center for the Performing Arts at Florida Memorial College in Miami. "I still don’t know how to deal with it," Rawls says. "It’s something I consider a great honor and privilege." Rawls lives in Scottsdale, Ariz., with his wife, Nina. "I’m always touring," he says. "As long as they call, I’m in business. I’m in the process of getting together another album, but that takes time because I don’t like to just rush in and do something without preparing." The father of three will release his 82nd album next year.

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