His voice is so smooth that he’s known popularly as merely “The Voice” and, on April 16, that voice will ring from the rafters of historic Aycock Auditorium on the campus of UNCG.

Lou Rawls, a three-time Grammy award-winner for best male R&B performer, will sing a collection of his own standards and those of the late Frank Sinatra at 8 p.m.

Known as “The Voice” because his rich baritone is among the most recognizable in contemporary music, Rawls’ career has spanned some five decades and crossed styles from gospel and early R&B to soul and jazz to blues and straight-up pop. His pop accolades include three Grammy awards for best male R&B vocal performer in 1967, 1971 and 1977. He is perhaps best known for his 1976 hit “You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine,” which topped the R&B charts and climbed to number two on the pop charts.

His most recent album, Rawls Sings Sinatra, was released in 2003 on the Savoy Jazz label. In addition to performing his own standards, Rawls will challenge himself by taking on selections from the songbook of another famous voice – Frank Sinatra.

Rawls’ visit concludes the University Concert/Lecture Series 2004-05 season, “Six Great Nights!” which began in the fall with the Tibetan Monks of Drepung Loseling Monastery, included the Prague Symphony Orchestra and “Cookin’.”

The lineup for the 2005-2006 UC/LS, “Your Ticket to Great Performances,” will be announced later this spring.

Tickets for the Lou Rawls concert are $35, $30 and $25, depending on seating location. Student prices are $9, $8 and $6. For ticket information call the UNCG Box Office at (336) 334-4849.