Ceci Rawls: The Private Life of Lou Rawls’ Second Wife
Ceci Rawls is best known as the second wife of Grammy Award-winning singer Lou Rawls. Married from 1989 to 2003, she maintained an extremely private life both during and after her 14-year marriage to the music icon. Her deliberate choice to avoid the spotlight has created curiosity about her background, relationship with Lou Rawls, and current whereabouts.
Table Of Content
Early Life and Background
Very little verified information exists about Ceci Rawls’ early life. Her birth date, birthplace, and maiden name remain undisclosed. No public records document her upbringing, education, or family history.
This absence of information appears intentional rather than accidental. Unlike many celebrity spouses who maintain some public profile, Ceci successfully kept virtually every detail of her pre-marriage life private. She had no known career in entertainment or other public-facing professions before meeting Lou Rawls.
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Ceci Rawls |
| Known For | Second wife of Lou Rawls |
| Marriage Year | 1989 |
| Divorce Year | 2003 |
| Children Together | None |
| Public Appearances | Limited, primarily alongside Lou Rawls |
| Post-Divorce Life | Private and undocumented |
Marriage to Lou Rawls
Ceci Rawls married Lou Rawls in 1989. At the time, Lou was an established music icon with a four-decade career spanning gospel, jazz, soul, and R&B. His smooth baritone voice had earned him three Grammy Awards and worldwide recognition for hits including “You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine.”
The circumstances of how they met remain unclear, with conflicting accounts suggesting they may have first crossed paths in Chicago during Lou’s early touring days with Sam Cooke in the late 1950s. Other sources indicate they connected much later. What is certain is that they reconnected years after any initial meeting and married in 1989.
Throughout their marriage, Ceci rarely appeared in public. When she did attend events with Lou, she remained reserved in front of cameras. Their relationship garnered less media attention than Lou’s first and third marriages, making their union one of the more private aspects of his life.
Lou Rawls: A Musical Legacy
To understand Ceci’s position in the public eye, it’s important to recognize who Lou Rawls was. Born December 1, 1933, in Chicago, Illinois, Lou Rawls became one of America’s most celebrated soul and jazz singers.
His career achievements include:
- 61 albums released over four decades
- More than 40 million records sold worldwide
- Three Grammy Awards for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance (1968, 1972, 1978)
- Platinum-selling album “All Things in Time” (1976)
- Number-one R&B hit “You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine” (1976)
Beyond music, Lou Rawls dedicated himself to philanthropy. In 1980, he launched the Lou Rawls Parade of Stars Telethon (later renamed “An Evening of Stars”) to benefit the United Negro College Fund. The annual event raised more than $200 million for historically Black colleges and universities during his lifetime.
Clarifying the Family Structure
An important clarification: Ceci Rawls and Lou Rawls did not have children together during their marriage.
Lou Rawls had been previously married to Lana Jean Taylor from 1963 to 1973. From that first marriage, he had three children: Louanna Rawls, Lou Rawls Jr., and Kendra Rawls. Ceci took on a stepmother role to these children during her marriage to Lou.
After divorcing Ceci in 2003, Lou married his third wife, Nina Malek Inman, a flight attendant, on New Year’s Day 2004. They adopted a son, Aiden Allen Rawls, in 2005.
Life After Divorce
Ceci Rawls and Lou Rawls divorced in 2003 after 14 years of marriage. The details surrounding their separation remain undisclosed. Unlike many high-profile celebrity divorces that become tabloid fodder, their split was remarkably low-profile.
After the divorce, Ceci withdrew completely from public view. There are no confirmed reports of her remarrying, pursuing a public career, or engaging in any media activities. Her ability to maintain such complete privacy despite her association with a music legend is extraordinary in the age of social media and instant information.
Lou Rawls’ Death and Its Aftermath
Lou Rawls died on January 6, 2006, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. He was 72 years old. In December 2005, it was announced he was being treated for lung cancer that had metastasized to his brain.
By the time of his death, Lou was estranged from his third wife Nina, having filed for annulment of their two-year marriage. His passing sparked family conflicts, particularly between Nina and his daughter Louanna from his first marriage, regarding his estate and funeral arrangements.
There is no public record of Ceci Rawls’ involvement in Lou’s final days, funeral, or estate matters. She had been divorced from him for three years at the time of his death.
Connection to Rawls Museum Arts
Some sources link Ceci Rawls to Rawls Museum Arts, Inc., a cultural institution. However, this connection appears to be a case of name confusion. The Rawls Museum was originally envisioned by Walter Cecil Rawls, a businessman from St. Louis and native of Southampton County—a different person entirely with no confirmed relation to Ceci Rawls or Lou Rawls.
Ceci Rawls’ exact role, if any, in arts or cultural initiatives related to Lou Rawls’ legacy remains undocumented.
The Choice of Privacy
Ceci Rawls’ commitment to privacy stands in stark contrast to many who have been associated with celebrities. She never capitalized on her connection to Lou Rawls through interviews, memoirs, or public appearances.
Her ability to keep her personal life hidden has only intensified public curiosity. In an era where information spreads instantly and privacy is increasingly rare, her success at remaining anonymous is remarkable. She appears to have made a conscious decision to separate herself from the spotlight that came with being Lou Rawls’ wife.
As of 2026, Ceci Rawls’ current whereabouts and activities remain unknown. There are no social media profiles, recent photographs, or media interviews available. Whether she remarried, pursued a career, or maintained involvement in any public endeavors is entirely undocumented.
Her post-divorce life has been as private as her marriage was quiet. This consistent pattern suggests a deliberate, sustained effort to live away from public attention.
Conclusion
Ceci Rawls remains an enigmatic figure whose brief time in the public eye came solely through her marriage to Lou Rawls. While her 14-year union with the Grammy-winning singer placed her peripherally in the spotlight, she successfully maintained her privacy before, during, and after the marriage.
The lack of available information about Ceci Rawls underscores her strong preference for a private life. Unlike many who have been connected to famous individuals, she chose to live away from cameras, interviews, and public scrutiny. Her story is unique precisely because there is so little story to tell—a testament to her successful efforts to remain a private individual despite her connection to a music legend.
