Harry Rusk
Harry Rusk was a member of the northern Dene Nation of B.C. and is regarded as the first First Nation country artist to perform on the Grand Ole Opry stage in Nashville.
Born in 1937, teenaged Harry suffered from tuberculosis and spend four years recovering at the Charles Camsell Indian Hospital in Edmonton. A chance encounter with Hank Snow in the hospital ward changed Harry’s life; the famed Canadian country artist inspired Harry to heal and strive to become a singer and guitarist himself. The two became lifelong friends and on June 13th, 1972, Harry received a phone call from Hank inviting him to perform at the Grand Ole Opry. This opened doors for Harry’s career, performing at the Opry several times between 1972 and 1996.
Harry placed numerous songs on the RPM Charts in the late 1960s and early 1970s, with “Rose of Mexico,” “Digging for Gold,” "Pineville County Jail," and "The Redman And The Train" all becoming major hits. He recorded over 55 albums, sold more than 2 million records, and performed extensively, touring Holland, Israel, Italy, Germany, Poland, Austria, Sweden, England, and Norway, as well as Cuba and Mexico.
Harry crossed over on March 20, 2025, at 87 years old, leaving behind a moving legacy of resilience and dedication.
“Only God knows how deeply grateful and thankful I am for all the good and most wonderful opportunities that he has blessed me with - I am glad I made that decision to follow Hank Snow's music way back in June of 1952.” – Harry Rusk
