Telluride’s Opera House welcomes Rusty Evans & Ring of Fire

The crowd loved Shawn Colvin all over again when she performed in concert at Telluride’s historic Sheridan Opera House on December 27, part of the Sheridan Art Foundation’s 2009 holiday concert series. But Shawn shows up regularly in town for holiday ski-cations. Not Johnny. That was a one and only, one time blockbuster – until now. Now Johnny Cash is back, at least as close as it gets to the genuine article. Next up at the Opera House: Rusty Evans & Ring of Fire – A Tribute to Johnny Cash. Showtime is Tuesday, December 29, 8 p.m.

Rockabilly Hall of Famer Rusty Evans has the look and the voice, grit on molasses – at least that is what Bob Dylan once told him. A three-piece band backs up driving rhythms on an amplified acoustic axe. Featured songs include the usual suspects, “Ring of Fire,” “I Walk the Line,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” “Don’t Take Your Guns to Town,” and so much more.

Rusty Evans began making music in the 1960s, performing on Dick Clark’s American Bandstand, touring with the New Christy Minstrels, working with renowned producer Phil Spector, and producing/recording for CBS, Reprise, and Folkway records before heading downtown to Greenwich Village, where he met and jammed with a then unknown Dylan.

In the late 1960’s, Rusty Evans wrote and produced the underground classic “I’m Five Years Ahead of My Time” for Third Bardo. This song found its way to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s Psychedelic Top 100 for their 30 year anniversary of the Summer of Love.

Evans is also a fine artist, whose work can be found in the permanent collections of museums around the world.

For more, click the “play” button and listen to Rusty talk shop.