I first met Rusty when he was part of the Big Blues/Dynaflows lineup around 1992 and at the time Tom Mitchell was in The Hula Monsters. He would often come down to sit in with Joe and the guys at Chief Ikes Mambo Room. At that time a few bands were in flux. Rusty was still playing with the Uptown Rhythm Kings but the band was on the verge of disolving. The J Street Jumpers were rising from the Rhythm King ashes and both Tom and Rusty filled the guitar chair in the early versions of the band. Bill Kirchen got a call from Dan Hicks looking for a guitarist and Bill offered up both Rusty and Tom. Tom went with Dan Hicks and Rusty settled into the guitar chair for the Jumpers.
