Don’t It Make You Want To Dance

The Zoo Crew is spinning the infectious Don’t It Make You Wanna Dance by Rusty Wier from his 1975 album of the same name, and the Zoo Freaks are surely feeling the groove. This song, a cornerstone of Wier’s legacy, became a regional hit in Texas and gained widespread fame when Bonnie Raitt covered it for the 1980 Urban Cowboy soundtrack, helping the track achieve double-platinum status with over two million copies sold. The song’s upbeat country-rock vibe, with lyrics celebrating the joy of returning home to familiar faces, resonated widely, inspiring covers by artists like Jerry Jeff Walker, Chris LeDoux, Barbara Mandrell, and even storyteller Todd Snider, who included it on his 2011 live album. Wier himself shared in a comment on SonicHits that he wrote the song about the exhilaration he felt driving into Austin from California, specifically around Oak Hill, capturing the essence of coming home.

Another piece of trivia comes from fan memories shared on platforms like SonicHits, where one fan recalled seeing Wier perform at Gino’s Italian Grill in South Austin in the early 2000s. With just his guitar, Wier commanded the room, showcasing his ability to connect with audiences through his music and charisma. Fans also reminisced about his shows at venues like Poor David’s Pub in Dallas and the Pizza Place off Ben White, noting his humor and showmanship. A particularly charming story from a SonicHits commenter mentioned Wier’s gracious reaction to a misspelled poster for a 1973 Lubbock show, where he laughed it off and bought the designer a beer at the Main Street Saloon, highlighting his down-to-earth personality.

Rusty Wier, born Russell Allen Wier on May 3, 1944, in Austin, Texas, began his musical journey at a remarkably young age. According to his bio on AllMusic, Wier discovered his love for performing at three years old, galloping around his father’s Austin restaurant on a toy stick horse to the tune of the William Tell Overture, delighting patrons. By thirteen, he was playing drums with a group called the Centennials, and in the 1960s, he joined local rock bands like The Wig and Lavender Hill Express. Wier’s early hit came in 1968 with Watchout, a stereophonic 45 with Gary P. Nunn, marking one of Texas’s first such releases. After Lavender Hill Express disbanded, Wier taught himself guitar using an instruction book, as noted on Apple Music, and transitioned to country-rock in the 1970s, becoming a key figure in the Austin music scene alongside artists like Michael Martin Murphey and Jerry Jeff Walker.

Wier’s career spanned decades, with performances alongside legends like Willie Nelson, Marshall Tucker Band, and an up-and-coming George Strait as his opening act. His contributions to the Austin Sound earned him a 2002 induction into the Austin Music Awards Hall of Fame. Sadly, Wier passed away on October 9, 2009, but his music lives on through fan communities and digital platforms.

For more on Rusty Wier, visit the official Rusty Wier Fan Page on Facebook, which has over 1,900 likes and shares updates about his legacy. Fans can also connect through the r/country subreddit, where enthusiasts post performances like his 1990 Austin rendition of Don’t It Make You Wanna Dance. Unfortunately, no official website or active Instagram and X accounts exist for Wier, likely due to his passing before these platforms became prominent. However, his music and stories continue to thrive through fan-driven spaces online.