Eddie Eastman

Eastman, Eddie

Eddie (Edward Clive) Eastman, (b Rowsell). Singer, songwriter, guitarist, b Terra Nova, near Gander, Nfld, 15 Jul 1949. He performed and recorded during the early 1970s with the Country Ducats in St John's before moving in 1975 to Toronto. Taking the stagename Eastman there, he had a series of hits 1979-82 for the Bel Air label (of Bramalea, Ont) including 'Eastbound 401,' 'Easy,' 'Love Is Such an Easy Word to Say,' and 'I Think I'll Say Goodbye' (from Easy, BA-1000), and 'Liftin' Me Up, Lettin' Me Down' and 'Your Used to Be' (from Eddie Eastman, BA-1001/CBS PCC-90598).

His greatest success has been the Gilles Godard song 'From the Bar Room to the Bedroom,' issued by Bel Air in 1982 and included on the LP Intimate Strangers (Diamond DR3-0004, whose title song and 'Loving You, Needing You' were also popular). Eastman's duet with Carroll Baker, 'Too Hot to Sleep Tonight,' was a modest hit in 1983. Other LPs followed in 1985 (The Winning Side, Artisan AP1-85001) and 1987 (Eddie Eastman's Greatest Hits, Book Shop BSR-33-753).

Eastman starred 1984-6 on his own CBC St. John's TV series and has been seen on many other TV shows in Canada and from Nashville. He has sung in nightclubs and bars across Canada, performed in Nashville and other US cities, and toured in England. In 1987 he moved to Nashville, where he has continued to record for Book Shop (eg, 'Baby's Got a Brand New Car' and 'Big Fool for Lovin' You,' popular in 1991). Eastman received Big Country awards for 1978 (outstanding new artist) and 1981 (outstanding performance by a country male singer) and Juno Awards in 1981 and 1983 as country male vocalist.