Marvin Karlton Rainwater[1][2] (July 2, 1925 – September 17, 2013)[3] was an American country and rockabilly singer and songwriter who had several hits during the late 1950s, including the self-penned "Gonna Find Me a Bluebird" and "Whole Lotta Woman," which hit #1 on the UK Singles Chart.
He was known for wearing Native American fashion-themed outfits on stage and claimed to have quarter-blood Cherokee ancestry.
[4] As a child, instead of listening to the Grand Ole Opry with his father, he took classical piano lessons, which ended after he lost part of his right thumb to a work accident as a teenager.
[3] Rising guitarist Roy Clark worked with Rainwater and together they cut a few demos for 4 Star Records.
[3] Pop singer Teresa Brewer turned his composition "I Gotta Go Get My Baby" into a big hit.
[5] He had a regular role on ABC-TV's Ozark Jubilee for several years in Springfield, Missouri beginning in 1955.
Rainwater was one of country's most noteworthy stars in the late 1950s, when his good looks and baritone voice made him popular.
[1][3] Released in 1957, the song became a big country-pop crossover hit, making Rainwater among the first country singers to appeal to a pop market.
His original version went unnoticed, but later efforts by Don Fardon and Paul Revere & The Raiders under the title "Indian Reservation" were hits.
"Gonna Find Me a Bluebird" was covered by Petula Clark in 1957 and by Steve Young on his 1969 album, Rock Salt & Nails.