Rusty Young

February 23, 1946 – April 14, 2021

Norman Russell Young, better known as Rusty, was the pedal steel guitarist, keyboard player and also a vocalist and songwriter for the influential American country rock band Poco. The songs Rose Of Cimarron and Crazy Love, both written by Young, were two of the group’s biggest hits.

Born in Long Beach, California but raised in Colorado, Young had previously been the road manager for Buffalo Springfield, and played lap-steel guitar on one of their final recordings, Kind Woman. After that band broke up, in ’78 he co-founded Poco along with guitarists Jim Messina and Richie Furay, bassist Randy Meisner (who was soon replaced by Timothy B Schmit) and drummer George Grantham. Meisner and Schmit both went on to join the Eagles. Poco’s line-up changed numerous times, with Young the only constant.

Young retired from touring in 2013, but changed his mind and continued part-time. He was 75 years old when he succumbed to a heart attack.

“From the moment I was called to play with Buffalo Springfield, all through Poco, and now my solo projects, things have just fallen into place,” he said in 2020. “I’ve worked really hard to be the best that I can be, and I think my music is the proof.”