There was almost always a jam session at Rusty Estes’ house in Grand Junction, said his stepdaughter Joannah Harless of Brighton.
Estes, who died May 16 of liver cancer at age 64, played the guitar from age 14 until shortly before his death.
Over the years, he played venues from nursing homes to the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tenn.
He loved dressing for the occasion and wore a pink suit with rhinestones when he was in the Merle Lindsey Ozark Jubilee Band.
He also had a turquoise suit with gold fringe.
“He loved looking sharp, and he loved loud suits,” said his grandson Christopher Jeffries of Grand Junction.
“Sometimes we had to tell him, ‘It’s too loud; turn it down,”‘ Jeffries said, laughing.
Once, he bleached his hair blond for a concert.
Most gigs required a tux, and he was happy to wear one, Jeffries said.
No matter what, “he could be ready to go at a moment’s notice,” Joannah Harless said.
Estes traveled for many years playing with various bands, doing jazz, rock, country, bebop, blues or disco, often backing up well-known artists.
For the last 30 years, he played either in his own band, the Jazz City, or doing gigs with bands needing a guitarist or bassist.
He played his last gig this spring.
“This is the first year he couldn’t play in the Grand Junction Jazz and Arts Festival,” said his stepson, Jimmy Harless of Grand Junction.
Estes taught many people, including relatives, how to play the guitar. “He also taught me how to be professional and how to conduct myself,” his stepson said.
Rusty Estes’ day jobs varied. He was a swamper (transmission repairman) and carpenter and worked in a greenhouse, said his wife, Bettye Estes.
James David Estes was born Aug. 8, 1942, in Bogalusa, La., and was reared in Colorado and Oklahoma.
He got the nickname “Rusty” because of his rusty-red hair and mustache.
His father, Overton Estes, taught his 14-year-old son to play the guitar, and he went onto to learn the bass, piano and harmonica.
“You could throw him in a room with an instrument, and he’d come out knowing how to play it,” said Joannah Harless.
Estes married Bettye Harless in 1982.
In 1998, he earned a bachelor’s degree in music and later earned a master’s in counseling, both at Mesa State College in Grand Junction.
In addition to his wife, stepdaughter and stepson, he is survived by stepdaughter Kay Hemming of Brighton; 15 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
Staff writer Virginia Culver can be reached at 303-954-1223 or vculver@denverpost.com.
