- Although he wasn't a smoker, he died of lung cancer as a result of performing in smoky clubs for most of his career
- First generation American. His parents were from Ireland.
- His first son died at 23 months of after a liver transplant in 1985.
- Was named Top New Male Vocalist by the Academy of Country Music Awards in 1977.
- After his parents divorced, he dropped out of school at age 16. His mother, Mae, explained that Eddie "was never one for school [because] his head was too full of music." He later obtained a high-school diploma at night school.
- Sang "Drivin' My Life Away" for two movies: "Roadie" and "Black Dog"
- Won an American Music Award for Best Male Pop Vocalist in 1981.
- To support himself, Rabbitt worked as a truck driver, soda jerk and fruit picker in Nashville. He was ultimately hired as a staff writer for the Hill & Range Publishing Company for $37.50 per week.
- By age 12, Rabbitt was a proficient guitar player, having been taught by his scoutmaster, Bob Scwickrath.
- He also recorded under the Warner Brothers label.
- While eating Cap'n Crunch, he penned "Pure Love", which Ronnie Milsap rode to number one in 1974.
- In 1964, he signed his first record deal with 20th Century Records and released the singles "Next to the Note" and "Six Nights and Seven Days". Four years later, with $1,000 to his name, Rabbitt moved to Nashville, where he began his career as a songwriter.
- His career began as a songwriter in the late 1960s, springboarding to a recording career after composing hits such as "Kentucky Rain" for Elvis Presley in 1970 and "Pure Love" for Ronnie Milsap in 1974.
- During his childhood Rabbitt became a self-proclaimed "walking encyclopedia of country music".
- Rabbitt worked as a mental hospital attendant in the late 1950s, but like his father, he fulfilled his love of music by performing at the Six Steps Down club in his hometown. He later won a talent contest and was given an hour of Saturday night radio show time to broadcast a live performance from a bar in Paterson, New Jersey.
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