An Idaho native and named after her mother’s favorite band ZZ Top, Dusty Leigh grew up in a family where music was an endless flow of country greats, and rock gods of the ‘70’s & 80’s. At a young age Dusty Leigh began belting out tunes from the likes of Dolly, The Judds, K.T. Oslin, Stevie Nicks, Reba and Trisha Yearwood, just to name a few.
Dusty Leigh’s beginning is not one of traditional means. Idaho isn’t really known for a succeeding music scene, especially in the ’90’s. Dusty Leigh’s mother made sure she performed at every local and state fair, karaoke contest, and radio station talent show to be found which helped develop her solid foundation for gritty ballads, intoxicating melodies, and broken hearts– woven into cheeky anthems and lessons learned. No matter what Dusty Leigh sings, it comes from a strong will and a life peppered with struggle, tragedy, and drive.
Dusty Leigh has always been hell-bent on pursuing her music dreams, but it was during her mid-teens that she lost her mother to suicide. Anyone that knows Dusty Leigh knows she refuses to take life lying down and she never gave up on those dreams; though it would be years later that she found her place in the music world.
Shortly after losing her mother, Dusty Leigh married her high school sweetheart and together they would spend the next 15 years living military life. From weddings, and sporting events, to more talent shows and a happenstance audition on The Voice, Dusty Leigh continued to sing and perform throughout their military career.
It was during their last military tour in North Carolina that Dusty Leigh’s husband put together a band, known at the time as Whiskey Creek, comprised of all active-duty military members. The band quickly fell together and pushed Dusty Leigh out of her comfort zone and straight onto the stages surround by thousands. What started out as just and idea, quickly turned into a full-time gigging act that would take them across state lines and straight into rock-n-roll life.
Though the adventure was short lived, it wasn’t in vain. Leaving military life after 15 years and moving back to Idaho, Dusty Leigh’s itch to be on stage again set in and soon Dusty Leigh & The Claim Jumpers was born.
The summer of 2019, Dusty Leigh was signed to Emanant Music Group with legendary Producer, Chas Childers. Wasting no time, song selection began and it was like a wild fire to fulfill the childhood dream of releasing her first album. ‘Roots & Dreams’ Dusty Leigh’s debut EP released in February 2021.
2021 brought a huge change when she packed-up her entire life in Idaho and headed for Tennessee in pursuit of chasing her dreams on a higher level. Dusty Leigh wasted no time forming her third band and setting out to play new venues and making new fans!
In addition to settling into her new hometown and gearing up for a busy 2023, she’s also steadfast on completing her sophomore album, “The Hell I Won’t”. Dusty Leigh has enjoyed writing new songs that resonate things from her past in hopes that her fans will relate to what drives her to continue fighting for this dream.
Dusty Leigh has a gift for delivering honest and emotional material. Her vocals blend naturalistic lyrics with country-music ideals and draws listeners in using heart-felt melodies and genuine emotion that she herself has lived. Describing her upbringing as one stemming from “humble, but tragic beginnings” each song she sings is truly hand-crafted and recorded to portray life’s joys and struggles, all of which Dusty Leigh hopes her listeners can relate to.
Dusty Leigh Huston – The Hell I Won’t
