Eddie Rabbitt

Music Home >> Music Genres >> Country Music



< < < < < > > > > > More Info on Eddie Rabbitt Similar Country Music Search Artistopia

Biography

Edward Thomas "Eddie" Rabbitt (November 27, 1941 – May 7, 1998) was an American singer-songwriter and musician. His career began as a songwriter in the late 1960s, springboarding to a recording career after composing hits such as " Kentucky Rain " for Elvis Presley in 1970 and " Pure Love " for Ronnie Milsap in 1974. Later in the 1970s, Rabbitt helped to develop the crossover (music)|crossover -influenced sound of country music prevalent in the 1980s with such hits as " Suspicions (Eddie Rabbitt song)|Suspicions " and " Every Which Way but Loose (song)|Every Which Way but Loose ." His duets " Friends and Lovers (song)|Friends and Lovers " and " You and I (Eddie Rabbitt & Crystal Gayle song)|You and I ", with Juice Newton and Crystal Gayle respectively, later appeared on the soap operas Days of Our Lives and All My Children .

Early life

Rabbitt was born to Irish people|Irish immigrants in Brooklyn , New York in 1941 and was raised in the nearby community of East Orange, New Jersey ., The New York Times , 9 May 1998. Retrieved 3 November 2007. His father was an oil-refinery refrigeration worker and a skilled fiddle and accordion player who often entertained local New York City dance halls. By age twelve Rabbitt was a proficient guitar player, having been taught by his scoutmaster, Tom Scwickrath.Blouch, Judd. "Rabbitt hops into Eisenhower Saturday," Penn State University , 23 September 1981 During his childhood Rabbitt became a self-proclaimed "walking encyclopedia of country music". After his parents divorced he dropped out of school at age sixteen. His mother, Mae, explained this action by saying that Rabbitt "was never one for school his head was too full of music." He later obtained a high school diploma after taking courses at night school.Flippo, Chet. "Country Vet Rabbitt Dies," Billboard Magazine , 23 May 1989

Career

Early career

Rabbitt was employed as a mental hospital attendant in the late 1950s but, like his father, he fulfilled his love of music by performing at the Six Steps Down club in his hometown. He later won a talent contest and was given an hour of Saturday night radio show time to broadcast a live performance from a bar in Paterson, New Jersey|Paterson .Landon, Grelun and Irwin and Lyndon Stambler. Country Music Encyclopedia . MacMillan, 2000 In 1964, he signed his first record deal with 20th Century Records and released the singles, "Next to the Note" and "Six Nights and Seven Days". Four years later, with $1,000.00 to his name, Rabbitt moved to Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville where he began his career as a songwriter.Wetmore, Elaine. "Rabbitt's success long awaited," Penn State University , 28 September 1981 During his first night in the town, Rabbitt wrote "Working My Way Up to the Bottom", which Roy Drusky recorded in 1968."Eddie Rabbitt Made Breaks on His Own," The Spokesman-Review , 5 February 1977 To support himself, Rabbitt worked as a truck driver , soda jerk and fruit picker while in Nashville."A WEEK OF MUSIC FOR ALL EARS," Palm Beach Post , 23 February 1990 He was ultimately hired as a staff writer for the Hill & Range Publishing Company and received a salary of $37.50 per week. As a young songwriter, Rabbitt socialized with other aspiring writers at "Wally's Clubhouse" bar in Nashville; he said that he and the other patrons had "no place else to go."Hurst, Jack. "Eddie Rabbitt's hit tells of unknown mountains," Wilmington Morning Star , 22 July 1978

Rabbitt became successful as a songwriter in 1969 when Elvis Presley recorded his song " Kentucky Rain ". The song went gold and cast Rabbitt as one of Nashville's leading young songwriters. While eating Cap'n Crunch ,Legro, Ron. "Two Country Charmers," Milwaukee Sentinel , 12 August 1977 he penned " Pure Love ", which Ronnie Milsap rode to #1 in 1974. This song led to a contract offer from Elektra Records .

