Leon Rusk
Encyclopedia
Malcolm Leon Rusk was a 1940s country singer and music writer. He was born in Canyon, Texas
and died, aged 28, in an accident near Tulia, Texas
.
He had been badly injured during World War II
and began a musical career after the war recording for King records
.
His recording, Air Mail Special On The Fly, has been covered by David Grisman
and Jim & Jesse
.
He wrote several songs with Merle Travis
including Petal From A Faded Rose which was variously recorded by Hank Snow
, Wilma Burgess
, Jimmy Dickens and George Morgan
. Another collaboration, Devil to Pay was recorded by both Johnny Cash
on his 1970 album Hello, I'm Johnny Cash
and by Kris Kristofferson
on the 1981 album To the Bone. Rusk himself recorded the joint effort Until Dawn (78 rpm B-side: Dream Train Engineer; King 546). In 1947, he was working at the Silver Spur in Los Angeles with Jack Rogers. They collaborated on a few tunes which Leon intended to record on the King label
Canyon, Texas
Canyon is a city in Randall County, Texas, United States. The population was 12,875 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Randall County. It is the home of West Texas A&M University and Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum. Palo Duro Canyon State Park is some twelve miles east of Canyon...
and died, aged 28, in an accident near Tulia, Texas
Tulia, Texas
Tulia is a city in, and county seat of, Swisher County, Texas, United States. The population was 5,117 at the 2000 census; in the 2005 census estimate, it had fallen to 4,714. The city is at the junction of U.S. Route 87 and Texas State Highway 86, approximately two miles east Interstate 27...
.
He had been badly injured during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and began a musical career after the war recording for King records
King Records (USA)
King Records is an American record label, started in 1943 by Syd Nathan and originally headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio.-History:At first it specialized in country music, at the time still known as "hillbilly music." King advertised, "If it's a King, It's a Hillbilly -- If it's a Hillbilly, it's a...
.
His recording, Air Mail Special On The Fly, has been covered by David Grisman
David Grisman
David Grisman is an American bluegrass/newgrass mandolinist and composer of acoustic music. In the early 1990s, he started the Acoustic Disc record label in an effort to preserve and spread acoustic or instrumental music.-Biography:Grisman grew up in Hackensack, New Jersey...
and Jim & Jesse
Jim & Jesse
Jim & Jesse were an American bluegrass music duo composed of brothers Jim McReynolds and Jesse McReynolds...
.
He wrote several songs with Merle Travis
Merle Travis
Merle Robert Travis was an American country and western singer, songwriter, and musician born in Rosewood, Kentucky. His lyrics often discussed the life and exploitation of coal miners. Among his many well-known songs are "Sixteen Tons", "Re-Enlistment Blues" and "Dark as a Dungeon"...
including Petal From A Faded Rose which was variously recorded by Hank Snow
Hank Snow
Clarence Eugene "Hank" Snow was a Canadian-American country music artist. He charted more than 70 singles on the Billboard country charts from 1950 until 1980...
, Wilma Burgess
Wilma Burgess
Wilma Burgess was an American country music singer. She rose to fame in the mid 1960s and charted fifteen singles on the Billboard C&W charts between 1965 and 1975.-Background:...
, Jimmy Dickens and George Morgan
George Morgan (singer)
George Thomas Morgan was a mid-20th century American country music singer. He is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame and a former member of the Grand Ole Opry.-Biography:...
. Another collaboration, Devil to Pay was recorded by both Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
on his 1970 album Hello, I'm Johnny Cash
Hello, I'm Johnny Cash
Hello, I'm Johnny Cash is an album released by country singer Johnny Cash on Columbia Records in 1970 . "If I Were a Carpenter", a famous duet with Cash's wife, June Carter Cash, earned the couple a Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in 1971 ; the song also...
and by Kris Kristofferson
Kris Kristofferson
Kristoffer "Kris" Kristofferson is an American musician, actor, and writer. He is known for hits such as "Me and Bobby McGee", "For the Good Times", "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down", and "Help Me Make It Through the Night"...
on the 1981 album To the Bone. Rusk himself recorded the joint effort Until Dawn (78 rpm B-side: Dream Train Engineer; King 546). In 1947, he was working at the Silver Spur in Los Angeles with Jack Rogers. They collaborated on a few tunes which Leon intended to record on the King label