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Rusty
Evans Biography
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Although never experiencing real
commercial success, Rusty Evans enjoyed one of the most
eclectic and long-lived careers in the annals of rock and
roll cultdom, evolving from rockabilly to folk to
psychedelia and all the way back again to folk/country.
Born Marcus Uzilevsky in Brooklyn, he later attended New
York's School of Art and Design; in 1958 Evans made his
recorded debut, releasing the rockabilly efforts “I Lived,
I Loved, I Lost" and “Midnight Special" on Brunswick. This
gave him the opportunity to play Dick Clark’s American
Bandstand.
By 1962 Evans was a staple of the
Greenwich Village folk circuit, sharing stages with Bob
Dylan, David Crosby and Fred Neil. During a brief stop in
LA in 1965 Evans discovered the nascent psychedelic scene,
and cut the 1965 Musicor single “1983.” Upon returning to
the east coast, he formed the band “Deep” with Mark Barkan
and David Bromberg, among others, recording their sole
album “Psychedelic Moods of the Deep.” Essentially the
same line-up reunited shortly thereafter as Freak Scene,
releasing 1967’s Psychedelic Psoul on CBS records. Tracks
from both outings have since been re-released on
Collectibles.
Perhaps Evans’ highest claim to fame
comes from his work as a songwriter, where in 1967 he
wrote the infamous psych-rock classic “Five Years Ahead of
My Time” for The Third Bardo, which later found it’s way
to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s top 100 songs for the
30-year anniversary of the summer of love. Also in 1967,
Rusty moved to Los Angeles, where he served a brief stint
as a member of the New Christy Minstrels, and worked as a
staff producer for the Take Six label. Here he helmed
sessions that included the Nervous Breakdown’s track “I
Dig Your Mind.”

After stepping out of the music scene for a while, Rusty
returned to his musical roots for the 1979 comeback effort
on Smithsonian/Folkways, entitled “Life’s Railway to
Heaven.” In 1988 the Arlington Symphony Orchestra
performed his “Symphony for Sara.” At the turn of the
century, Evans adopted the alias Uzca, to explore
world music on the albums “Slice of Light,” and “Gypsy
Dreams.”
Recent years have found Evans coming full
circle, forming the rockabilly combo Ring of Fire and
releasing a self-titled tribute to Johnny Cash. The group
has since moved on to record the albums “I’m Coming
Home,” and the latest installment “Burning Man.” Recent
tours include New Zealand and Europe, where Evans’ has
placed in the #2 on the European country charts.
Quotes
"Rusty
Evans is roots americana, the real deal" -Maria
Muldaur
"Excellent and highly recommended!" -Marc
Bristol (Blue Suede News)
"...warm and personable countrybilly." -Rockabilly
Magazine
"...he transcends mere mimicry and captures the true essense
of [Johnny] Cash's craft." -Ken
Burke
(Country Standard Time)
"...the uncrowned heir to Johnny Cash's mantle." -Maverick
"...it is a really fine album." -Sing
Out!
"This mixture of country, rockabilly, folk and rock...is
burning with imagination." -Dave
Howell (Rambles.net)
"Rusty Evans' songwriting is eclectic, sensitive,
unique and engaging. A great story teller, in the classic
tradition of Hank Williams and Johnny Cash." -Gary
Bradshaw
(Country Music Promoter)
| Audio
Samples (Burning Man Album): |
| Get You In My Dreams |
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| Shadow of Night |
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| Shackles of My Mind |
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Click
here to download the Burning Man One-Sheet (Hi-Res)
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Rusty
Evans - Burning Man
Style:
Americana/Alt. Country/Folk
Rusty Evans, considered by many to be the
reincarnation of Johnny Cash, offers up 13
originals on his latest release “Burning Man.”
This traditionally based album covers the broad
spectrum of roots music from Folk to Alternative
Country to Rockabilly. Rusty is known foremost for
his long tenure in New York’s Greenwich Village
and his induction into the Rockabilly Hall of
Fame. However, he was also once a writer in the
Brill Building, has appeared on Dick Clark’s
American Bandstand, and has shared the stage with
everyone from Buddy Holly to Bob Dylan. His
experiences have presented him with countless
influences, and he displays many of them within.
Comprised of largely topical songs, “Burning Man”
speaks of Rusty’s experiences in rambling from
Greenwich Village in New York to San Francisco and
every stop along the way; including the people he
met, the places he went and the lessons and
stories he acquired along the way.
Catalog #4101
(Released Jan 09, 2007)
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Rusty
Evans - Burning Man
(ARTWORK ONLY)
If you've purchased
Rusty Evan's Burning Man album through digital
download and would like a copy of the actual CD
artwork, here is your chance. This includes both
the CD booklet, and the tray card inserts.
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