Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

POCO’S RUSTY YOUNG DIES AT 75
UltimateClassicRock ^ | April 15, 2021 | Michael Galucci

Posted on 04/15/2021 2:48:07 PM PDT by nickcarraway

Rusty Young, a cofounder of Poco and the band's only constant member since its formation in 1968, has died. He was 75.

An official statement released by his record company notes that Young died yesterday of a heart attack at his home in Davisville, Mo.

Young was born Norman Russell Young on Feb. 23, 1946, in Long Beach, Calif., but was raised in Denver. He began playing lap steel when he was young and performed in various country and psych-rock bands during his teenage years.

By 1967, Young had relocated to Los Angeles, where he befriended Richie Furay, a member of Buffalo Springfield, who took him on as a road manager. That band was falling apart at the time and needed assistance putting together the pieces of its third and last album, Last Time Around. Young ended up playing pedal steel guitar on Furay's "Kind Woman," a highlight of that 1968 LP.

That same year, Young, Furay and another Buffalo Springfield member, Jim Messina, formed Poco. Their debut album, Pickin' Up the Pieces, was released in 1969 and marked one of the first records in the growing country-rock movement.

Over the next four decades, Poco released close to 20 albums. They went through even more personnel changes; among their alumni are two future Eagles: Randy Meisner and Timothy B. Schmit.

Poco placed 17 singles in the Top 100 through 1989, including 1979's "Crazy Love," which peaked at No. 17 and was the band's biggest hit. Their album that year, Legend, also became their highest-charting, reaching No. 14 and gold status.

The original quartet of Young, Furay, Messina and drummer George Grantham reunited in 1989, which resulted in the album Legacy and the No. 18 single "Call It Love." Various Poco lineups continued over the years with Young at the front. In 2012, he was inducted into the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame. In 2017, he released his first solo album, Waitin’ for the Sun.

“I had been offered solo deals back in the ‘70s, but always felt Poco was more important," he said upon the album's release. "But I feel I’m now the best I’ve ever been as a singer and songwriter, and I have a better grasp of the music than ever before. And I realized that this was the perfect time to do something that could be a really rewarding part of my legacy.”

“Rusty was the most unpretentious, caring and idyllic artist I have ever worked with, a natural life force that he consistently poured into his music,” said Young's manager, Rick Alter. “To fans and fellow musicians alike, he was a once-in-a-lifetime musician, songwriter, performer and friend.”

“I’ve been fortunate to have had a magical career,” Young said in 2020. “From the moment I was called to play on the Buffalo Springfield album, all through Poco, and now through my solo projects, things have just fallen into place. I’ve worked really hard to be the best I can be, and I think my music is the proof.”

Young is survived by his wife, Mary, and their two children. A memorial service is planned for Oct. 16 in Steelville, Mo.


TOPICS: Music/Entertainment
KEYWORDS: countryrock; heartattack; losangeles; music; obit; obituary; poco; rustyyoung; rustyyoungobit; softrock
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-55 next last

1 posted on 04/15/2021 2:48:07 PM PDT by nickcarraway
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

RIP

Poco was a cool band.


2 posted on 04/15/2021 2:50:08 PM PDT by waterhill (BYDANT)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

I loved POCO’s music.


3 posted on 04/15/2021 2:50:19 PM PDT by caver
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

Wasn’t there a lot of cross over between this band and The Eagles?


4 posted on 04/15/2021 2:50:53 PM PDT by NohSpinZone (First thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NohSpinZone

I think the Eagles stole Randy Meisner and Timothy B. Schmit from Poco. I can’t tell you why, though.


5 posted on 04/15/2021 2:53:19 PM PDT by nickcarraway
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

Saw Poco around 1973 in Philly. They opened for Johnny Winter.


6 posted on 04/15/2021 2:55:22 PM PDT by 4yearlurker ("My brain has a mind of it's own!"-what my 8 year old granddaughter told me.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

Because they could make a lot more money with the Eagles than with Poco.


7 posted on 04/15/2021 2:55:46 PM PDT by Oshkalaboomboom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: waterhill

IIRC Phil Hartman came up with their logo.


8 posted on 04/15/2021 2:56:26 PM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

I see what you did there...

/golf clap


9 posted on 04/15/2021 2:56:55 PM PDT by roostercashews (Having a gun doesn't make you safe, but knowing how to use one does.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway
I think the Eagles stole Randy Meisner and Timothy B. Schmit from Poco. I can’t tell you why, though.

I saw that!

10 posted on 04/15/2021 2:56:56 PM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

Right! And those two just happen to be the connected with the my favorite Eagles tunes “Take It To The Limit” and “Peaceful Easy Feeling”.


11 posted on 04/15/2021 2:57:11 PM PDT by NohSpinZone (First thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: roostercashews; dfwgator

I’m glad someone did. I amused myself a little too much. Sometimes, I take it to the limit.


12 posted on 04/15/2021 2:59:40 PM PDT by nickcarraway
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

Oh, dang it! A very creative player. Rest In Peace, Rusty Young.


13 posted on 04/15/2021 3:00:54 PM PDT by SaxxonWoods (Any comment might be sarcasm, or not. It depends. Often I'm not sure either.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

Stop trying to hide those lyin’ eyes.


14 posted on 04/15/2021 3:01:15 PM PDT by Fungi
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

Comment #15 Removed by Moderator

To: waterhill; nickcarraway

Poco was the minor league team for The Eagles bass players.


16 posted on 04/15/2021 3:02:50 PM PDT by monkeyshine (live and let live is dead)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: caver

Poco was a MUCH better band than the Eagles.

“Rose Of Cimarron”
- Written by Rusty Young
- Timothy B Schmidt assisting on vocals

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JF91ul0ZR64


17 posted on 04/15/2021 3:06:09 PM PDT by newfreep (“Leftism, under all of its brand names, is a severe, violent & evil mental disorder.”)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

I saw what you did, there. . . . That might keep me up all night . . . tearing my world apart.


18 posted on 04/15/2021 3:06:28 PM PDT by RatRipper ( Democrats and socialists are vile liars, thdieves and murderers - enemies of good and America.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway
I can’t tell you why

What were they gonna do with those shoes? In the long run they were already gone so they took Poco to the limit one more time.

19 posted on 04/15/2021 3:06:50 PM PDT by monkeyshine (live and let live is dead)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: dfwgator

Yes he did, on the Legend album. Great music.


20 posted on 04/15/2021 3:07:40 PM PDT by nesnah (Liberals - the petulant children of politics)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-55 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson