Rusty Young (Poco) Interview 2021

This career profile interview with founding member of pioneering country rock band Poco and legendary pedal steel guitar player Rusty Young was recorded on April 1st 2021. Sadly just two weeks later Rusty passed away. Recorded for my radio program Retrospectives on Casey Radio in Melbourne, Australia.

[@MindyTunnell]

Man, the timing... Thank you for sharing this. 😔❤️

[@susanfraser6371]

I have always known that Rusty was the heart and soul of Poco. Hugely talented, and full of grace and charm. I am so glad you posted this interview, because Rusty deserves to be recognized, and in a way he's claimed his legacy by revealing the history of the band. (Also, I will be frank - I think Richie was darned lucky to be in a series of bands with people who were a great deal more talented than he is. It's thanks to them that he is perceived to be great. 🤷)

[@jeffwisener1378]

To me, Rusty Young is one of the most overlooked musicians of his generation and that music genre Poco fit within. Rusty went from being the least recognized member of Poco to its front man. He was a perfectionist yet always kind and humble . I appreciate Rusty mentioning that he was hired to write and play a song that was supposed to be Jimi Hendrix like in the 60s. I happened to see Poco play at the Bucannal in San Diego just after they released their Legacy album. An opening act was a Jimi Hendrix cover band. When their set ended, Rusty opened the Poco set motivated to out Hendrix the Hendrix cover band. Rusty played the meanest Pedal Steel Guitar l have ever seen on that opening song. I wish someone had recorded it. I have seen a majority of top rock bands from the late 60s to late 70s and can say that night Rusty was as impressive as any of the top guitar players.

[@shirinmalik2235]

Thank you for posting this. Furay is kinda the mini version on Frey and their manipulations to get their way. Feel bed for Randy in both cases

[@jbancroftn]

Fascinating interview! I don’t believe I’ve ever heard Rusty speak so frankly about Richie. I always heard that Richie didn’t want Randy involved in the mixing process of the first album but it sounds like he really pushed him out. Richie not being a consistent part of the Legacy tour probably hurt the band’s success again.