Rusty York is an American musician and member of the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. Rusty York achieved Hall of Fame status with his Rockabilly song "Sugaree." The rockabilly phase was a minor success, but by the 1960s, York had returned to bluegrass and country. He also began to cultivate an interest in the business end of country and in 1961 started building a studio in his garage. By the early '70s York had retired from performing to concentrate on his Jewel Records imprint/studio full-time. Jewel continued to operate out of Cincinnati throughout the 1980s and '90s, and into the 21st century.

Becoming a musician

At a young age Rusty's father bought him a guitar and taught him the one chord he knew; but for the most part young York was self-taught. He listened to the Grand Ole Opry on Saturday nights and to the Mid-Day Merry-Go-Round and Cas Walker programs from Knoxville radio. A 1951 concert appearance by Earl Scruggs & the Foggy Mountain Boys inspired the already musically curious York, who, after moving to Cincinnati, bought a five-string banjo and began to play out. His first collaborator was Willard Hale, and the duo gigged locally with acts like Jimmie Skinner

Jimmie Skinner

Jimmie Skinner was an American country and bluegrass music singer and guitarist. He also was known for a mail-order record business and retail store in Cincinnati, Ohio.-Biography:...

 and Hylo Brown

Hylo Brown

Hylo Brown was a bluegrass and country music singer, guitarist and bass player.-Biography:Frank "Hylo" Brown was born in River, Kentucky and began his career as a performer on radio station WCMI in Ashland, Kentucky in 1939. Soon, he moved to WLOG in Logan, West Virginia and their "Saturday...

. When Elvis Presley broke in 1957, York decided that an update in sound was necessary. He and Hale cut a version of Buddy Holly's "Peggy Sue" for King, which led to York's teaming with vocalist Bonnie Lout in a rockabilly project. 1959 saw the recording of two of York's most rollicking numbers, "Red Rooster" and "Sugaree." The rockabilly phase was a minor success, but by the 1960s, York had returned to bluegrass and country. He also began to cultivate an interest in the business end of country and in 1961 started building a studio in his garage. By the early '70s York had retired from performing to concentrate on his Jewel Records imprint/studio full-time. Jewel continued to operate out of Cincinnati throughout the 1980s and '90s, and into the 21st century.

Discography

• 1960 - Rust York and the Kentucky Mountain Boys
• 1968 - Sings Like Crazy
• 1973 - Dueling Banjos
• 1981 - Rock 'n' Memories
• 2001 - Early Bluegrass
• 2004 - Rusty Rocks

Rusty Today

Although Rusty has been diagnosed with the early stages of Alzheimer's Disease he continues to play music and remains friends with many of the other artists with whom he has risen to fame. After selling Jewell Records, the family's long time recording studio, Rusty and his family have recently relocated from Southern Ohio to the State of Florida.

Musical contributions

Shake 'Em Up Baby
Peggy Sue
Sugaree
Red Rooster
The Lock On Your Heart
Don't Do It
Sadie-Mae
Margaret Ann
That's What I Need
Just Like You
Love Struck
Goodnight [!!] Cincinnati, Goodmorning [!!] Tennessee
Tore Up Over You
Tremblin'
I Might Just Walk Right Back Again
Sally Was A Good Old Girl
Big Man, Big House
Crazy
Sing The Girls A Song, Bill

External links