Rabbitt signed with Elektra Records in 1975. His first single under that label, "You Get To Me" made the Top 40 that year, and two songs in 1975, "Forgive And Forget" and "I Should Have Married You" nearly made the Top 10. These three songs along with a recording of "Pure Love" were included on Rabbitt's Eddie Rabbitt (album)|self-named debut album in 1975. In 1976 his critically acclaimed Rocky Mountain Music album was released, which handed Rabbitt his first #1 Country hit with the track " Drinkin' My Baby (Off My Mind) ". In 1977 his third album, Rabbitt (album)|Rabbitt was released, which made the Top 5 on country album charts. Also in 1977 the Academy of Country Music named Rabbitt "Top New Male Vocalist of the Year". By that time he had a good reputation in Nashville, and was being compared by critics to singer-songwriter Kris Kristofferson .

Crossover success

While he was still relatively unknown, Rabbitt toured with and opened for crossover star Kenny Rogers , and also opened for Dolly Parton on a number of dates during her 1978 tour, but soon Rabbitt would himself break through on other charts.Sutton, Lorna. "Rogers provides memorable show," The Spokesman-Review , 20 July 1978 Following the 1978 release of Variations , which included two more #1 hits, Rabbitt released his first compilation album, The Best of Eddie Rabbitt . The album produced Rabbitt's first cross-over single of his career, " Every Which Way But Loose (song)|Every Which Way But Loose ", which topped country charts and reached the top 30 on both the Billboard 100 and Adult Contemporary, and was featured in a Every Which Way but Loose (film)|1978 Clint Eastwood movie of the same name . The song also broke the record for highest chart debut, entering at #18. Rabbitt held this record until it was shared with Garth Brooks at the debut of Brooks' 2005 single " Good Ride Cowboy ." The record was broken in 2006 upon the #17 chart entrance of Keith Urban 's " Once in a Lifetime (Keith Urban song)|Once in a Lifetime .", CMT , 21 August 2006 Rabbitt's next single, the R& B flavored " Suspicions (Eddie Rabbitt song)|Suspicions " from his 1979 album Loveline (album)|Loveline , was an even greater crossover success, again reaching number one on country charts and the Top 15 on the Billboard 100 and Adult Contemporary.Roland, Tom , Allmusic He was given his own television special on NBC , first airing on 10 July 1980, which included appearances by such performers as Emmylou Harris and Jerry Lee Lewis ."Eddie Rabbitt Special," Kingman Daily Miner , 4 July 1980 By this point in his career Rabbitt had been compared to a "young Elvis Presley."Dudek, Duane. "Miss Newton and Rabbitt wow all ages," Milwaukee Sentinel , 29 June 1981

Rabbitt's next album Horizon (Eddie Rabbitt album)|Horizon , which reached platinum status, contained the biggest cross-over hits of his career including " I Love a Rainy Night " and " Drivin' My Life Away ." Rabbitt developed "Rainy Night" from a song fragment that he penned during a 1960s thunderstorm. "Driving" recalled Rabbitt's truck-driving days, and was inspired by Bob Dylan 's song " Subterranean Homesick Blues " from Dylan's 1965 album Bringing It All Back Home .Wadey, Paul , The Independent, 19 May 1998 His popularity was so strong at this point that he was offered his own variety television show, which he went on to respectfully decline stating "It's not worth the gamble."Nash, Alanna , Entertainment Weekly

The release of his 1981 Step by Step (Eddie Rabbitt album)|Step by Step album continued Rabbitt's cross-over success as all three singles reached the top 10 on both country and adult contemporary charts. The Step by Step (Eddie Rabbitt song)|title track became Rabbitt's third straight single to reach the top 5 on country, adult contemporary and the Billboard 100 charts. The album ultimately reached gold status, Rabbitt's final album to do so. He teamed up with another Country/Pop crossover star, Crystal Gayle , to record " You and I (Eddie Rabbitt & Crystal Gayle song)|You and I ", which was included in his 1982 album Radio Romance (album)|Radio Romance . The duet eventually became a large pop smash peaking at #5 and #3 respectively on the Billboard 100 and Adult Contemporary charts. The song's popularity reached the point where it was used as a love theme for a couple on the soap opera All My Children . The song "You Put the Beat in My Heart" from Rabbitt's second Greatest Hits compilation in 1983 was his final crossover hit, reaching #15 on the Adult Contemporary chart.

