“Music makes pictures and often tells stories. All of it magic and all of it true,” sang John Deutschendorf Jr in the introduction to a concert album that captured the hearts of folk and country fans around the world in the 70’s.
Better known as John Denver, this singer’s genuine and wilderness-pure music still resonates today, as much around the campfire as in the concert halls.
During his career, John Denver had five number-one albums in Canada, including his platinum-selling Greatest Hits and the gold-selling An Evening with John Denver.
He also had six number-one singles including “Annie’s Song,” “Back Home Again” and “Thank God I’m a Country Boy.” But, of course, John will be most remembered for his classic “Take Me Home, Country Roads”.
After his chart-topping decades, Denver worked extensively for humanitarian, science and environmental causes. These included his own environmental group Plant-It 2020, and award-winning contributions to the NASA “Citizens In Space” program.
John Denver met an untimely end in 1997 when his experimental aircraft crashed in California.
Canadian musician Rick Worrall, 68, has been a fan since seeing John Denver live in 1975 at the CNE in Toronto.
That concert featured a full symphony and Rick was struck with the potential for orchestration that Denver’s songs presented.
Rick’s own musical career took him elsewhere for many years — but when Rick filled in on lead vocals in 2017 with the Okanagan Symphony’s Elton John production, the experience (which he loved) germinated the idea to create a show celebrating John Denver’s music and the beautiful orchestration featured in the album An Evening with John Denver.
Rick and his brother Steve Worrall wanted to bring these songs to life and give them the lush orchestration they deserved.
Rick and Steve are longtime stalwarts of Canadian music, having been signed to both ATTIC and Spy/A&M records. Together they have released six albums and played and toured with the likes of Tom Cochrane, Sue Medley, Kim Stockwood and Colin Linden.
However, Rick and his bandmates ran into a challenge. The original John Denver scores and parts were not available. John’s management company had gotten rid of them after his passing.
After some searching Rick tracked down celebrated conductor and composer Lee Holdridge. Lee has scored numerous films, written operas, and worked with world-renowned artists such as Barbra Streisand, Stevie Wonder and Brian May.
Lee had scored and conducted John’s famed live album as well as recorded material. Rick was worried Lee would see him as a crazy Canadian and not respond. However, according to Lee, “I could sense that he was serious and passionate about this, so I listened to him.”
Turns out, Lee had met John Denver in 1971 when John played guitar on one of his own tracks that Lee was working on. Subsequently, when John needed an orchestral arrangement on his recordings, he brought in Lee.
Their collaboration continued for years after that serendipitous meeting, with Lee telling John, “Your songs are going to live into the future and become part of the fabric of the culture.”
With this belief, Lee had kept the full scores in paper manuscript.
Through collaboration with Rick Worrall, they were able to digitize the original scores and recreate the parts required for the John Denver production.
“We now have done over 80 songs and, in a sense, rescued the entire library,” says Lee. “Thanks to Rick for doing that and making it possible for us to go and perform these works, we’re keeping John’s legacy alive.”
“John’s music represented a message of hope at a time when we were more willing to address the world’s problems in a constructive way,” says Rick. “We need more John Denver today!”
Fans are now able to experience John Denver’s music in its full glory, with a broad musical palette of talented players and singers, in an exuberant live performance.
For Rick, the goal is not to dress up like John Denver and do a typical tribute — rather, to recreate the rich musical atmosphere of those orchestrated concerts John Denver was loved for, to truly showcase the songs.
Photo courtesy Rick
Worrall
Rick and Steve Worrall bring with them a Canadian all-star band including Sean Bray (guitar), Scott Grant (drums and percussion), Brian McMahon (bass), Chris Stevens (banjo), Susan Aylard (fiddle and violin), Neville Bowman (piano) and Delphine Litke (vocals) as well as many other featured musicians.
The 2024 Rocky Mountain High tour features concerts in different versions — a full symphony orchestra in larger centres, and a 14-piece group with added choir and guest artists in smaller settings. No matter where you see them you are guaranteed a broad ensemble and a rich sound.
This November and December, you can catch Rick Worrall’s “Rocky Mountain High Christmas – Celebrating the hits and Christmas music of John Denver” at venues throughout BC.
Go to: https://rockymountainhighconcert.com/ for venues and tickets. |
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