Rusty Richards holds a unique position in the area of Western music; he sang with the Sons of the Pioneers for over 20 years, possessing one of the best tenor voices in the field, he is also a prolific writer of Western Songs and Poetry. Many of his songs have been recorded by well-known artists, including Dinah Shore, The Sons Of The Pioneers and many other western artists as well as used in films.
Rusty has received many Honors and awards for his work over the years. While with the Sons of the Pioneers he was inducted into the Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City, received two "Pioneer Awards" in Arizona, is in the Colorado Country Music Hall of Fame, and in the Aksarben Hall of Fame in Omaha, Nebraska. Their star was placed in the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the group was declared a "National Treasure" by the Smithsonian Institution. They were awarded " Best Touring Band" by the Academy of Country Music.
Rusty personally received The Golden Lariat Award, from the National Western Film Festival in Ogden, Utah, The Pioneer Award by the California Country Music Association, The Cowboy Spirit Award by the National Festival of the West, and The Ben Johnson Award by the Western Film Festival in Sonora, California.
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Rusty rode bull and broncs in Rodeo, then he spent a lifetime training horses. He also wrote the featured horse training article for a National Western Horse magazine. He was an avid roper until he broke both shoulders in a "roping accident" in 2003. Prior to that he had competed in many pro-celebrity rodeo competitions, in roping, cutting and team penning. Rusty won many buckles, including five Ben Johnson Rodeo Events, and the last Ben Johnson Saddle and was inducted in the Western Music Hall of Fame.
Rustys album, "The American Cowboy" was declared one of the 25 best cowboy albums of all time in the official magazine of the Western Music Association.
