Eddy Raven - Biography

Biography

Edward Garvin Futch was born in Lafayette, Louisiana, on August 19, 1944, as one of 11 children. Influenced by Cajun music, the country music sounds from popular radio broadcasts such as the Louisiana Hayride, New Orleans blues, and the new sounds of rock and roll, Raven first played in a band at age thirteen. Raven later went to work for a radio station in Georgia, where in 1962 he self-released the single "Once a Fool" under the name Eddy Raven. When his family moved back to Louisiana, Raven worked at a record store called La Louisianne, where he recorded and released his first album, That Cajun Country Sound.

Raven's record was heard by Jimmy C. Newman, who helped him sign to a publishing contract with Acuff-Rose Music. There, he wrote hit tunes for Don Gibson, Connie Smith, Jeannie C. Riley, and many others. He also wrote The Oak Ridge Boys' 1982 single "Thank God for Kids". Eventually, he moved to Nashville, Tennessee where he started recording for himself in 1974, having charted hits on ABC Records, including three albums and the No. 27 single "Good News, Bad News." He later recorded for Monument Records and then Dimension Records, where he released the album Eyes, although none of its chart singles were major hits.