10:30am -11:30am

Rusty Rierson

Country Music

Rusty Rierson is a native of South-central, KS. (Leon) Growing up on the family farm. He started singing in church and soon it became a passion. He learned guitar when his father, Roger, suggested that they take lessons together. In 2005, Rierson won the state wide "YF&R talent find contest" hosted by Farm Bureau and performed at the Kansas State fair where he is annually invited back. In 2007 Rusty won the "Colgate Country Showdown" at the state level and placed in the top 15 nationally. He competed again at state in 2008, 2010, and 2011, before signing with his first record label.

Rusty has played all over the US (including Alaska). Rusty has toured abroad in Canada, Mexico, Central America, Scotland and in London. He often travels with the "Better Horses Radio Show" and has played rodeos, barrel races, and horse events all over the midwest, including at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas in 2009. Rusty has opened for and shared the stage and worked with artists such as Sawyer Brown, John Berry, Doug Stone, Michael Martin Murphy, Dustin Lynch, T. G. Sheppard, Moe Bandy, David Frizzell, R.W. Hampton, Johnny Lee, Bill Gentry, Leroy Van Dyke, Helen Cornelius, Billy Dean, Johnny Western, Love & Theft, Cassadee Pope, Collin Raye, Suzy Bogguss, Radney Foster, Logan Mize, Jimmy Fortune, Craig Campbell, Joe Diffie, Maddie & Tae, John Anderson, Walker Montgomery,  Don Williams and many others.

Rierson always plays tribute to George Strait, Don Williams, and some of his other heroes, as well as his own music. Rierson says he hopes people will see his music as "a breath of fresh air".  Rusty has produced 8 albums and 1 DVD. He also recently released his first standup comedy album, following footsteps of the great late Jerry Clower. There are now more than 100,000 copies of Rierson's albums in print.

In 2012, Rusty released his single "Souvenirs", a project recorded in Nashville with producer Richie Owens. Owens has produced albums for acts like Dolly Parton, Vince Gill, Rachel Holder, and the Georgia Satellites. The song briefly charted on the Music Row Breakout Chart in the U.S. but went Number 1 for 4 straight weeks on Europe's Country Music Chart, and held off country superstar Toby Keith to the 2nd position the whole time.  Rusty charted several other singles in following years: “Hey Hey Hello”, “Something Bout You”, "Upon This Rock", "That's How Sure I Am", "Life's Too Short", "Bumper Stickers on a Bentley", & "That's Why God Made Me".  "Bumper Stickers" also reached Number 1 on Europe's Country Music Chart.  In addition, he has released multiple Christmas singles to radio over the past few years including "Crazy Christmas Tango", "Cowboy Country Christmas Card", "The Reason for the Season" & a duet release, "Christmas in Your Arms" with Kaylee Keller of Garden City, KS.

Rusty has appeared on numerous television and radio shows including The Shotgun Red Variety Show, Phil Mack International Country Show, Better Horses Television, Virginia Dreams, Midwest Country, Best of America by Horseback, Ridin' Horses with Kerry Kuhn, and in 2013 on American Idol, Rierson made it all the way to round 3 in San Francisco. Rusty also hosted his own radio show for a number of years, "Rusty Radio" which aired in Wichita, KS and multiple states across the Midwest.

If you are interested in Rusty performing at one of your shows please call (316) 200 4389 or email rusrye@gmail.com .  You can also check him out at  rustyrierson.com