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Growing up in the 1950's
in Hankinson, North Dakota, Steve Swenson enjoyed a simple life. He
went to school, rode the rails with his dad (a brakeman on the Soo
Line), and enjoyed the stark countryside of the Dakotas. Listening to Bob Wills, Hank
Williams and Jimmie Rodgers, Steve became an avid fan of the "Grand Ole
Opry." As a boy, he mistakenly thought "Red River Valley" was a song
about the muddy river by the same name which separates Minnesota & North
Dakota. Years later, while touring on his own, Steve
visited the Texas river for which the famous song was actually named! After years of headlining Minnesota dance bands, Steve moved to Colorado in 1971 and re-acquainted himself with Western Swing. Steve's love affair with the music of Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys was soon rekindled, and he found himself performing the famous blend of rural country-folk music & Big Band sound. Blessed to have surrounded himself with top-notch musicians, Steve began the next musical phase of his career. In 1972, Dusty Drapes & the Dusters was born. With the help of Don Debacker and Dan McCorison, DD&D became one of the most popular bands in the Rocky Mountain states, touring extensively and building a loyal following. Their combination of western swing and traditional country rock caught the attention of Columbia Records who signed them in 1973 and put the band on the road with such legendary stars as Merle Haggard, Linda Ronstadt, Marty Robbins, Minnie Pearl, Charlie McCoy, Willie Nelson, Charlie Daniels and many others. The now-famous, Junior Brown, was a member of the Dusters for 3 1/2 years!
Dusty Drapes & the Dusters are as comfortable weaving a Bob Wills tune as they are reinventing an Alan Jackson original. On stage, they are warm and friendly, leading their audience through a musical meandering of familiar melodies from days gone by as well as foot-stomping free-for-alls off today's charts. Their personal brand of "heartland humor" invites audiences to laugh with them as well as at them--always in the spirit of good fun! |
After playing to
sold-out venues and watching their records enjoy critical and commercial
success, the Dusters went on hiatus while Steve returned to Minnesota to be
closer to his family. After a successful stint playing classic rock
'n' roll, Steve dusted off his Stetson and reformed Dusty Drapes & the
Dusters. Presently the group performs at casinos, state fairs, street
dances, and corporate parties. They were also featured in 1994 on the
weekly TV show, "Midwest Country."
