Famed Country Singer Rusty Wier Dies of Cancer

Rusty Weir was inducted into the Austin Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2002. He was known as a Texas music legend.

Beginning his career as a drummer with groups such as the Lavender Hill Express and The Wig, he decided he wanted something different. Thus, he taught himself how to play the guitar.

He was known as one of the original Austin Cosmic Cowboys along with Jerry Jeff Walker and Michael Martin Murphy. Diagnosed with cancer in November 2007, Rusty Wier had been undergoing chemotherapy and had been homebound.

Rusty Weir's only monster hit was when Bonnie Raitt covered his song “Don’t It Make You Wanna Dance” on the soundtrack to “Urban Cowboy." It earned him double platinum. You can watch Rusty perform it here.