For more than 40 years, Tom Rush has been making an impact on American music.

James Taylor told Rolling Stone magazine, “Tom was not only one of my early heroes, but also one of my main influences.”

Rush makes his first visit to the San Juan Community Theatre and to the Whittier stage on Saturday, 7:30 p.m.

Rush helped shape the folk revival in the 1960s and the renaissance of the ’80s and ’90s. His early recordings introduced the world to the work of Jackson Browne, Joni Mitchell and James Taylor (Rolling Stone decreed that Rush’s album, “The Circle Game,” ushered in the singer/songwriter era).

His more recent concerts have brought artists such as Nanci Griffith and Shawn Colvin to wider audiences when they were just beginning to build their own reputations. These Club 47 events combine unknown artists with veteran stars and have been broadcast as national specials on PBS and NPR.

As Rush continues to share his own talent as a gifted musician and performer, he combines his distinctive guitar style with terrific and often funny story-telling (look up “The Remember Song” on You Tube) plus sweet ballads and gritty blues. He also shares his songwriting and instrumental expertise in his most recent DVD, “How I Play (some of) My Favorite Songs.”

Learn and hear more about him at www.tomrush.com

Rush’s performance is sponsored by Friday Harbor House. Tickets are $25 for adults, $12 for student reserved, with $5 student RUSH on available seats one hour before the show.

A private donor has made provision for free tickets to anyone needing financial assistance to attend a theater event.

The SJCT box office is open Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and one hour before each performance. Call 378-3210 or buy tickets online at www.sjctheatre.org