We recently connected with Louie Love and have shared our conversation below.
Louie, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?
I was born in Memphis, Tennessee, but I was raised mostly in Germany. My father was in the Army, and my parents were very adventurous. By the age of 12, I had seen a good chunk of the European continent. When I was around 14 or 15, we were living in Frankfurt, Germany. Like most of my friends and classmates, I had a summer job bagging groceries at the Commissary, the grocery store on military bases. To pass the time, I would sing a lot—whatever was popular on the one radio station we had in Germany, AFN (Armed Forces Network).
I grew up in a household filled with music. My father was a singer in a band that often toured the NCO (Non-Commissioned Officers) clubs all over Germany. Some of my earliest and favorite memories are of sitting on my father’s chest while he lay on the floor, microphone in hand, as we sang whatever was popular at the time. My mother was a singer as well before I was born and did a lot of work for the church with youth groups, organizing plays, pageants, and trips. Entertaining was always second nature for us; my family often speaks in movie quotes and things like that.
One day at work, I was singing and bagging groceries as usual when Quintin Parker, a friend and bagging partner, out of the blue suggested, “Louie, you should be a singer.” I chuckled and said, “I am singing, what are you talking about?” He replied, “I mean, you should be a professional singer… as a job.” And then the world stopped spinning for a moment. For the first time in my life, even though I had been singing since infancy, it occurred to me that entertainment was a viable career path, and I couldn’t shake the idea for the rest of the day. I started mentally planning and vocally preparing to be a performer for the rest of my life. I tested my vocal range and ability with every song I could think of and asked for songs I didn’t know. That night, when I got off work, I went home, stuck my head to a speaker of the family entertainment system, and played music, listening to random artists and matching them note for note, whether they were solo artists or full singing groups. Later that evening, my father entered the living room and saw me with my head directly in the speaker, pausing, singing, rewinding, and playing, just to get certain notes accurate. Naturally, he asked if I knew what time it was. I didn’t. “Louie, it’s 3 o’clock in the morning, son… go to bed.” Shocked at the time, I didn’t argue and quietly complied.
The next day around lunchtime, I decided to tell my parents the plan: “I’m going to be a singer. After I am successful, around my third album, I’m going to transition into acting. That is going to be my life now.”
Many people have probably heard this same story many times, with variations of the theme and moments from many other people. There are usually two standard responses you expect from your parents when you say something so far-fetched. The first expected response is the standard reality check: “You’re living in a fantasy. That’s not going to keep you safe or secure. That’s not a real job,” etc. The second expected response is usually a placating, dream-indulgent response: “You can do anything you put your mind to.” I was expecting these responses. I wasn’t expecting them to look at each other and then say, “OK, then sing.”
I was completely unprepared and dumbfounded as I stood there gobsmacked. My parents sat there saying, “You want to be a singer? Let us hear you sing.” I proceeded to sing the first song that came to mind, one of my father’s favorites, James Ingram’s “100 Ways.” I sang the first verse and chorus, then waited for the bad news or for the rejection that never came. Both of my parents stared at me, suppressing pleased grins, and said, “OK. You can be a singer.”
As much as I wish I could say that marked the beginning of my illustrious multi-Grammy Award-winning recording career, alas, I cannot. After a few notable close encounters with opportunity, a shockingly supportive guidance counselor, my enlistment in the US Air Force, an ill-fated audition for ABC’s “Pop Stars” Season 2, and finally a revelatory trip to the Oscars Red Carpet (as one of hundreds of shouting fans… don’t get too excited), my path took its inevitable turn towards a fulfilling, albeit not yet as successful as I would like, acting career. But hey, creativity requires goals and aspirations, right? Through it all, my parents have been vigilantly supportive and encouraging, never missing a play or performance, providing insightful and constructive critique, and passionately believing that my potential knows no bounds.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I’ve always felt like I am on the fringes of the industry. Growing up, I performed in school plays and church programs. When I was in the Air Force I watched a lot of Inside the Actors Studio and one of the recurring themes was “acting classes”, so I took an acting class. When I got out of the military, I enrolled in regular classes here in Atlanta. The next logical step was to start getting work. I started auditioning for small film roles to varying degrees of success but I wanted more work and more practice. That led me to live theater. Stage acting is like acting boot camp. I was able to experiment, collaborate, and work more.
As much as I love the stage, I am a film actor at heart and I have yet to truly explore film acting the way I want to. I was always worried about being ready – I didn’t want to fake it till I made it, I wanted to develop my craft. I have been blessed to star in over 20 stage plays and a handful of film projects. I am at the point in my craft where I can now say, without arrogance but with confidence, that I am a great actor dedicated enough to study, learn, listen, and collaborate to make a project great.
I’m currently working on simultaneous productions of August Wilson’s Seven Guitars (as Floyd Barton) and August Wilson’s King Hedley II (as Mister). Opening July 5, 2024. If you find yourself in the Atlanta area, stop in and check us out.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist or creative is the process itself. Whether it’s acting, writing, singing, producing, or directing, I always feel like I’m solving a complex puzzle. Each creative endeavor presents its own unique set of challenges and pieces that need to be discovered and assembled to achieve the final result. This journey of uncovering and solving problems is immensely satisfying and fulfilling. It’s the thrill of the creative process that keeps me passionate and engaged.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
Support your local theater. Many of these productions come directly out of the savings of passionate everyday people who love to create, just like you. Your support is an investment in your community. Despite their modest budgets, these shows offer an incredible level of talent and skill at a fraction of the cost of Broadway or touring production tickets. The stars of tomorrow can first be found in your local or community theater.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3425755/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the2ndlove?igsh=dGNjNzJnMnZ4NHpl&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1KHxrvTbQ61dC1xf/?mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louie-love-220b621b?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/the2ndlove
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXNaXrGFze8JjaLN1VJGAKQ
- Other: https://youtu.be/E-yXKBBUz2Y?si=PF_M5ELtuwh21PLxhttps://youtu.be/OLzj5NcSSuA?si=_406Vsnr386FzILv
https://events.cobbcountytix.com/events/august-wilsons-seven-guitars?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR1hhB4VLMb8aN44ShiSXqlk9Pdg-yAhoN9oM0Y9_fuYQ6f64Me_NrMr6SQ_aem_ZmFrZWR1bW15MTZieXRlcw
https://events.cobbcountytix.com/events/august-wilsons-king-hedley-ii-7-6-2024?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR2pGuBvOzg8Aa58f_FtUNJjjRn9RTMThjtq11T_DItPlCLEWBrxIQdOYEg_aem_ZmFrZWR1bW15MTZieXRlcw
Image Credits
ZoltonW67Photograhy
Kelsey Edwards- Catchlight Studios
L.A. Winters
Layla Kapri
Edward Varnie