Singer, Songwriter. He was an American country songwriter and singer, whose parents were Irish immigrants. His father was a proficient fiddle and accordion player and his mother a singer. Born in Brooklyn, New York and raised in East Orange, New Jersey, he was one of the most innovative country artists of all-time. His recording career began in 1964, but he did not establish himself until he moved to Nashville, Tennessee in 1968. Some critics state his background was not country enough to be accepted as a country artist, but he had the talent and determination. His earliest success was as a songwriter. In 1970 Elvis Presley recorded the song "Kentucky Rain," which Rabbitt co-wrote, and in 1974 Ronnie Milsap had his first number one country single with the Eddie Rabbitt composition "Pure Love". In 1975 he signed with Elektra Records and from 1976 to 1990, he had 34 consecutive Top 10 hits on the country charts, with sixteen reaching number one. He was a 35-year-old with his first country hit. Many of those songs were crossover hits on the pop charts. Among his biggest crossover hits were "You And I," as a duet with Crystal Gayle; "Step By Step"; "Drivin' My Life Away," which was from the movie "Roadie" starring Meat Loaf; and "I Love A Rainy Night," which reached number one on both the pop and country charts. His biggest success on the country charts came in 1979 with the title song from the Clint Eastwood movie "Every Which Way But Loose". His 1990 "Runnin' with the Wind" reached #8 and "On Second Thought" reached #13 on the Country Billboard Hot 100. He continued recording sporadically in the 1990's but never matched his earlier success. In March of 1997 he was diagnosed with lung cancer, was aggressively treated, yet he died the following year in Nashville at the age of 56. He had a history of being a heavy cigarette smoker. His album "From The Heart" was issued posthumously. Even with his numerous Country Billboard Hot 100 hits and sold out concerts for at least a decade, he only received the "Top New Male Vocalist" from the ACM Awards in 1977.