Marvin Rainwater

Marvin Karlton Rainwater to Stella (née Miller) and Cicero Percy Rainwater, and grew up during the Great Depression. He also lived in Alabama and Muskogee, Oklahoma. As a child he took classical piano lessons, which ended after he lost part of his right thumb to a work accident as a teenager. He had a regular role on ABC-TV's Ozark Jubilee for several years in Springfield, Missouri beginning in 1955. During the song's success, Rainwater relocated to the New Jersey-New York area. His next single, "So You Think You Got Troubles", was a successful follow-up on the country charts, but not on the pop charts. His self-penned "Whole Lotta Woman" reached UK No. 1 for three weeks in April and May 1958. A second UK single, "I Dig You Baby", made No. 19 in June 1958. In 1959, Rainwater recorded another Loudermilk song, "The Pale Faced Indian". His original version went unnoticed, but later efforts by Don Fardon and Paul Revere & The Raiders under the title "Indian Reservation" were hits. Marvin recorded a number of songs with his little sister Patty Rainwater who was almost 12 years his junior. They recorded songs like "Down In The Cellar" as well as some of Patty's compositions like "Because I'm A Dreamer" and "Two Fools In Love".

His voice began to give out, and he developed calluses on his vocal cords. Marvin had children by his first wife, and three by his second. He was survived by his third wife.

Legacy Rainwater's song "Gamblin' Man" was covered by Mike Ness on his 1999 album, Under the Influences. "So You Think You've Got Troubles" was covered by Harry Nilsson, as evidenced on his 1966 Spotlight on Nilsson compilation album. "Gonna Find Me a Bluebird" was covered by Petula Clark in 1957 and by Steve Young on his 1969 album, Rock Salt & Nails. "Hot and Cold" was featured on Bob Dylan's radio show, Theme Time Radio Hour.

The British guitarist Hank Marvin derived his stage surname in honor of Marvin Rainwater.

Discography Singles Year Single Peak chart positions US Country US UK1957"Gonna Find Me a Bluebird"318—"So You Think You've Got Troubles"flip——"The Majesty of Love" (with Connie Francis)—93—1958"Whole Lotta Woman"15601"I Dig You Baby"——19"Nothin' Needs Nothin' (Like I Need You)"11——1959"Half-Breed"1666—1961"I Can't Forget"—119—

Albums 1957 Songs By Marvin Rainwater (MGM E3534) 1958 Marvin Rainwater Sings With a Heart – With a Beat (MGM E3721) (1985:Bear Family BFX 15132) 1960 Sing for You (Audio Lab) 1962 Gonna Find Me A Bluebird (MGM E4046) 1963 Marvin Rainwater (Crown CST307) 1985 Rockin' Rollin' (Bear Family BFX15079) (MGM Whole Lotta Woman) 1970 Country's Favorite Singer (Mount Vernon MVM146) 1972 Gets Country Fever (Philips) 1981 Whatever Happened to Marvin Rainwater (Mark IV Records RR-42156)