Dusty began his professional career in Flint, Michigan, on radio station WWOK, at the age of 16, in 1946.   In subsequent years Dusty performed regularly on the following stations:

            WKNX - Saginaw on the Michigan Barn Dance Show

            KMA - Shenandoah, Iowa on the Country School Show

            WHO - Des Moines, Iowa on the Iowa Barn Dance Frolic

            WWVA - Wheeling, West Virginia on the World's Original Jamboree

In 1953, two events boosted Dusty's career: He began recording for the Columbia Record Co. and he was signed to an exclusive writer's contract by Fred Rose of the Acuff-Rose Publishing Co. in Nashville.

In the next three years he had four hits on the charts:

            Hello Operator

            Just Call On Me

            If That's The Life You Want To Live

            Once More

Through the years "Once More" has been recorded over 100 times.  The artists include:  

Dusty and his band, the Rodeo Boys, performed with several of the "Names" of the Grand Ole Opry, including Webb Pierce, Hank Snow, Porter Wagoner, the Louvins, and Little Jimmy Dickens.

In 1971,  "Once More" was recorded by Floyd Cramer in his album "Country Music Hall of Fame." Roy Acuff's recording of "Once More" was officially placed in the "Hall of Fame" museum in Nashville.

In 1983, Dusty Owens, along with 49 other artists, was recognized by WWVA  for making the greatest contributions to country music in the last 50 years.   50 bronze stars with names imbedded in the sidewalk in front of the Capitol Theatre in Wheeling.  Included were Johnny Cash, Tammy Wynette, Charley Pride, Merle Haggard, Hawkshaw Hawkins, Loretta Lynn, Marty Robbins, Elton Britt, Dave Dudley, Tom T. Hall, Grandpa Jone, Doug Kershaw, Barbara Mandrell, Ronnie Milsap, Lee Moore, Abby Neal, Statler Borthers, Mel Tillis, Conway Twitty, Mac Wiseman, Doc Williams, Kenny Roberts and Buck Owens.  Senator Robert Byrd did the honors.

In 1954, on the strength of his hit song, "Hello Operator," Dusty made a guest appearance on the "Ozark Jubilee" in Springfield, Missouri, a show that was aired weekly on national television.  Red Foley and Porter Wagoner were stars of the show.  Later, Dusty did package shows with Porter in various cities.

In Wheeling as part of "The World's Original Jamboree," Dusty had a 30 minute segment that was aired weekly on the CBS radio network.  He was a regular headliner along with Hawkshaw Hawkins, Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper, Doc Williams, Hal Lone Pine, Betty Cody, The Osborne Brothers, and Crazy Elmer.

Dusty is proud of the fact that he launched the career of one of the best fiddle players in Country music, Buddy Spicher, when he was 16 years old. Buddy later went to Nashville and became a sensation.

Dusty did a guest appearance on the Don Ho show in Honolulu.  The crowd gave him a standing ovation.

Dusty has appeared in various places in Florida,  including the Florida Opry in Plant City, FL, where he has been brought back several times by popular demand.  In 2004, Dusty appeared at the Strawberry Festival where he headlined a show along with Tommy Cash.

On September 1, 2006 Dusty was inducted into America's Old Time Country Music Hall of Fame and performed at the 31st National Old Time Country & Bluegrass Music Festival in Missouri Valley, Iowa.

Dusty is Owner and CEO of TCM Radio, one of the first Internet Radio Stations, established January 25, 2003:  http://www.tcmradio.com 
Email: dusowens@hotmail.com