Born:

Edward Thomas Rabbitt on November 27, 1941 in Brooklyn, New York

Died:

May 7, 1998 in Nashville, Tennessee

Overview:

By the time of the late-'70s and early-'80s country pop craze, veteran singer-songwriter Eddie Rabbitt had been at it professionally for more than a decade. During his early career, Rabbitt specialized in supplying big-time stars with his compositions, but he emerged fully as a commercially viable solo artist just in time to become one of the top crossover country music performers of the era.


Combining a straight-ahead rock and roll spirit with R&B influences and the vision of a country music historian, Rabbitt delivered a highly versatile sound that produced a series of unforgettable, classic '80s singles. Here's a look at the impressive solo career of the late, great Eddie Rabbitt.

Early Years:

Rabbitt was raised in a working-class family in the New Jersey suburbs of New York City, quickly finding music to be a pleasant escape and an endeavor for which he possessed some aptitude. As a teenager coming of age at the advent of rock and roll, Rabbitt gravitated toward rebellion, dropping out of high school at age 16 and quickly choosing the path of the modern troubadour. Starting off playing local clubs, Rabbitt managed to secure a record deal by 1964, even if his initial singles went nowhere. By 1968, the young artist relocated to Nashville, where he quickly gained traction as a songwriter. The following year, Elvis Presley recorded his song, "Kentucky Rain," bringing Rabbitt's name recognition to an entirely new level.

'70s Solo Success:

Oddly enough, the catalyst for Rabbitt's solo career finally taking off may have been his appreciation of a sugary breakfast cereal with an unmistakably powerful advertising gimmick. Rabbitt's composition, "Pure Love" - which mentions Cap'n Crunch by name and makes an interesting, tongue-in-cheek parallel between advertising slogans and proclamations of love - became Ronnie Milsap's first No. 1 hit when the latter recorded and released it in 1974. From this triumph, Rabbitt secured a major-label record deal and promptly commenced his steady climb to country and pop stardom. By 1976, "Drinkin' My Baby (Off My Mind)" became the artist's first of many No. 1 country hits, and the buzz around Rabbitt made him a contemporary Nashville favorite.

'80s Crossover Stardom:

Rabbitt greeted the rise of Urban Cowboy and country pop styles not by amending his style in an attempt to remold his career but by writing and recording music that organically maximized both popular and critical response to his songcraft. That's a long-winded way of saying that No. 1 crossover hits like "Every Which Way But Loose,""Suspicions,""I Love a Rainy Night" and "Drivin' My Life Away" proved irresistible to an array of audiences. Even better, Rabbitt - unlike many other Nashville stars - had a hand in writing almost all of his material. Despite a temporary move toward adult contemporary balladry with the duet smashes "You and I" and "Both to Each Other (Friends and Lovers)," Rabbitt would return to his country roots more and more as the '80s wore on.

Later Career & Rabbitt's Surprising Death:

Rabbitt's late-'80s output would never be able to reach the crossover heights of his career circa 1981, but he did manage to notch a few more top hits on the country charts, including 1984's "The Best Year of My Life," 1988's "I Wanna Dance With You" and 1989's "On Second Thought." Further recordings were more sporadic and less enthusiastically received throughout the '90s, but no one expected that a 1997 diagnosis of lung cancer would so quickly lead to Rabbitt's passing the following year. Ultimately, Rabbitt continues to be remembered fondly not only for his distinctively warm musical achievements but also his stable and charitable personal character. This is one of the few artists who attained legendary status without regard to the typically impenetrable boundaries between country, pop and rock music.