European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 13, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Jersey boy sings country by Joe Edwards associated press despite 15 albums and 26 no. 1 hits Singer Eddie Rabbitt is still searching for Security in the music business. A after All this time i still feel like i m trying to a make it a Quot the 45-year-old country music Singer says. In an Industry of ego and hype it s a refreshing statement from a performer with an impressive resume. In a 16-year career Rabbitt has recorded no. 1 records including i love a Rainy night that topped both the pop and country music charts. He has starred in two network to specials and was the Centrepiece in a widely played Beer commercial that touted him As much As the product. And As a prolific songwriter he has written most of the songs on his records plus Kentucky rain Elvis Presley s 50th Gold record. Rabbitt reviews these accomplishments with an understated detachment that he feels has contributed to his Success. A i guess in a just one of those people who Are never quite satisfied Quot he says. Quot i always want to do something a Little better the next time. Quot i think if you Start to feel secure you done to do As Well a writer has to keep one foot in the Street and one pocket empty and be hungry for  Rabbitts Tenor voice carried him to the top of the country charts in february with on second thought which also was an award winning music video. Among his other hits Are the wanderer someone could lose a heart tonight suspicions and step by step. Two of his hit songs made movie soundtracks every which Way but Loose was the title Cut of the Clint Eastwood film and driving my life away was in Roadie. His current up Jersey boy is what he Calls a a the Best album in be done in a Long Long time. I am a Jersey boy who loved country music when i was growing up. I heard it on the radio and just took to  Rabbitt was born in Brooklyn n.y., but was raised in East Orange . He is Irish and the family name Means Quot Counselor to  he left Home for Nashville in 1968 on a bus with $1,000 in his pocket but no contacts no Job and no place to stay. His first night in town he wrote a song titled working my Way up to the Bottom while soaking in a Bathtub in a scruffy hotel. Within Days the song was recorded by country Singer Roy Drusky. But it was when Presley released Kentucky country Star Eddie Rabbitt says he a still trying to a make in in die music business. Rain in 1970 that Rabbitt really Drew attention to himself. Quot it moved me up a notch Quot he recalls. Quot it was one of my proudest moments having Elvis Presley record his 50th Gold record. It made my Mother and father real proud. I think they Felt their son was going to make  the 1981 Beer commercial showed Rabbitt singing / love a Rainy night which helped the song As Well As the brew. Quot it went right through the roof Quot he says  no 1 pop two weeks in a Row which was pretty unbelievable for a country Type Singer. Quot All of a sudden i was a pop act. When that faded people started asking a what Ever happened to Eddie Rabbitt he a still having no. 1 records on the country Chart. People who done to listen to country music would t know  Rabbitts Jersey boy displays the versatility of his Basic country style. On second thought is a swinging dance oriented Cut. Tennessee born and bred has a Bluegrass feel with fiddle and mandolin solos. Feel like a stranger has a blues touch while it s lonely out tonight is a country Rocker. Runnin1 with the wind has a wild and free feeling of the Highway reminiscent of his driving my life a Way. He a planning an album designed for children. Its an outgrowth of what he does at Home in the company of his children age 8 and 3 Quot i sing to them so much when they take a  next guitar hero is Only 10 years old by Carlos Vidal Greth Cox news service when blues guitarist Jake Andrews played several weeks ago at Antone a a blues club in Austin tex., he stood on a piano Stool to perform the late Freddie Kings hit song hide away. He was t showing off. At the time he was 9 years old and that was the Only Way the crowd at the Back of the club could see him. The fans who expected a cute Novelty act were flabbergasted when they heard the sounds produced by the precocious musician. Quot guitar Jake a As he is sometimes called has jammed four times at Antone s. In february he played in a Benefit for musician Roky Erikson one of the founders of the Texas psychedelic music movement Jake was introduced As Quot Texas next guitar  though that May be premature Jake has played with a number of heroes in the blues world including buddy Guy Albert King and Albert Collins. The 10-year-old attends private school and lives in a comfortable West Austin Home with a storybook family. Like most of his Peers Jake enjoys swinging a baseball Bat swapping sports cards running Model trains watching the wonder years and munching cheeseburgers. So what does this kid know about the Down and dirty Funky feeling lonesome and Lovesick blues Well while Jake is a regular kid he clearly is not Standard Issue. When he pipes out Quot one two three Quot and launches into a song Jake seems to travel to the world inhabited by . King and other blues musicians. Quot the blues allow me to express my feelings Quot Jake said. Quot sometimes its sad but its always How i  musicians who have played with Jake including Sarah Brown a Bass player with Antone a House band have been impressed by the lads ability to get inside the music. Quot if he does no to lose interest id say he a going to be pretty hot stuff Quot Brown said. Jake Learned his first song Chuck Berry a 1958 hit Johnny b. Goode in the first Grade. At first it looked like a new Rock Star was in the making. In second Grade Jake attended a halloween party at school disguised As buddy Holly. He serenaded the class with the help of a portable amplifier on his Belt playing and singing the music of Holly and Richie Valens that he Learned Over the summer. But when dad John Andrews taught him to play a Freddie King tune Jake dropped Rock like a scorned Over and embraced the blues with Alt the passion an elementary school kid can Muster. A to happiest with my music when in a playing with my dad or when i play Antone a Quot said Jake who plays but does no to sing. A when in a playing for grown ups i never get nervous. In a kind of nervous when i play for my friends. I guess its because grown ups take it seriously. My friends  Jakes guitar instructor Dave Sebree still shakes his head Over the time his student Learned to play one of Charlie Parker s most challenging songs scrapple from the Apple in half an hour. Quot when i Learned it i was 15 and struggled with it m you  believe a said Sebree Leader of the jazz band native Sun. A Jake hears things that professions musicians can t  Jake s mom Kay Lynn Andrews is both delighted and affrighted by her boy s Talent. She said she knew he had something special when she saw him Captiva an adult audience who clapped and yelled. I Quot so far his Talent Hasni to affected his personality said mrs. Andrews 36. Quot he a a Sweet natured Normal kid. Though he knows he is Good once he comes o stage he would just As soon play video games. But John Andrews a former professional musician said that he feels protective of his songs childhood. Quot musicians Lead a Tough life Quot said Andrews has a big Talent but other things come first. I want to go to  Page 16 a a a the stars and stripes wednesday june 13,1990