All writers, poets, and musicians, as well as listeners are invited to the Moultonborough Public Library's Fall Series of Poetry and Music evening events. This month's featured artist is musician George "Rusty" Locke.

About the featured artist

George "Rusty" Locke has been an entertainment fixture in Meredith for over thirty-five years. A musician and storyteller, he spends summers at the town docks as a busker and the rest of the time in many venues around the big lake including a run of over twenty years at Don Browns former “Corner House Inn” in Sandwich.

Rusty began playing guitar and writing songs some sixty years ago while serving in the U.S Army in South Korea as a journalist and combat photographer with the First Cavalry Division. While in the barracks, listening to records and relaxing one weekend with friends in the summer of 1962, someone played a couple of new folk music records. That was an ear opener to the young soldier.

“The first time I heard Joan Baez and Bob Dylan, I thought, ‘This is what I want to do! Make music. Write songs!’”

Performing became a lifelong passion of his and, as for his time in east Asia; "There was hardly any combat, frankly", Rusty said with a smile, "And the only photos I took were of visiting congressman, and generals representing the various countries who lent their military presence to the Republic of South Korea."

Rusty continued his military service when he left the "Land of the Morning Calm" and was sent to New Mexico where he wrote, produced and directed many Army public service spots and radio programs highlighting the Army’s mission statement in the Southwest. 

When he left the service, he continued to work in radio in New Hampshire, including several stations here in the Lakes Region. Rusty has worn many hats in his life – A caddie, a theater student at a school in Boston, slung hash in a diner, was a freelance writer, sold wood stoves, was a carpenter, a roofer and worked in local industry as a quality assurance technician.

He was born and raised in the Granite State and will be eighty-one this December. Except for a few years in southern Vermont, he has always lived here. “There is a certain sturdiness in this state. A timeless history that winks at you through the maples and white birches,” he said. 

This appreciation of the areas granite fences is revealed in one of his compositions, “Just A Broken Stone Wall” and helps illustrates his deep feelings for the place he calls home.

Rusty and his wife Rose (this July they celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary) have five children and he also has four kids from a previous marriage and five grandchildren.