Gene Watson Peer's Quote from Eddy Raven: November 2005
Gene Watson's peers within the country music industry believe in the sheer talent of this unassuming man from east Texas, so much so that Gene is regarded by many of them as 'the singer's singer' - and rightly so!
All of Gene Watson's Peers who were contacted during 2005 were most gracious with their time and words. It is here, within this special part of the Gene Watson Fan Site, that you have an opportunity to read a quote from Eddy Raven, which he submitted to this site on Tuesday 1 November 2005.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say 'thank you' to Eddy Raven who has made a special contribution to a unique part of this online 'celebration of a Lone Star Hero'.
Eddy Raven
This quote was submitted on Tuesday 1 November 2005.
'Gene is such a great singer. He has been my favourite country singer for years.
I'm proud to call him my friend and feel lucky to have had him record a few of my songs'.
Thank you, Eddy Raven, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Eddy Raven...
Eddy Raven, who was born Edward Garvin Futch in Louisiana on Saturday 19 August 1944, picked up the name 'Raven' when he made his first record for Cosmos Records in Georgia.
Eddy Raven moved from Louisiana to Nashville in the summer of 1970, and song-writing, rather than recording, was his primary objective. Don Gant got Eddy started at Acuff-Rose Music and one of Raven's greatest achievements was when Roy Acuff (Tuesday 15 September 1903 - Monday 23 November 1992) recorded his 'Back In The Country' on Hickory Records in 1974.
Don Gibson (Tuesday 3 April 1928 - Monday 17 November 2003) recorded Eddy Raven's 'Country Green' and included the track on 'Country Green' (Hickory Records, 1971); the track reached the Top 5 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1971.
Jeannie C. Riley recorded Eddy Raven's 'Good Morning Country Rain' and included the track on 'Down To Earth' (MGM Records, 1972).
Jeannie C. Riley recorded Eddy Raven's 'Small Country Towns' and included the track on 'Down To Earth' (MGM Records, 1972).
Don Gibson (Tuesday 3 April 1928 - Monday 17 November 2003) recorded Eddy Raven's 'Touch The Morning' and included the track on 'Touch The Morning / That's What I'll Do' (Hickory Records, 1973); the track reached the Top 5 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1973.
Jeannie C. Riley recorded Eddy Raven's 'Sam' and included the track on 'Just Jeannie' (MGM Records, 1973).
Roy Acuff (Tuesday 15 September 1903 - Monday 23 November 1992) recorded Eddy Raven's 'Old Time Sunshine Song' and included the track on 'Back To The Country' (Hickory Records, 1974).
Moe Bandy recorded Eddy Raven's 'Somebody That Good' (co-written with Ray Baker) and included the track on 'It Was Always So Easy' (GRC Records, 1974).
Moe Bandy recorded Eddy Raven's 'One Thing Leads To Another' and included the track on 'It Was Always So Easy' (GRC Records, 1974).
Eddy Raven first hit the Billboard county music singles chart as a recording artist in his own right in 1974 and turned out a steady stream of records on a variety of labels.
Connie Smith recorded Eddy Raven's 'Back In The Country' and included the track on 'I Got A Lot of Hurtin' Done Today' (Columbia Records, 1975).
Connie Smith recorded Eddy Raven's 'You'll See Jesus' and included the track on 'I Got A Lot of Hurtin' Done Today' (Columbia Records, 1975).
Connie Smith recorded Eddy Raven's 'I Don't Wanna Talk It Over Anymore' and included the track on 'I Don't Wanna Talk It Over Anymore' (Columbia Records, 1975).
Connie Smith recorded Eddy Raven's 'Latest Shade Of Blue' and included the track on 'I Don't Wanna Talk It Over Anymore' (Columbia Records, 1975).
Moe Bandy recorded Eddy Raven's 'I Sure Don't Need That Memory Tonight' and included the track on 'Bandy The Rodeo Clown' (GRC Records, 1975).
Moe Bandy recorded Eddy Raven's 'Fais Do Do' and included the track on 'Bandy The Rodeo Clown' (GRC Records, 1975).
Moe Bandy recorded Eddy Raven's 'Goodbye On Your Mind' and included the track on 'Bandy The Rodeo Clown' (GRC Records, 1975).
Moe Bandy recorded Eddy Raven's 'Please Take Her Home' and included the track on 'Here I Am Drunk Again' (Columbia Records, 1976).
Eddy Raven wrote 'Sometimes I Talk In My Sleep' for Randy Cornor; the track was included on Randy's 'My First Album' in 1976.
