Merrilee Rush is an American country singer who dazzled the world with her unique sultry and low voice. She is best known for her song Angel of the Morning and leading teen combo’s, the statics and the turnabouts
The talented musician has had a successful music career ranging for decades and is still very much active. Here are details on the great musician.
Biography Of Merrilee Rush
Merrilee Rush was born Merrilee Gunst in Seattle, Washington on the 26th of January 1944. her parents are Reuben and Edith Gunst. She had siblings Cheryl, Marsha, Laura, and Clayton.
Her father was a homebuilder and the family often moved around including in some of the homes he built. From an early age, she started taking piano lessons and went on to further her education in music.
Husband
She is married to Billy Mac McCarthy, a singer, and songwriter who she met in 1974 at a gig. They formed a music partnership and toured over the decade. along the line, they got married.
Merrilee Rush and Neil Rush, a saxophonist and music entrepreneur got married on July 1st, 1963. He was instrumental in her ascendance to the music scene, as she was initially doing backup for others.
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Net Worth
Merrilee Rush has been on the music scene since the ’60s and recorded a successful career. Her net worth is estimated at $1 million to $2 million with most of it coming from her music career.
Kids
Merrilee Rush and Neil Rush’s marriage produced a child, Michael in 1964.
7 Interesting facts you Should Know About Merrilee Rush
1. She didn’t Start As Singer
She initially set out playing classical piano, and did backups for friends and later other musicians.
In 1960, she auditioned as the lead vocalist for the Aztecs band where she met Neil Rush who paved the way for her lead role in singing.
She has shifted music genres in her career, she has done pop and R and B, which she still cherishes despite having more pop credit.
2. She Was Part Of Other Bands
With Neil, they formed Merrilee and her Men, a band that did cover-ups of pop hits of other musicians. the band was short-lived as other band members felt so much attention was given to Merrilee Rush.
They put together another band, Merrilee and her men that had a small circuit gig. they later joined another band that included tiny Tony, the new band was known as Tiny Tony, Merrilee, and the Statics.
During the years of Beatlemania, music style was greatly influenced to make room for the Beatles to take over with pop. Merrilee and Neil broke off from the statics and formed a new band, the Turnabouts
In the late 1960s, an offer was made to her to tour the South with The Memphis boys. a song was written by Chip Taylor, Angel of the Morning was offered to her. it was later released with tremendous success.
3. She Won A Grammy
Merrilee Rush was nominated for female vocalist and won a Grammy with the Angel of The Morning. The peculiarity of the song had other artists recording it.
Country singer Juice Newton and Reggae singer shaggy have renditions of the song.
4. Angel Of The Morning Is About Female Empowerment And Sexual
This song was written and composed in 1966 but released in 1968 was a hit and it surged Merrilee Rush to one of the household names.
It is a progressive song as it talks about female empowerment and sexuality.
5. Merrilee Rush Also Appeared On TV
She appeared on television in the 1960s and ’70s in shows such as American Bandstand, and The Joey Bishop Show among others.
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6. Merilee Rush Faced Sexual Harassment
Writing her name in the annals of music came with its price, she was faced with so mush harassment being a female in a predominantly male industry.
Ranging abuse from record producers affected her career. at some point, some of her songs did not do well due to bad representation as demands not met on her part reflected in the representation she gets.
7. She Is an Inductee of the NAMA Hall of Fame
In 1989, Northwest Area Musicians Association gave her its highest honors when she got inducted into the Hall Of Fame.
She remains a legend for outstanding performances despite the passage of time.
Where is Merrilee Rush?
The 78-year-old legend is alive and lives in a century-old house built by her grandfather where she breeds Arabian and old English dogs alongside performing with her band in Rock and Roll nostalgia.
We hope to see more of her performances.
