Rusty Wier
Encyclopedia
Russell Allen "Rusty" Wier (May 3, 1944 – October 9, 2009) was an American
singer-songwriter
from Austin, Texas
.
Wier's career dates back to the 1970s and covers multiple music genres. He is most famous for his composition Don't It Make You Wanna Dance which was a minor pop hit for him, but has been covered by, among others, Jerry Jeff Walker
, Todd Snider
, Chris LeDoux
, John Hiatt
, and Barbara Mandrell
. Bonnie Raitt
's version of the song was a country hit when it was included on the Urban Cowboy
soundtrack. Wier was inducted into the Austin Music Awards Hall of Fame in 2002.
. He died on October 9, 2009, aged 65.
He is survived by four children.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer-songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
from Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
.
Wier's career dates back to the 1970s and covers multiple music genres. He is most famous for his composition Don't It Make You Wanna Dance which was a minor pop hit for him, but has been covered by, among others, Jerry Jeff Walker
Jerry Jeff Walker
Jerry Jeff Walker is an American country music singer and songwriter. He is probably most famous for writing the song "Mr. Bojangles.-Biography:...
, Todd Snider
Todd Snider
Todd Daniel Snider is an American singer-songwriter with a musical style that combines Americana, alt-country, and folk.-Biography:...
, Chris LeDoux
Chris LeDoux
Chris Ledoux was an American country music singer-songwriter, bronze sculptor and rodeo champion.During his career LeDoux recorded 36 albums which have sold more than six million units in the United States as of January 2007...
, John Hiatt
John Hiatt
John Hiatt is an American rock guitarist, pianist, singer, and songwriter. He has played a variety of musical styles on his albums, including New Wave, blues and country. Hiatt has been nominated for several Grammy Awards - although he has never won- and has been awarded a variety of other...
, and Barbara Mandrell
Barbara Mandrell
Barbara Ann Mandrell is an American country music singer best known for a 1970s–1980s series of Top 10 hits and TV shows that helped her become one of country's most successful female vocalists of the 1970s and 1980s...
. Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Lynn Raitt is an American blues singer-songwriter and a renowned slide guitar player. During the 1970s, Raitt released a series of acclaimed roots-influenced albums which incorporated elements of blues, rock, folk and country, but she is perhaps best known for her more commercially...
's version of the song was a country hit when it was included on the Urban Cowboy
Urban Cowboy
Released as a 2× vinyl record album, re-released on CD in 1995.Side A:#Hello Texas – Jimmy Buffett #All Night Long – Joe Walsh #Times Like These – Dan Fogelberg #Nine Tonight – Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band...
soundtrack. Wier was inducted into the Austin Music Awards Hall of Fame in 2002.
Death
In November 2007, Wier was diagnosed with cancerCancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
. He died on October 9, 2009, aged 65.
He is survived by four children.