Eddie Reeves facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Eddie Reeves
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Eddie Reeves in 2007
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| Background information | |
| Born | November 17, 1939 Austin, Texas, United States |
| Died | November 18, 2018 (aged 79) Houston, Texas, United States |
| Genres | Rock, pop, country, adult contemporary |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, artist manager, publisher, record company executive, writer |
| Instruments | Guitar, piano, vocals |
| Years active | 1950s–2010s |
| Labels | United Artists Music, ABC Records, Chappell Music, Warner Bros. |
| Associated acts | The Nighthawks, Jules and the Polar Bears, Slow Children |
Edward Benton Reeves (born November 17, 1939 – died November 18, 2018) was an American musician and writer. He was a talented songwriter, singer, and worked as a leader in music companies.
Eddie Reeves wrote many popular songs. One famous song was "All I Ever Need Is You". He wrote it with Jimmy Holiday. Many artists sang this song, including Ray Charles, Sonny & Cher, and Kenny Rogers & Dottie West. Another hit song was "Rings," which he wrote with Alex Harvey. It was recorded by groups like Cymarron and Lobo.
His songs were recognized with important awards. The organization BMI gave him a special award for "Rings." This meant the song was played over a million times on radio and TV. His songs also led to three Grammy Award nominations for other artists. These included Sonny & Cher for "All I Ever Need Is You" and Chet Atkins & Jerry Reed for an album featuring the song.
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Early Life and Music Beginnings
Eddie Reeves was born in Austin, Texas. He grew up in Amarillo, Texas. He finished Amarillo High School with good grades. Later, he went to the University of Texas at Austin.
He started singing and playing guitar in high school around 1956. He formed a band called The Nighthawks in 1957. They recorded two songs. One of their songs, "When Sin Stops," was released on his 19th birthday. After college, he worked in his father's businesses for a few years.
A Career in the Music World
In 1964, Eddie Reeves began working for music producer Norman Petty in New York. The next year, he joined United Artists Music. Here, he signed a contract to be a recording artist and songwriter. In 1968, he moved to Hollywood to open a new office for United Artists. For seven years, he worked with many famous musicians. These included Mac Davis and Jackie DeShannon.
Later, in 1972, he signed a new contract with ABC Dunhill Records. In 1974, he became a vice-president at Chappell Music. This was one of the biggest music publishing companies in the world. While there, he helped start the careers of artists like Kim Carnes.
In 1977, Eddie Reeves started his own music company. He managed artists and published music. He worked with Kim Carnes and Jules Shear. After a few years, he returned to Amarillo, Texas. He managed real estate there for four years.
In 1984, he joined Warner Bros. Records. He worked there for 16 years. For ten of those years, he was an Executive Vice President. He helped launch the careers of many country music stars. These included Faith Hill, Randy Travis, and Dwight Yoakam. He also helped continue the success of artists like Hank Williams, Jr. and Emmylou Harris. He retired from Warner Bros. in 1999 when he was 60 years old.
Writing and Personal Life
After retiring, Eddie Reeves moved to Winnipeg, Canada. He started putting together his collection of over 100 songs. He also began working on a book. He called himself a "word wrestler" because writing was sometimes a challenge. His book, When Sin Stops, shared life stories and thoughts with his friends and family.
Eddie Reeves had four children: Rhonda, Marc, Natalie, and Sophie. He spent his last ten years in Houston, Texas, with his wife, Lena Shammas. She is also a singer and songwriter.
Death
Eddie Reeves passed away on November 18, 2018, at the age of 79. He died in Houston, Texas, surrounded by his family. He had requested that his ashes be scattered in Middle Fork Lake in New Mexico.
