Rusty Greaves

aka Trevor Greaves


In the early 1970s New Zealand country music pioneer Rusty Greaves appeared on America’s Grand Ole Opry at the legendary Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. He made a further three appearances there before the show moved to Opryland Park where he performed seven times in ensuing years.

He was given the stage name “Rusty” by early mentor George Tollerton, of Fullers Entertainment Bureau, who exclaimed, “We can’t have a cowboy singer named Trevor!”

Cast of the TV show The Country Touch, late 1960s. Left to right, Paddy and Chris Lydon, Gray Bartlett, Tex Morton, Big Mike Durney, Val Proctor, Rusty Greaves.
Four Benny award winners and other friends celebrate Eddie Low's 70th birthday, Cambridge, 2015. From left: Gray Bartlett, Brendan Dugan, Dennis Marsh, Eddie Low, Kim Willoughby, and Tom Sharplin; at right are three of Rusty Greaves's 14 children: Michelle, Kevin and Lex.
Photo credit: Gray Bartlett collection
Rusty Greaves.
Photo credit: Michael Colonna collection
Rusty Greaves.
Photo credit: Michael Colonna collection
The Greaves family in 1972
Rusty Greaves
Rusty Greaves receives the Benny Award for lifetime achievement from the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand, 1976. Left to right, Northern Maori MP Matiu Rata, Edgar Benyon, Rusty Greaves, Gladys Greaves. Front, daughter Michelle Greaves.
Rusty Greaves - She'll Be Coming Round The Mountain
Rusty Greaves - Tumbling Tumbleweed
Rusty Greaves - The Overlander Trail
Rusty Greaves - Anna
Rusty Greaves.
Photo credit: Michael Colonna collection
A young Rusty Greaves (far left) with unidentified, Peter Newberry and David Baylis.
Photo credit: Michael Colonna collection
Rusty Greaves in Noumea.
Photo credit: Michael Colonna collection
A Rusty Greaves promo shot from the 1960s
Rusty Greaves receives the Benny Award for lifetime achievement from the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand, 1976. Left to right, Lindsay Frewer, Prime Minister Robert Muldoon, Rusty Greaves, and scroll recipient Trevor King.
Rusty, Michelle and Kevin Greaves.
Photo credit: Kevin Greaves Collection
Rusty Greaves and Dolly’s little sister Stella Parton adorn the cover of John Berry’s 1986 book Country Music
Kevin, Michelle and Rusty Greaves.
Photo credit: Kevin Greaves Collection
Rusty Greaves - Freight Train Yodel (live at Century Theatre Napier, 1986)
The 1960 Zodiac EP Rusty Greaves Sings, recorded in the May Road, Auckland, Hall that Zodiac used for many of their recordings at the time, by Eldred Stebbing
Trivia:

Rusty and Gladys Greaves were made honorary citizens of Metropolitan Nashville by then Mayor Richard Fulton in October 1978 for Greaves’ work as an ambassador for New Zealand and his dedication to country music.

Greaves is a cousin of fellow Zodiac artist Jack Riggir, father of New Zealand country star of the 1980s Patsy Riggir.

Labels:

RCA


Zodiac


Mascot


Viking


Crescent

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