Professor Louie has emerged in the music industry as the torch bearer of the true spirit of American Roots music. Seasoned live performer, prolific recording artist, writer, arranger and versatile multi-instrumentalist. Professor Louie also wears the hat of award-winning recording producer and engineer, capturing the talents of some of the world’s most highly acclaimed musicians, most notably, The Band. In addition to his work with The Band, Louie has played with, engineered or produced an incredible roster of artists spanning a wide array of genres including: Dave Brubeck, Rick Danko, Levon Helm, Blondie, Jose Feliciano, John Sebastian, Buckwheat Zydeco, Garth Hudson, Guy Davis to name a few.
Born in Peekskill, NY, Aaron “Louie” Hurwitz honed his musical chops in the NYC area. Plying his trade he toured the country with folk, R&B and blues bands, and performed on the Gospel circuit as organist for The Mighty Gospel Giants of Brooklyn. Through the 1970s and 80s. The Professor is a fixture on the live New York City circuit.
Louie became a part of The Band’s legacy: co-producing, engineering and performing on their three final albums, Jericho, High on the Hog, and Jubilation. He became a collaborating touring member of The Band from 1985 to 1999 until Rick Danko’s passing. It was during this time that Rick Danko christened Hurwitz “Professor Louie” in respect to his being their musical arranger and the glue that kept everything together..
As leader of his own group, Professor Louie & The Crowmatix, he has tirelessly toured the world for over twenty-five years. Professor Louie shares with longtime songwriting, vocalist, Marie Spinosa, or “Miss Marie,” a powerful vocalist, songwriter, pianist and percussionist. Their song “Melody of Peace,” recorded with The Prague Radio Symphony & Kuhn Choir won the International Composition Award from the classical label, ERM/Naxos, and has been recorded by numerous symphonies worldwide. The CBS 6 TV Special “Melodies Of Christmas” viewed to three million people on CBS 6 featured their song “Melody Of Peace”. This show over the past has raised over $10,000,000 for The Melodies Ward in The Children’s Hospital at Albany Med NY
Professor Louie & The Crowmatix have released 18 CDs and maintain a steady performance schedule of over 150 live dates a year and have performed at most major Music Festivals and venues. Their CD’s have been in the top ten on The RMR Contemporary Blues Charts crossing over to The Americana Charts and Jam Band Charts.
Ever propelling the spread of music and the connections it can make beyond any barriers of language or distance, Professor Louie has traveled to many distant Countries performing and teaching children English through singing. “Woodstock-Siberia Blues Express,” a documentary about his teaching and performing experiences, has been featured at the Woodstock and Maine Film Festivals.
Selected Awards:
- Inducted into the South Canadian Blues Hall of Fame.
- Inducted into The Blues Hall of Fame (NY Chapter).
- Recipient Robert H. Chambers Award for Excellence in the Traditional Arts from Common Ground on the Hill.
- Winner of the International Composition/ Arranging Award - ERM/Naxos. label,
Teaching:
- Common Ground On The Hill at McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland. A three week arts program during the Summer.. Louie has taught different courses on American Roots Music.
- Boces Mentor Program for Onteoria, NY High School for over ten years teaching sound recording and various music courses.
- Workshops with various Jr High Schools & High Schools Big Bands in USA & Canada
- Classroom workshops & assembly’s: Tannersville NY, Paterson High School, Detroit MI Public Schools, Ulster Community College
- Teaching English through Singing Novosibirisk, Siberia, Russia.
- Orchestral Workshops: USA, Canada & Russia
Find Professor Louie & the Crowmatix music at www.woodstorckrecords.com.
