Loudon Wainwright III (born 5 September 1946 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA) is an American songwriter, folk singer, humorist, and actor. He is the father of Rufus Wainwright and Martha Wainwright , children of his marriage to the late Kate McGarrigle. In 1970 he acquired a record deal with Atlantic Records, who released his first album. A graduate of St. Andrew's School, Wainwright is best known for a 1972 novelty song hit Dead Skunk (in the Middle of the Road)