Poco Star Paul Cotton 'Unexpectedly' Passes Away at Age 78 Celebrity The Alabama-born guitarist has passed away 'unexpectedly, peacefully' at the age of 78, only several months after his former bandmate Rusty Young died of a heart attack. Aug 4, 2021 Rusty Young. The 78-year-old singer and guitarist passed away "unexpectedly, peacefully," according to a note on his Facebook page. Poco co-founder Jim Messina, who Cotton replaced in the band in 1970, has paid tribute to Cotton, calling him a "special musical kindred brother." "We spent time together before he joined Poco and indeed gave me a great honor when he filled my position," Jim writes. "He came back into my life once again around 1995 when my son was three years old and we had a chance to spend some gracious moments together. I am now so very grateful I had a chance to meet up with Paul in 2009 when we performed together once again."