Late career

During the 1980s, Rabbitt moved further from crossover-styled music. His 1984 album The Best Year of My Life produced one #1 country hit and three more top 10 country hits, but none of these met any crossover success. The illness and subsequent death of his son put his career on hold following the 1985 release of Rabbitt Trax , which included the #1 " Friends and Lovers (song)|Both to Each Other (Friends and Lovers) ", a duet with country-pop star Juice Newton . Like "You and I," the song was used as the theme for a soap opera, this time for Days of Our Lives .

Rabbitt returned from his hiatus in 1988 with the release of I Wanna Dance With You , which despite somewhat negative reviews, Allmusic produced two #1 songs: a cover of Dion DiMucci|Dion's " The Wanderer (Dion song)|The Wanderer " and the album's title track. 1990 saw the release of Rabbitt's positively reviewed album Jersey Boy and its hit single " On Second Thought (song)|On Second Thought ", which held as Rabbitt's final #1 of his career. The album also included " American Boy (Eddie Rabbitt song)|American Boy ", a patriotic tune popular during the Gulf War Dillon, Charlotte Allmusic and later used in Bob Dole 's 1996 presidential campaign. Rabbitt released Ten Rounds (Eddie Rabbitt album)|Ten Rounds in 1991, which produced the final charting single of his career, "Hang Up the Phone." Following that release he left Capitol Records to tour with his band "Hare Trigger."

In 1997 Rabbitt signed with Intersound Records but was soon after diagnosed with lung cancer . Following a round of chemotherapy , he released the album '' Beatin' the Odds (album)|Beatin' the Odds . The next year, he released his final studio album, Songs from Rabbittland .

Musical styles

Rabbitt used innovative techniques to tie country music themes with light rhythm and blues-influenced tempos. His songs often used Reverberation|echo , as Rabbitt routinely sang his own background vocals. In a process called the "Eddie Rabbitt Chorale," Rabbitt compensated for what Billboard Magazine described as a "somewhat thin and reedy voice" by recording songs in three-part harmonies. His music was compared to rockabilly , particularly the album Horizon , which was noted as having an Elvis-like sound. Rabbitt remarked that he liked "a lot of the old Memphis sounds that came out of Sun Records " during the 1950s, and that he "wanted to catch the magic of a live band."Wetmore, Elaine Daily Collegian , 28 September 1981 He credited such wide-ranging artists as Bob Dylan , Elton John , Steely Dan , Elvis Presley and Willie Nelson with influencing his works. When putting together an album, Rabbitt tried to make sure he put in "ten potential singles...no fillers, no junk." He remembered listening to albums as a child and hearing "two hits and a bunch of garbage."Gardner, Tom "Eddie Rabbitt: Brooklyn boy makes his voice heard in Nashville," Wilmington Morning Star , 1 August 1979

Rabbitt believed that country music was "Irish music" and that "the minor chords in music gve it that mystical feel."Allis, Tim and Bell, Bonnie , People Magazine , 17 April 1989 Although he did not strive to produce pop music, his songs helped influence the direction of country music, leading to the Urban Cowboy era during the 1980s. Critic Harry Sumrall of the San Jose Mercury News said that Rabbitt was "like a hot corn dog: nothing fancy, nothing frilly. You know what you're getting and you like it...never a country purist, Rabbitt nonetheless makes music that is plain and simple, with all of the virtues that make good country good. might be brisk, but they are also warm and familiar, like the breeze that wafts in over the fried artichokes." "Likable Eddie Rabbitt is Right at Home at the Fair," San Jose Mercury News , 11 August 1986

