When he was told that for a bribe of $5000 his sentence could be overturned, it was the many backpackers who'd passed through who sent him the money. Thomas ended up making a living by giving backpackers tours of the prison - he became a fixture on the backpacking circuit and was named in the Lonely Planet guide to Bolivia. Prisoners have to pay an entrance fee and buy their own cells (the alternative is to sleep outside and die of exposure), prisoners' wives and children often live inside too, high quality cocaine is manufactured and sold from the prison. Thomas found himself in a bizarre world, the prison reflecting all that is wrong with South American society.

Marching Powder is the story of how he navigated this dark world of gangs, drugs and corruption to come out on top. Small-time drug smuggler Thomas McFadden found himself on the inside. The most satisfying news about the album may be that Young had such a good time making it, he’s interested in a follow up, and more stories from this natural storyteller would be welcome.San Pedro is Bolivia's most notorious prison. Poco fans will easily be drawn to the album as will fans of the southern rock genre that emerged in the early 1970s.

Young says life has been good to him, and the album is a reflection of his appreciation. ‘Waitin’ for the Sun’ also features songs about Young’s family, and in the interview he provides the backstories to songs about his daughter (“Sara’s Song”) and his grandparents (“Honey Bee”). Schmit, as well as others such as Gregg Allman (who once auditioned to be a member of Poco), Gram Parsons, JD Souther, Don Henley and Glenn Frey.Ī few of the members of Poco – past and present – are featured on the new album. While some artists promoting a new album might not want to talk about the past, Young embraces it and happily talks about former Poco bandmates Randy Meisner, Richie Furay, Jim Messina and Timothy B. In an interview with veteran journalist Robert Neil, Young tells the stories behind the songs, and when he gets to the track “My Friend,” already rising in popularity, it becomes an historic, musical trip down memory lane about the musicians he’s known and the friendships that have endured.

The new set is entitled ‘Waitin’ for the Sun,’ (Blue Élan Records) and it features 10 songs that not only give you a peek into Young’s life, but also into his emotions, as the “Crazy Love” singer/songwriter is unabashedly sentimental.

After more than 50 years in music, Rusty Young, the leader of the group Poco, has recorded his first solo album.

Rusty young books