When I go in front of an audience, I'll admit I sometimes have a certain amount of fear in me, because maybe the people are not going to accept what I'm doing today. That's bad for any artist, especially if what you're doing is not in line with what's happening today.

After leaving Basie his recording career soared as a solo artist and a singer with other bands. In 1960 he recorded an album with the Dave Brubeck Quartet known for their cerebral cool jazz sound but the album was nonetheless described by critic Scott Yanow as "a surprising success. Moten died in 1935 and Rushing joined Count Basie for what would be a 13-year tenure.

He stayed with the successor Count Basie band when Moten died in 1935. Rushing was known as "Mr. Rushing was a powerful singer who had a range from baritone to tenor.