During the early 1990s, Rabbitt voiced criticism of hip hop music , particularly Rapping|rap , which he said was sending a negative message to youths. He stated that the music was "inciting a generation" and that it had helped to contribute to the high rates of teenage pregnancy, high school dropouts and rapes during this period.Susman, Lori "Riverside Resort presents Eddie Rabbitt in concert", Kingman Daily Miner , 23 April 1993

Personal life

When Rabbitt arrived in Nashville during the late 1960s, a friend gave him a pet chicken. Rabbitt noted that he had "an affinity for animals" and kept the bird for a while before ultimately giving it to a farmer. During his Nashville days in the early 1970s, Rabbitt owned a pet monkey named Jojo. Prior to his Rocky Mountain Music tour, the monkey bit Rabbitt, leaving his right arm in bandages.Beck, Marilyn. "Dickinson-Bacharach split confuses friends," St. Petersburg Times , 20 September 1976

In 1976 Rabbitt married Janine Girardi,Johnson, Anne Contemporary Musicians, 1991 whom he described as "a little thing about 5-foot tall, with long, black beautiful hair, and real pretty face." He had previously written the songs "Pure Love" and "Sweet Janine" for her. They had three children, Demelza, Timmy and Tommy. Timmy was diagnosed with biliary atresia upon birth. The condition required a liver transplant for survival and the child was slated to undergo one in 1985 but the attempt failed and he died. Rabbitt temporarily put his career on hiatus, stating that "I didn’t want to be out of the music business, but where I was was more important." Tommy was born in 1986.

Rabbitt felt it was his responsibility as an entertainer "to be good role model" and was an advocate for many charitable organizations including the Special Olympics , Easter Seals , and the American Council on Transplantation, of which he served as the honorary chairman. He also worked as a spokesman for the Muscular Dystrophy Association and United Cerebral Palsy . Rabbitt was a registered Republican Party (United States)|Republican and "with pleasure" gave permission to Senator Bob Dole to use his song "American Boy" during Dole's 1996 presidential campaign."INDECISION '96", The Philadelphia Inquirer , 15 October 1996

Death

On 7 May 1998 in Nashville, Eddie Rabbitt died from lung cancer at the age of 56. He had been diagnosed with the disease in March 1997 and had received radiation treatment and surgery to remove part of one lung."Singer-Songwriter Eddie Rabbitt Dies at 53", The Washington Post , 9 May 1998 His body was interred at Calvary Cemetery in Nashville, following a private burial on May 8. No media outlet reported the death until after the burial, at the family's request, and the news came as a surprise to many in Nashville, including the performer's agent who "had no idea Eddie was terminal" and had "talked to him" often, remarking that Rabbitt "was always upbeat and cheerful," in the final months of his life.Waddell, Ray , Amusement Business , 18 May 1998 Although he was widely believed to have been born in 1944 (this year can still be found in older publications and texts), it was revealed at the time of his death that he died aged 56.

Awards

Year !! Awards !! Award
1977	Academy of Country Music Awards	Top New Male Vocalist
1979	Music City News	Country Songwriter of the Year
1979	BMI	Robert J. Burton Award ("Suspicions")
1980	BMI	Song of the Year ("Suspicions")
1981	American Music Award	Best Pop Male Vocalist
1996	BMI	Three Million-Air award ("I Love a Rainy Night")
1996	BMI	Two Million-Air award ("Kentucky Rain")
1998	Nashville Songwriters Foundation	Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Flippo, Chet. SESAC, Hall of Fame honor songwriters, Billboard Magazine , 3 October 1998

Discography

Copyright Citations

This article is licensed under the GNU License
Click here for original article: Eddie Rabbitt

Eddie Rabbitt Photo by: www.liketotally80s.com


1. Crystal Gayle 2. George Strait 3. Juice Newton 4. Ronnie Milsap 5. Keith Urban 6. T.G. Sheppard 7. Mickey Gilley 8. Janie Fricke

Country Music Artists