Rusty Knox-guitar and
anybody else that wants to jump in!
Mike & Rusty- Mike Orlando-mandolin, banjo, guitar & vocals
Rusty Knox-guitar & vocals
Brad Reddick-monster guitar anytime he can jump in
The Blue Roosters-
Dwight Burks-fiddle, guitar & mandolin
Rick Edmisten-mandolin & vocals
Gregg Miller-bass
Influences
Mostly old or dead, never the less, the best-- Jimi, Duane, Stevie Ray, Toy Caldwell, Tony Rice, Doc Watson, Eric Clapton and last but not least, all of those unreal sounds that come off the neck of a good guitar. My grandmother, who drug me to church for choir practice most of my childhood and my dad for continually asking me to play "Way Downtown"
My life has always been filled with stories. From a very young age, growing up in Davidson, NC, I've had people around me that always had a story to tell. Having a large family, over 30 first cousins, holidays seemed to be an endless time of story telling. I used to thread needles for my great grand mother because she couldn't see well enough to do so, even though she still could quilt. She had great stories about life here in a much simpler time. With five uncles and two aunts, plus my Dad, it was hard to do any talking, just a lot of listening. Working construction through my high school years brought a whole new set of stories from a VERY diverse group of people. In college, I was fortunate enough to have had great professors, most old, but again great story tellers. I tried to listen and sometimes was able to, but most of my college days were spent with a bong and a bottle of Southern Comfort. My baseball coach was a historian when it came to baseball, and for 4 years I heard stories about baseball that were so obscure and meaningless at the time, that I started not listening. Then the little light bulb started to flicker and I realized that these were not stories he told about baseball, but stories about life that built character. After college I worked selling chemicals in the eastern part of North Carolina. My client base went from janitors to CEOs. Talk about diversity. Relationships were built and a new type of story evolved. To a lot of my clients I was kind of like a counselor. They told me what was happening in their lives at work and at home, and I just listened. Listening is highly underrated. I spent a lot of time cat fishing on the Cape Fear River with some cool, old school folks that broadened my story base tremendously. I had some rather unique Special Forces friends that filled my cache with bitter, cold stories of death and destruction. Again, stories, not ones that you want to use in songwriting or repeat to your kids, but important, nonetheless. After a couple of job changes, from selling air on WKML(carolinas best and most country), selling Mercedes Benz and selling buildings, I finally came full circle and landed back in Davidson selling real estate for my family's company.
I have been picking the guitar since 1973. I had one guitar lesson back then, the rest I've learned on my own. I find sounds that I like and build around them. Theory and chord progression are actually new to me. The lyrics actually come out easier than you would think. I look at the foundations for my songs and realize that they are stories from my past. Some are very special, some are just everyday occurrences. Some are about people, some are about places. All are about LIFE. And I've had a great and full life.
The songs on "Reason Why" are songs that I hope people can relate to. They are not intricate phrases filled with symbolism and metaphors, just good stories for you to listen to. My goal was to have a product that could cross genres and appeal to a wide group of listeners. I hope that's what I ended up with on my first attempt. My good friend Michael Orlando plays mandolin, Tim Carter plays banjo, Danny Reid Carter plays lead guitar and Ross Sermons plays bass. Recording at Tree O Studios in Ridgetop, TN was a marvelous experience. This is a brand new facility, built by friends of the Carters, that is as warm and inviting as you could find anywhere. So take a listen and I hope you like what you hear.
To my boys, Trey, Tyler and Tucker, thanks for allowing me play to you for as long as you've been alive. Peace................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Thanks for the add! Check out my new CD "The Man I Want To Be" which includes the #1 hit “Getting’ You Home (The Black Dress Song)” in stores now. Drop by and leave me a comment anytime.
Have u ever played @ the Carter's homeplace in VA I think...my deceased husband played there w/Raymond Fairchild from Maggie Valley, NC...That was an exciting experience...
Rusty, Man playing with you last night was a hoot! We seem to be pretty much in sync and I am loving it. I appreciate your interest in my songs. Would love to join you at 3 Goats tonight but I have to and want to honor my committment to Marie. I look forward to playing together soon at the Summit. Thanks again for your patience and for sharing your talents with the "Blue Roosters". (coming soon to a coop near you!) Rick
Thanks for the nice comments Rusty. You do a great job and service to your community with your hard work promoting the Festival On the Green in Davidson, NC. I look forward to coming back and playing for the fine quality folks who attend these shows. best wishes!
Get mp3's of ALL of my songs...Originals and COVERS!
Hey! I just wanted to let you know that I really appreciate your love and support! I just released my entire collection of music! ALL MY COVERS AND ORIGINALS!!!! 78 songs for only $10!
We're extremely excited about our return show in Charlotte this week! We're playing the Neighborhood Theatre on Good Friday April 10th with our good friends, Boulder Acoustic Society, and we hope you'll be there. Tickets are still on sale now at www.neighborhoodtheatre.com . Thanks for all of your support thus far and please be on the look out for announcements about our new album release this summer!
Online Now!
