Rusty Johnson has been called one the most promising young saxophonists in Dallas. Born and raised in the Midwest, Rusty recently migrated south to pursue a Master's degree in jazz studies at the University of North Texas. Since that move, he has become one of the busiest musicians in the Dallas metro while managing a tour schedule that has taken him from the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., to the arenas of Shanghai. Rusty has toured in countries such as: Romania, Mexico, Canada, and China, dazzling and inspiring audiences at every performance.
At the age of 27, Rusty has opened for with 4-time Grammy Award winner Steven Curtis Chapman, shared the stage with Peruvian drummer and percussionist Alex Acuna, Gaither recording artist Marvin Mathews, Dallas legend jazz pianist Buddy Shanahan, vocalist Sandra Kaye, NBC/movie star and vocalist Liz Mikel, and many more.
When not touring or performing, Rusty takes to another of his passions, child welfare advocacy. Raised in the Iowa child welfare system, Rusty uses his personal experience to connect with youth, foster parents, communities, and legislators. In 2004, Rusty worked with Congressman Silvestre Reyes (current head of the United States House Intelligence Committee) on Capitol Hill to promote the Child Welfare Agenda through legislation such as One Church, One Child. Rusty has spoken at numerous engagements throughout the country and has been awarded numerous awards including the Central College TRIO Achiever, State of Iowa Certificate of Recognition, signed by the 80th General Assembly, the El Paso CARE Coalition, and Iowa State Executive Department recognition for his recent benefit for Iowa’s foster youth, Rusty Johnson’s American Dreams. Over $20,000 was raised to enroll foster youth in the arts, sports, and other extra-curricular activities. And once again, Rusty has been honored to serve as a waiter for his second year at the Dallas Child Abuse Prevention Center’s Celebrity Waiter Gala, the biggest fund-raiser to prevent Child Abuse in Dallas.
Currently Rusty is working with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services as the Youth Specialist for the Dallas/Fort Worth Region, encompassing 19 counties in Texas. One of the many duties of this position is to construct and lead a Youth Leadership Council formed of current and past foster youth. Rusty is honored to be mentoring, Change for Today & Tomorrow (C4t2 ), today’s foster youth & alumni action group. Rusty is also spending many hours in his recording studio preparing to release his much-anticipated first album hopefully in time for the second annual Rusty Johnson’s American Dreams at the Hoyt Sherman in Des Moines, Iowa, on November 10th, 2007. With the partnership of the Dallas Wednesday’s Child Benefit Corporation, Rusty will launch the first annual Texas American Dreams in May of 2008.
For more information or to contact Rusty’s management, visit www.rustyjohnson.net
