Harry Rusk

Harry Rusk was born to Edward and Mary Etsuka on July 5, 1937 on a trap line near Fort Nelson, British Columbia and grew up in the tiny hamlet of Kahntah – Slavery First Nation Hamlet. He attended a one-room school in Fort Nelson, but at the age of 12, he contracted tuberculosis and was sent to The Charles Camsell Hospital in Edmonton where he stayed from 1949 to 1953. Harry thought he was there to die as his father and brother had already succumbed to the disease. His brother died when Harry was 3 and his father when he was 6.

Hank Snow came to visit the patients at the hospital on June 13, 1952; an encounter that inspired Harry to become a country singer and guitarist. Hank Snow was playing The Edmonton Gardens that same evening. When he arrived at the airport that morning, he was asked by staff of the Charles Camsell to visit patients there and he agreed. There were 563 patients at the hospital, but Hank Snow only had an opportunity to talk to a few of them. By chance, he talked to Harry. He told Harry that no matter what, always look up. From that moment on, Harry wanted to be a country singer like Hank Snow who, at the time, was one of the biggest names in country music along with Hank Williams. After Hank’s visit, Harry’s mother sent him an old guitar she had bought by selling her hand sewn moosehide slippers and moccasins.

Upon his return home from the Charles Camsell, Harry would wind up the gramophone and play Hank Snow records, learning to sing and play every song. Despite discouraging comments from his stepfather, other family members and friends, Harry was determined to make music a career. His mom died in 1953 of tuberculosis.

In Fort Nelson, Harry hosted a country music radio show on CHFN (the Canadian Armed Forces station) called “Country Time With Harry Rusk”, and his “Harry Rusk Dance Band” played every local dance from 1955 to 1963. During that time, he joined the Royal Ordinance Corps of the Canadian Army, stationed first at the Maskwa Garrison near Fort Nelson, and later in Vancouver. He played with several major bands in Vancouver until 1964.

In 1965, Harry moved to Edmonton where he lived until 1992. Upon his arrival, he played lead guitar for Jimmy Arthur Ordge for 6 months and then began his own career. A year later, while watching The Noon Show on CFRN Television, he decided to call the producer of the show, Gaby Haas, to see if he could get a spot on the show. He was told by Haas to join the Musicians Union, which he did, and soon the call came from Haas to perform. This was the break that he needed – not only was he a steady guest on the Noon Show, but he was eventually given a spot on “Lil Ole Opry in Edmonton.”

The Noon Show lead to many other TV shows as well as work across Canada. He performed on “The Chuck Wagon Show”, CTV’s “Country Music Hall of Fame” in Toronto, CBC’s “Don Messer Show” and “Country Time” – both out of Halifax. Harry did several Christmas Specials in Edmonton for ITV and continued his TV work with Gaby Haas and other outlets and artists.

He played lead guitar for Jimmy Arthur Ordge, performed with his own band (Harry Rusk and the Trade Winds), and appeared at many events throughout Alberta, including Klondike Days, Calgary Stampede and others.

Harry’s recording career began in 1967 at Joe Kozak’s Studio in Edmonton and led to several albums  and  hit  original  songs  (e.g.,  “Digging for Gold,” “Rose of Mexico” and “The Red Man and the Train”). Throughout his career, Harry recorded over 55 albums and sold over 2 million records. In 2014, he played guitar on an album with Hank Snow’s Rainbow Ranch Boys, called “Harry Rusk Plays Guitar,” which was nominated in 2015 for “CD Of The Year” by the Traditional Country Music Association of America.

In 1969, Harry saw Hank Snow perform in Calgary where he had a chance to meet Snow and tell him how he inspired his career. Hank asked Harry to send him copies of his forth-coming recordings. On June 13, 1972 at 1:30 pm, Harry got a call from Mr. Hank Snow who said “Harry, have ye got time to come down and be my guest in my Nashville home? Plus, I got you on the Opry with The  Ernest Tubb Midnight Jamboree  this June 30th weekend”. Harry went to Nashville and his dream of playing the Grand Ole Opry came true. It opened even more doors for his career. One opportunity  was  recording  “In  Peace  Extend Your Hand” and “If We Never Meet Again” at Hank Snow’s Nashville Studio with Hank and his band “The Rainbow Ranch Boys”. Hank Snow told Harry, “you’re the only one that I’ve ever played lead guitar for” and he did!

Harry told Hank Snow many times that there was a very special meaning to their first meeting back in 1952. It lead to Harry’s career and a friendship with the Country Music Legend Hank Snow.

The road to the Opry lead to hit songs, numerous awards and traveling to countries all over the world. Harry was the First Full Blood Treaty North America  Indian  to  play  the  Grand  Ole Opry in Nashville and the Ernest Tubb Midnight Jamborees!

When Harry’s step father George passed away in January of 1972, Harry went to the small shack  where  he  lived  in  Fort  Nelson  looking for documents, a will, etc. As Harry described, he found a trunk that contained nothing but old clothes it seemed, but near the bottom, there was a beautiful cloth case. It was made of silk… purple in colour with gold tassels as trim. “When I unfolded this package, I could hardly believe what I saw... copies of each news article about me, all the recordings I’d ever done till then, plus pictures of me. Well, I shed a few tears, I could hardly believe what I saw.” Harry’s step father, who had claimed to never support Harry in his music career, had quietly followed his career every step of the way. Sadly, he did not live to know that Harry played the Grand Ole Opry.

Harry Rusk played the Grand Ole Opry from 1972 to 1994. He appeared on Nashville’s Fan Fare Show Sponsored by the Grand Ole Opry and its radio Station WSM.

Since  1990,  Harry  has  been  travelling  with his wife, Gladys, performing in concerts and speaking at schools and churches. They make their home on an acreage in the Carrot Creek area east of Edson, Alberta.

Distinguished Honours & Noteables

1976: Alberta  Government  “Achievement Award” – Edmonton, AB

1977: Government of British Columbia “Recognition” – Victoria, BC

1978: Government of Canada “The Queen’s 25th Anniversary Medal for Achievements in a Music Career”

1983: Ordained by Evangelical Association of Canada

1986: Performed at ‘Expo Pavilion’ – Vancouver, BC

1987: Canadian   Movie   Industry’s   “Jury Award” for playing himself in a TV movie about his life “Beyond The Bend in The River”

1992: Ordained by Assemblies of God Association of Canada

1996: Inducted  into  “Hank  Snow  Country Music Archives & Hall of Fame” – Liverpool, NS

2002: Ordained by World Mission Center – Paradise, NS

2002-2005: Special Guest on “Hank Snow Annual Tribute” – Bridgewater, NS

2002-2005: Special Guest at “Cowboy Church” & WSM Radio - Troubadour Palace – Nashville, TN

2004: “Legend of Canadian Country Music” – Edmonton, AB

2006: Inducted into North America’s Traditional Country Music Hall of Fame – Missouri Valley, Iowa

2010: “Bev Munro Traditional Country Music Legend” Award – Edmonton, AB

2014: Album “Harry Rusk Plays Guitar”, recorded with Hank Snow’s Rainbow Ranch Boys – Nashville, TN

2015: Nominated for CD of the year by the Traditional County Music Association of America

2016: "Lifetime Achievement Award”  from America’s National Traditional Country Music Association – Lamars, IA

2017: “The Living Legends Award” – National Traditional Country Music Association and Hall of Fame