Rick Worrall wants you to know he loves tribute acts. But is not a tribute act.
鈥淭his is a celebration of John Denver and his music,鈥� Worrall said. 鈥淚 want to keep it in his style. But no one鈥檚 going to be dressing up like him or trying to impersonate him, because in my view there was only one John Denver.鈥�
The show runs March 29 to 31, with two performances at the and one performance at the . A portion of ticket sales and sponsorship will support the Boys and Girls Club of the Okanagan.
The artist who recorded hits like Take Me Home Country Roads, Annie鈥檚 Song, Sunshine On My Shoulder and the everlasting Rocky Mountain High died in 1997. But his collaborator and the co-architect of his distinctive sound, , will be on stage conducting the as they play his original arrangements from the famous Denver recordings.
鈥淚鈥檓 so excited about having Lee because I am a John Denver fan,鈥� Worrall said. 鈥淚 saw John Denver in 1974 at CNE in Toronto and Lee was conducting the orchestra.鈥�
One of Hollywood鈥檚 best
鈥淟ee is one of the top Hollywood composers and arrangers,鈥� Worrall said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 done movies and TV 鈥� he has seven Emmys for his TV work, and two Grammy Awards 鈥� and he鈥檚 worked with everybody. Whitney Houston, Barbra Streisand, he still works with Neil Diamond, and he鈥檚 been working lately with Placido Domingo.鈥�
Worrall鈥檚 production company has assembled the concert, and has plans to take it across Canada. The 91大黄鸭 and Vernon concerts will be the world premiere performances. Worrall will also have a starring role on stage.
With Holdridge as music director, the concert will present the music of John Denver in its familiar settings and in some new interpretations. Vocalists Steve Worrall, Mia Harris, Justin Moore and Delphine Litke 鈥� all of whom are favourites in the Valley鈥檚 professional music scene 鈥� will be backed by an all-star band that includes Gary Smyth, Scott Grant, Brian McMahon, Chris Stevens, Susan Aylard and guest pianists Neville Bowman and Melina Schein.
Worrall loves the production aspect of assembling a concert. 鈥淧roduction is the art of creating an audience experience,鈥� he says. And everything in Rocky Mountain High, from the simplest presentation to the full sound of the symphony, is built around two things: John Denver鈥檚 music and the audience experience.
鈥淭he songs are everything, they stand alone,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut for the audience, the production puts the icing on the cake.鈥