Loudon Wainwright III

Early Life

Loudon Snowden Wainwright III was born on September 5, 1946, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. He is the son of Martha Taylor, a yoga teacher, and Loudon Wainwright Jr., a columnist and editor for Life magazine. Growing up in Bedford, New York, Wainwright was exposed to music early on, influenced by artists like Tom Lehrer and Stan Freberg, thanks to his father's musical interests. He attended St. Andrew's School and later studied acting at Carnegie Mellon University before immersing himself in the vibrant music scene of the Summer of Love in San Francisco.

Career

Wainwright began his songwriting journey in 1968 while living in Cambridge, Massachusetts. His first song, "Edgar," was inspired by a lobster fisherman he met while working in a boatyard. He gained recognition in the folk music scene, leading to a recording contract with Atlantic Records, which released his self-titled debut album in 1970. Wainwright is perhaps best known for his 1972 novelty hit "Dead Skunk (in the Middle of the Road)" and for his role as Captain Calvin Spalding on the television series M*A*S*H. Over his career, he has released twenty-six studio albums, with three Grammy nominations, winning one for Best Traditional Folk Album in 2010 for "High Wide & Handsome: The Charlie Poole Project."

Personal Life

Wainwright's personal life has been as colorful as his music. He was first married to singer-songwriter Kate McGarrigle, with whom he had two children, Rufus and Martha, both of whom are musicians. After their divorce, he had a daughter, Lucy Wainwright Roche, with singer Suzzy Roche. His second marriage to Ritamarie Kelly produced another daughter, Alexandra. Since 2015, he has been in a relationship with Susan Morrison, an editor at The New Yorker. Wainwright's relationships have often inspired his music, creating a rich tapestry of personal and artistic expression throughout his career.