Rusty Young, co-founder of the band Poco, has passed away, Fox News can confirm. He was 75.
Young died Wednesday at his home in Davisville, Miss., Of a heart attack, a representative told Variety.
According to the outlet, Poco was founded in 1968 by Young, Richie Furay, Jim Messina, George Grantham and Randy Meisner, who was soon replaced by Timothy B. Schmit. During its more than 50-year history, Young was the only original band member to stay with Poco.
Although Young planned to retire over the years, iterations of the country rock group continued with Young as the band’s leader, Variety said.
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The current band members of Poco paid tribute to the deceased artist on Thursday.
Bassist and vocalist Jack Sundrud called Young “an innovator and a rock star.” “He remained the only constant in Poco for 53 years. It was an honor to act alongside him for more than 25 of those years,” Sundrud said in a statement obtained by Fox News.
Sundrud added, “He was a gentle and kind man, and a wonderful friend. I will miss him very much.”
Left to right: Timothy B. Schmidt, Jim Messina, Rich Furay, George Grantham, Rusty Young, or Poco on September 15, 1970.
(CBS via Getty Images)
Rick Lonow called Young “a truly gifted musician” who was “a pioneer in” fusing … “country instruments” with rock music. “
The drummer, who also played with The Flying Burrito Brothers, added, “I love you Rusty; it was an honor to have played with your music.”
Guitarist and vocalist Tom Hampton said, “It may sound cliché to say he changed my life, but he did it – in a profound way. I just can’t believe he’s gone.”
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Born on February 23, 1946, in Long Beach, California, Norman Russell “Rusty” Young is credited as one of the first musicians to integrate a pedal steel guitar, which was strongly associated with country music at the time, into rock & role, according to Rolling Stone.
After the departure of several original band members in the 1970s, Young became a front man for the group. He also wrote Poco’s greatest song, “Crazy Love”, in 1978.
Poco singer Rusty Young performs at The Canyon Club in Agoura Hills, California on November 10, 2017. Young died of a heart attack on Wednesday. He was 75.
(Scott Dudelson / Getty Images)
In an interview with Goldmine in 2014, Young said, “I think everything went as intended. We had a big hit in 1978, and if Richie (Furay) hadn’t left the band, and Timmy (Schmit) left the band. , and Jimmy (Jim Messina) who left the band, I would never have been a songwriter or a singer, so those things had to happen for my life to be the way it is. So I’m really happy. ”
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Poco didn’t give up shows until March 2020, until the COVID-19 pandemic brought everything to a halt. In 2017 Young released his very first solo album entitled “Waitin ‘for the Sun”.
Young is survived by his wife Mary, their daughter Sara and son Will, and Mary’s three children Joe, Marci and Hallie. He also has five grandchildren.