Faron Young (Thursday 25 February 1932 - Tuesday 10 December 1996) recorded Eddy Raven's 'Please Take Her home' and included the track on 'That Young Feeling' (Mercury Records, 1978).
Gene Watson recorded Eddy Raven's 'We Robbed Trains' and included the track on 'No One will Ever Know' (Capitol Records, 1980).
It wasn't, however, until the release of the 'Desperate Dreams' album in 1981 that Eddy Raven managed to crack the Billboard country music Top 20.
Eddy Raven then recorded an album for Elektra Records, but it was never released. He then took a year and a half off during which time he realigned his management, established his own publishing company and gained a new recording contract.
In July 1981, Merle Haggard saw the release of 'Rainbow Stew Live At Anaheim Stadium' (MCA Records, 1981), which included 'Dealing With The Devil' (written by Eddy Raven and Sanger D. Schafer).
Eddy Raven was subsequently released from his Elektra contract when Elektra and Warner Bros. merged in January 1983. It was also at this time that The Oak Ridge Boys scored a Billboard Top 5 hit with Eddy's 'Thank God For Kids'.
Eddy Raven moved to RCA Records where he achieved his first No.1 Billboard country music hit as an recording artist in his own right; 'I Got Mexico' was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in June 1984.
Between June 1984 and October 1987, Eddy Raven racked up eight Top 10 singles on the Billboard country music singles chart, including 'She's Gonna Win Your Heart', 'You Should Have Been Gone By Now', 'Sometimes A Lady' and 'You're Never Too Old For Young Love'.
Waylon Jennings (Tuesday 15 June 1937 - Wednesday 13 February 2002) recorded Eddy Raven's 'Sweet Mother Texas' (co-written with Sanger D. Shafer) and included the track on 'Sweet Mother Texas' (RCA Records, 1986).
Eddy Raven's next Billboard No.1 country music hit was 'Shine, Shine, Shine'; the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in October 1987.
Further No.1 hits on the Billboard country music singles chart included 'I'm Gonna Get You' (No.1 for one week in May 1988), 'Joe Know How To Live' (No.1 for one week in September 1988), 'In A Letter To You' (No.1 for one week in July 1989) and 'Bayou Boys' (No.1 for one week in November 1989).
Rhonda Vincent recorded Eddy Raven's 'Good Morning Country Rain' and included the track on 'New Dreams And Sunshine' (Rebel Records, 1989).
Overall, Eddy Raven enjoyed his time in the limelight as a country music artist; he achieved seven Billboard No.1s, along with fourteen Billboard Top 10 hits. Eddy Raven also saw the release of twenty-two albums between 1984 and the end of the 1980s.
In 1988, Eddy Raven saw the release of the compilation album 'The Best Of Eddy Raven'; the album included Steve Bogard's 'Til You Cry', which reached No.4 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1988.
Eddy Raven is an acclaimed songwriter and has had his compositions recorded by various country music artists, including the following:
Don Gibson (Tuesday 3 April 1928 - Monday 17 November 2003)
Jeannie C. Riley
Waylon Jennings (Tuesday 15 June 1937 - Wednesday 13 February 2002)
Tanya Tucker
Chris LeDoux (Saturday 2 October 1948 - Wednesday 9 March 2005)
Lorrie Morgan
Johnny Cash (Friday 26 February 1932 - Friday 12 September 2003)
Lynn Anderson
Connie Smith
Faron Young (Thursday 25 February 1932 - Tuesday 10 December 1996)
The Oak Ridge Boys
Moe Bandy
George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 - Friday 26 April 2013) recorded Eddy Raven's 'I Should Have Called' (co-written with Linda Hargrove) and included the track on 'Shine On' (Epic Records, 1983).
Tommy Cash recorded Eddy Raven's 'Thank God For Kids' and included the track on 'Solid Gold Country' (Crazy Country Records, 1996).
Gene Watson recorded Eddy Raven's 'This Circus That You Call A Rodeo' and included the track on 'From The Heart' (RMG Records, 2001); RMG Records was co-owned by Eddy Raven and Larry Barnett and their wives.
Tony Booth recorded Eddy Raven's 'Sometimes I Talk In My Sleep' and included the track on 'The Other Side of Love' (Heart of Texas Records, 2010).
George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 - Friday 26 April 2013) re-recorded Eddy Raven's 'I Should Have Called' (co-written with Linda Hargrove), with Keith Stegall producing, in 2006; the track was subsequently included on 'George Jones: Hits' (Bandit Records, 2011).
Visit Eddy Raven's Official Site