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Current Events and Musings => Music => Topic started by: texasmom on January 23, 2010, 02:49:20 PM



Title: RUSTY WIER ( May 3, 1944 – October 9, 2009 )
Post by: texasmom on January 23, 2010, 02:49:20 PM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rusty_Wier

Russell Allen "Rusty" Wier

Russell Allen "Rusty" Wier (May 3, 1944 – October 9, 2009) was an American singer-songwriter from Austin, Texas.

Wier's career dates back to the 1970s and covers multiple music genres. He is most famous for his composition Don't It Make You Wanna Dance which was a minor pop hit for him, but has been covered by, among others, Jerry Jeff Walker, Chris LeDoux, John Hiatt, and Barbara Mandrell.  Bonnie Raitt's version of the song was a country hit when it was included on the Urban Cowboy soundtrack. Wier was inducted into the Austin Music Awards Hall of Fame in 2002.

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/statesman/obituary.aspx?n=rusty-wier&pid=134202032

Rusty Wier

Hearing was musician Rusty Wier's last sense to go, so although he was unresponsive when surrounded by relatives and friends, including Jerry Jeff Walker, at his son Coby's house in Driftwood on Thursday night, Wier tried to raise up his head when the group sang "Amazing Grace."

By the next morning the Austin musician, who had a hit when Bonnie Raitt covered his "Don't It Make You Wanna Dance" on the soundtrack to "Urban Cowboy," was dead after a two-year battle with cancer. He was 65.

"There's this myth about the hippies and the rednecks meeting at the Armadillo and passing joints and Lone Stars to each other," Austin musician John Inmon said. "But the rednecks and hippies were the same people. That was Rusty. He was a redneck son of Central Texas, but he was also a hippie."

Although Wier got his own chapter in Jan Reid's book "The Improbable Rise of Redneck Rock," which chronicled Austin's "cosmic cowboy" scene of the '70s, Wier's contribution to Austin music goes back to the mid-'60s. As a student at Southwest Texas State, the Manchaca-raised Wier was recruited to play drums in the Wig, Austin's answer to the Monkees. He later played drums and sang in the Lavender Hill Express, a popular country/rock cover band.

But he wanted to step out front. "One day he just gave up the drums and started woodshedding on guitar," said Inmon, who played with Wier in the trio of Rusty, Layton and John. "He locked himself in a room and practiced and practiced. He was a natural entertainer, so he could get his music across, but it took him awhile to get good."

He established himself in the early '70s as a folk singer with rock 'n' roll eyes and a ever-present, low-crowned black hat. Wier's first three albums - Stoned, Slow, Rugged in 1974, Don't It Make You Wanna Dance in 1975, and Black Hat Saloon in 1976 - came out on three different major labels.

But in the clubs is where he made his money.

"Bartenders loved Rusty," musician Bob Livingston said. "He had this thing during his show where he'd hold up a shot of tequila and everybody would go to the bar to buy their shots. Bar business was always good when Rusty played." Wier played the Saxon Pub every Thursday for almost 15 years, almost never missing a gig, owner Joe Ables said.

"He played the Saxon one last time in March," Ables said. "He was so sick I had to carry him to his wheelchair, but he was in a great mood. People had come from all over to see him. He truly got to find out that he was loved."

A memorial service will probably take place at the Saxon, Ables said, though details are still being worked out with the family.

He's survived by four children from four different wives, Inmon said.

Michael Corcoran, American-Statesman; mcorcoran@statesman.com; 445-3652

Published in Austin American-Statesman from October 9 to October 14, 2009

http://www.ronwadephotography.com/about.html

(http://www.ronwadephotography.com/Rusty_Wier_3_437x600.jpg)

Rusty, we love you and we'll miss you everyday. We can't thank you enough  for all the smiles and laughter throughout the years.  Your family remains in our thoughts and prayers.  We'll meet again, old friend.
 
                                                    Ron & Cheryl


Title: Re: RUSTY WIER ( May 3, 1944 – October 9, 2009 )
Post by: texasmom on January 23, 2010, 03:09:46 PM
In the early 80's my "then" boyfriend introduced me to Rusty Wier's music.  He'd grown to love him from his many visits to Austin in the mid 70's.  His "Black Hat Saloon", "Stoned, Slow, & Rugged", or "Stacked Deck" eight tracks (lol) and/or albums were always in the tape deck and/or turntable.  Before long I was singing along too.  We married in 1983 and were thrilled when we had the opportunity to see Rusty Wier live here in East Texas.  I'll always cherish that memory.  He was a very enthusiastic entertainer that had us all singing along with him, and smiling ear to ear. 

I was so sorry to hear of his cancer diagnosis, and just in the last week read the news of his passing.  He will be missed, but his music will live on forever.

Rusty Wier - Don't it Make You Wanna Dance (live 1990)
http://www.youtube.com/v/yyMyJJyKc3o&hl=en_US&fs=1&


Title: Re: RUSTY WIER ( May 3, 1944 – October 9, 2009 )
Post by: MuffyBee on January 23, 2010, 09:49:18 PM
I remember some great times listening to Rusty Weir play in Austin.    One time I was in a hamburger place on N. Lamar called 2J's and Rusty was at the counter buying an ice cream cone for his son.  The place had cheap and decent chicken fried steak, and the best part was that there were little horses like from a carousel with metal trays on their heads, so children could sit on the horses and eat.  Ahh, thanks for the memories.   The Saxon Pub is still going strong.