Russell Allen "Rusty" Wier (May 3, 1944 – October 9, 2009) was an American singer-songwriter from Austin, Texas.[1] Wier's career dates back to the 1960s and covers multiple music genres.[2] Wier was the drummer in the Austin garage rock band The Wig, whose 1967 single "Crackin' Up" (a Wier composition) was included on volume 1 of the Pebbles series of compilation albums. Wier had a major local Texas hit in 1968 with "Watchout" with Gary P. Nunn and The Lavender Hill Express on Sonobeat Records. This was one of the first stereophonic 45s.
Rusty Wier | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Russell Allen Wier |
| Born | May 3, 1944 Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | October 9, 2009 (aged 65) Driftwood, Texas, U.S. |
In the 1970s, Wier switched to country-rock and became a fixture on the burgeoning Austin music scene, and had a cult success with the song "I Heard You Been Layin' My Old Lady". His 1975 release "Don't It Make You Wanna Dance" became a regional hit and was later covered by a variety of artists, including Chris LeDoux, Jerry Jeff Walker, and Barbara Mandrell.[3][4]
Wier was inducted into the Austin Music Awards Hall of Fame in 2002.
Death
editIn November 2007, Wier was diagnosed with cancer.[5] He died on October 9, 2009, aged 65.[1] He is survived by four children.[6]
References
edit- ^ a b "Rusty Wier Tribute". RustyWier.com. October 9, 2009.
- ^ Goodspeed, John (July 5, 2002). "Applause still Rusty Wier's measuring stick". San Antonio News-Express.
- ^ Stein, Ricky (21 January 2014). Sonobeat Records: Pioneering the Austin Sound in the '60s. Arcadia Publishing. p. 121. ISBN 978-1-62584-723-2.
- ^ Moser, Margaret (April 11, 2003). "Phases and Stages: Texas Platter". Austin Chronicle.
- ^ Mueller, Chelsea (November 27, 2007). "Love and War in Texas Rusty Wier Benefit a Success". Dallas Observer.
- ^ "Obituary: Rusty Wier". www.legacy.com. October 9, 2009.
External links
edit- Official website
- Moser, Margaret (May 31, 2002). "I Before E: Cosmic Soulman Rusty Wier, Still Dancing After All These Years". Austin Chronicle.
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