Marvin Rainwater facts for kids

Marvin Karlton Rainwater (born July 2, 1925 – died September 17, 2013) was a famous American singer and songwriter. He sang country and rockabilly music. He had many hit songs in the late 1950s. Two of his most famous songs were "Gonna Find Me a Bluebird" and "Whole Lotta Woman." "Whole Lotta Woman" even reached number one in the UK! Marvin was also known for wearing cool outfits inspired by Native American clothing when he performed. He said he had some Cherokee family history.

Marvin Rainwater's Story

Growing Up and Starting Music

Marvin Rainwater was born in Wichita, Kansas. He grew up during the Great Depression, which was a tough time. He also lived in Alabama and Oklahoma. When he was a kid, he took classical piano lessons. But he had an accident as a teenager and lost part of his right thumb. This stopped his piano lessons.

Marvin first wanted to be a veterinarian, which is an animal doctor. He also served in the Navy during World War II. After the war, he learned to play the guitar. He loved the music of Roy Acuff and started writing his own songs. He played concerts in Virginia with his brothers. Sometimes, he wore a buckskin jacket and a headband on stage.

A rising guitarist named Roy Clark worked with Marvin. They made some demo recordings for 4 Star Records. A famous pop singer, Teresa Brewer, turned one of Marvin's songs, "I Gotta Go Get My Baby," into a big hit.

Marvin got his big chance on Arthur Godfrey's TV and radio shows. He won first place on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts in 1955. He then became a regular on ABC-TV's Ozark Jubilee show for several years. He signed with MGM Records and recorded many songs. His energy and singing style helped him record rockabilly songs too.

His Most Famous Years (Late 1950s)

Marvin Rainwater became one of the most popular country stars in the late 1950s. His good looks and deep baritone voice made him very popular. One of his first country songs was "Gonna Find Me a Bluebird," which he wrote himself.

This song came out in 1957. It became a huge hit that was popular with both country and pop music fans. This made Marvin one of the first country singers to be liked by pop audiences. The song reached number 3 on the country music charts and number 18 on the pop charts. It sold over one million copies by 1957. This earned Marvin his first gold record.

After this success, Marvin moved to the New Jersey and New York area. In 1957, he sang a duet with Connie Francis called "The Majesty of Love." This song also sold over one million copies. His next song, "So You Think You Got Troubles," was popular on the country charts.

His song "Whole Lotta Woman" reached number 1 in the UK in 1958. It stayed there for three weeks! Another UK song, "I Dig You Baby," reached number 19. "Nothin' Needs Nothin' (Like I Need You)" was also a hit on the US Country chart.

Marvin toured and performed a lot during the rest of the 1950s. In 1959, he earned three more gold records. These were for "My Love Is Real," "My Brand Of Blues," and "Half Breed." He also recorded "The Pale Faced Indian," which later became a hit for other artists. Marvin even recorded some songs with his younger sister, Patty Rainwater.

Marvin's voice started to have problems, and he developed calluses on his vocal cords. Because of this, he stopped working with MGM Records in 1960. He took a short break to rest his voice. Then he recorded for other labels like Warwick Records (United Kingdom), United Artists, Warner Bros., and Sonet. He even started his own record company called Brave Records.

Later Years

In the 1970s, Marvin Rainwater got throat cancer. He slowly got better from it. He moved to Aitkin, Minnesota. He sometimes performed at rockabilly festivals in Europe. His fans still loved his music.

Marvin Rainwater was honored by being the 73rd person inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.

He passed away from heart failure on September 17, 2013, in Minneapolis. Marvin had five children. He was survived by his third wife, Sheree.

Marvin's Musical Influence

Many other artists have covered Marvin Rainwater's songs. For example, Mike Ness covered "Gamblin' Man" on his album Under the Influences in 1999. Harry Nilsson covered "So You Think You've Got Troubles."

"Gonna Find Me a Bluebird" was covered by Petula Clark in 1957. Steve Young also covered it in 1969. Marvin's song "Hot and Cold" was even played on Bob Dylan's radio show, Theme Time Radio Hour.

The famous British guitarist Hank Marvin got his stage name in honor of Marvin Rainwater.

Discography

Hit Singles

Albums Released

• 1957 Songs By Marvin Rainwater (MGM E3534)
• 1958 Marvin Rainwater Sings With a Heart – With a Beat (MGM E3721)
• 1960 Sing for You (Audio Lab)
• 1962 Gonna Find Me A Bluebird (MGM E4046)
• 1963 Marvin Rainwater (Crown CST307)
• 1970 Country's Favorite Singer (Mount Vernon MVM146)
• 1972 Gets Country Fever (Philips)

See also

In Spanish: Marvin Rainwater para niños