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Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Rusty Ends

Rusty Ends is the real deal—a living bridge between the gritty rock and blues of the 1950s and ’60s and the ever-evolving sounds of the 21st century. He cut his teeth as a teenager playing the rough bars and taverns along Dixie Highway, from Louisville to Fort Knox. His early audiences were a wild mix of soldiers, bikers, hustlers, laborers, and working girls—a rowdy, unpredictable crowd that demanded music with soul, grit, and a beat that could keep the topless dancers moving. To survive in those rooms, a band had to play everything—blues, soul, and country—and make it groove.

Rusty’s skill grew with every set, and soon he joined The Premiers, a well-known club band that launched him into Louisville’s thriving live music scene. His first big break came in 1969, recording with Cooper ‘n’ Brass at Sam Phillips’ legendary Phillips International Recording Studio in Memphis. Their version of “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?” became a regional hit in the Southeast and was a dance floor favorite in the Northeast.

In the early 1990s, Rusty returned to his roots and passion: the blues. He formed the Rusty Spoon Blues Band and also began writing his own songs in earnest. Over the years, Rusty has shared the stage with iconic acts like The Shirelles, The Drifters, The Coasters, Bobby Lewis, The Marvelettes, and even The Little River Band. He’s appeared on blues festival lineups alongside legends like Koko Taylor, Otis Rush, and the Excello Blues All Stars. In the studio, he’s lent his guitar skills to artists like Kelly Richey, Robbie Bartlett, Wayne Young, and the great Eddie Kirkland.

Then, around 2010, Rusty vanished from the music scene. Rumors swirled. Some said he was living deep in the Everglades, studying Native American mysticism under a Seminole medicine man. Others claimed he was working as first mate on a shrimp boat—a story Rusty flatly denies, insisting, “I’d never work that hard.”

Five years later, he reemerged when longtime friend and occasional bandmate David Zirnheld invited him to play guitar at church services. Together, they performed a soulful mix of traditional hymns and original songs. That experience reignited Rusty’s passion for music—and he was back.

Today, Rusty Ends and his band serve up a one-of-a-kind blend of rockabilly, blues, soul, and whatever else catches Rusty’s ear. It’s a bold, heartfelt sound he proudly calls Hillbilly Hoo Doo—a musical gumbo cooked up in Kentucky, seasoned with decades of life, grit, and groove.

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