What ever happened to Rusty Draper?

Gary Walker · Post by **Gary Walker** » 26 Sep 2002 8:12 pm

Rusty was very popular when I was a teen and was pretty fair guitar player and singer. He had a hit called "The Shifting Whispering Sands". I haven't heard of him in years. In the early 50s he hosted a Western movie sponsered by Roman Meal bread every afternoon in the Bay Area. He also appeared at a club in San Francisco that my folks took us to in about 52 or so, thanks, Gary.<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Gary Walker on 27 September 2002 at 09:48 AM.]</p></FONT>

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 27 Sep 2002 1:27 am

I don't know the answer, but I've got the guitar that his former steel player used when they went on the road during the 70s. My white mica MSA has entertained people all over the country.

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My gear: a piece of wood with some wires attached to it.

Gary Walker · Post by **Gary Walker** » 27 Sep 2002 8:21 pm

Thanks Mike, I did a Google search and could not find anything about the present. I found a small bio about his heydays but that was it.

Jim Florence · Post by **Jim Florence** » 1 Oct 2002 9:27 am

Isn't it curious how singers of such popularity seem to just disapear from the world. So many of them fit into the category of Hmm, Wonder what ever happened to old---
Used to be a TV show with that motif about actors, called where are they now. There needs to be a book.
Jim

Jerry Hayes · Post by **Jerry Hayes** » 3 Oct 2002 9:42 am

Mike,
That guitar you're referring to couldn't have belonged to an old friend of our's named D--- Z---ler could it? Have a good 'un dude..........

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Livin' in the Past and the Future with a 12 string Mooney Universal tuning.

R. L. Jones · Post by **R. L. Jones** » 3 Oct 2002 6:34 pm

I was hoping someone knew something about Rusty. That guy had a voice, and knew how to use it. One of my favorites

RL

Russ Wever · Post by **Russ Wever** » 3 Oct 2002 9:20 pm

Click this then this.

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 3 Oct 2002 10:24 pm

Jerry, It is indeed Dave Z's former guitar. Only I didn't buy it from him. I got it from the guy he sold it to.

Jason Odd · Post by **Jason Odd** » 5 Oct 2002 5:59 pm

I notice that Rusty recorded for Monument in the late 1960s and early 1970s, but I can't find any info on his career other than the emntion of a few minor hits around that time.

When you do a search on Rusty's name, there's a memorial for a fellow who was killed in action in Vietnam in 1968, which according to the author of the site, the fellow was Rusty's son, despite having a different last name.

Ray Montee (RIP) · Post by **Ray Montee (RIP)** » 6 Oct 2002 6:00 pm

Was YOUR "Rusty Draper" one in the same that appeared on the Arthur Godfrey Show? I played years ago with "Rusty Somebody" who at the time was with Tex Williams. They were in Portland doing a special and we had a 12 piece union band, complete with horn blowers and everything, for them at KATU-Ch-2 TV.
That was so long ago yet seems like only yesterday.

Gary Walker · Post by **Gary Walker** » 6 Oct 2002 6:12 pm

Ray, I don't know whether there is a connection or not. I'm sure Rusty Draper could've appeared on Godfrey's show as he was popular at the same time that Godfrey was.

R. L. Jones · Post by **R. L. Jones** » 6 Oct 2002 8:20 pm

May Be >>> Rusty Draper ,had his own band at the time I recall ,sang "Three Hearts in A Tangle" , Recorded it, That may help.

R. L.

Jody Sanders · Post by **Jody Sanders** » 6 Oct 2002 8:43 pm

One of Rusty Draper's biggest hits was "Mule Skinner Blues" with a group called "The Fendermen". Also " Gambler's Guitar" was a biggie. Jody.

Bob Hempker · Post by **Bob Hempker** » 7 Oct 2002 8:15 am

I was talking to Roy Clark the other day. He, Rusty, and Molly Bee had a network show in the '60's entitled "Swingin' Country." Roy said that Rusty is living up in Montana somewhere. You might check that out.

Jason Odd · Post by **Jason Odd** » 7 Oct 2002 3:32 pm

I imagine the song mentioned were actually different versions by Draper and the Fendermen, I can't find any mention of them working together, but I could be wrong.
For a good part of his early career Rusty had the benefit of a larger label.

Mule Skinner Blues - Rusty Draper (Mercury 71634x45)1960.

Mule Skinner Blues - The Fendermen
Cuca 1003 1959 (also isued as Soma 1137) in 1960.

Bob, I have heard of "Swingin' Country" although I don't have any detials of the show.
In regards to the Godfrey appearence, Rusty started out as a smoother Hillbilly performer, he had vocal groups on his later show, I think Gary got to see him at his most West Coast hillbilly best in the early 1950s.
He became more of a smoother crossover country artist, and the Godfrey show would seem to be more than a likely place to be.
Tennesse Ernie Ford's TV show is a great example of hillbilly meets TV showman for the masses.

Gary Walker · Post by **Gary Walker** » 7 Oct 2002 5:03 pm

Jody, when I heard Gambler's Guitar the first time, this young lad's heart jumped a mile. I was just falling in love with the guitar and had seen Les Paul and Mary Ford in San Francisco. Rusty came along just at the right time to get my attention. My mom took my sis and I to the little club where Rusty was playing and Mother swears that a young Roy Clark was there with him that night but Rusty was all that these young kids could focus on. Thanks to all for bringing back a few missing pieces that I had forgotten long ago.