The Rusty Knox Band will play a concert on the Green this Sunday in Davidson. The band includes, from left, Greg Miller, Dwight Burks and Rusty Knox. (DavidsonNews.net file photo)
Davidson’s own Rusty Knox Band is featured in the next Concert on the Green this Sunday, Aug. 19 from 6 to 9 p.m. on the Davidson Village Green.
Rusty Knox grew up around music in Davidson with a grandmother who played church organ for over 50 years, and a large extended family that gathered around the piano on Sunday afternoons. His mother played classical piano, and his father had a profound love of gospel music, but it wasn’t until Rusty saw Jimi Hendrix open for The Monkees that the guitar came into his life. After playing within the confines of his house for over 30 years, his first public appearance brought a bundle of nerves and uncertainty to a head, yet Rusty realized that playing was what he wanted to do. With a handful of original songs and no knowledge of music theory, Rusty brought his music to the people of his small hometown, and they liked it.
A chance meeting on Main Street in Davidson brought Rusty together Dwight Burks, who plays the fiddle, guitar and dobro. When they added Dwight’s cousin Greg Miller on bass, The Rusty Knox Band was formed.
Other players this Sunday will include percussionist Adam Moore and Brian Burton, and mandolinist Mike Orlando, who was among the founders of the local band Cast Iron Filter.
The Rusty Knox Band’s sound a mix of Americana, Bluegrass, Folk, Irongrass, and Jamband.
“Playing Concerts on the Green is a really special event for me,” Mr. Knox said in a press release. “A lot of the people that will be there see me play regularly, but there is a large contingency of people that attend Concerts on the Green that don’t really come out to our regular venues to see us, so this is an opportunity for me to play in front of people I’ve known all my life, as well as people that I am meeting for the first time.”
Rusty’s freshman CD, “Reason Why,” won good reviews. Janet Goodman’s review in Music News Nashville says: “With a straightforward everyman’s voice, Rusty brings lyrics that are down and dirty honest, from a reservoir of lifetime tales.” Rusty has been nominated for the 2012 Songwriter of the Year by The Charlotte Music Awards and The Rusty Knox Band has been nominated for the 2012 Americana/Bluegrass Band of the Year by both The Charlotte Music Awards and The Carolina Music Awards.
“When someone comes up to me and says ‘Hey, you used to mow my yard when you were little, or I knew your Mom and Dad,’ it becomes a more special event,” Mr. Knox said. “I like being a ‘townie’ and like the fact that this summer concert series has made many more people feel like townies.”
Davidson’s Concerts on the Green are brought to the public by the following sponsors: Town of Davidson, the Arts & Science Council, CMC-Huntersville, Peoples Bank, Cannon School, Our Town Cinemas, Davidson Village Inn, T.R. Lawing Realty, Inc., The Lawrence Group and Great Clips.
RELATED LINKS
Jan. 9, 2009, DavidsonNews.net, “4-minute interview: Rusty Knox.” Listen to an audio interview with Rusty Knox marking the release of his “Reason Why” album.
