John Denver's album Rocky Mountain High was released more than 50 years ago. It became an iconic classic and can still be heard around the world today.
To celebrate Denver's music and get qathet region residents into the winter holiday spirit, A Rocky Mountain High Christmas will hit the stage at Evergreen Theatre on Tuesday, November 26. Canadian recording artists Rick and Steve Worrall, along with a Canadian all-star band, a symphony ensemble, and special guests Powell River Academy of Music Academy Chamber Choir, will perform a blend of Denver's hits and festive Christmas tunes.
"The performance is what we call a celebration of the music of John," said Rick. "We didn't want this to be a tribute show, we wanted to focus on the music, the songwriting."
This will be the first time the Academy Chamber Choir will be collaborating with this performance, according to its director Walter Martella.
"We're going to have the choir singing the second half of the concert with the band," said Martella. "We will have a mix of the adult choir and the children's choir on stage."
Martella said the choir will be performing, along with the band and ensemble orchestra, songs from a popular TV special called, John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together.
"I'm amazed with the people who are in this band, because they could be stars in their own right," said Martella. "Steve Worrall, Rick's brother, toured with Tom Cochrane; Sean Bray is an award-winning guitar player and so is Chris Stevens, who is a banjo player."
Martella said the symphony/orchestra ensemble is made up of players from Victoria, the Okanagan, Kootenays and Edmonton.
Worrall connected with Denver's longtime friend and music arranger/conductor Lee Holdridge in 2017, and from there, created the first version of the show, called Rocky Mountain High, to celebrate and honour Denver's music.
"Folks have fond memories of the Christmas stuff that John did, but they still want to hear the hits," said Rick. "So the concert is split into two segments: first, with the hits, the ones people are expecting to hear, and then, the second part will be Christmas melodies."
Rick said the band has also planned what it calls a campfire segment, where the performers touch on about 10 different hit songs that Denver had in his repertoire.
"The very first time I heard John Denver, there was something about his lyrics and his voice that just resonated with me," said Rick. "Here's the thing about John Denver's music, most people have heard John Denver but didn't realize it."
Rick said so many other bands and performers have covered Denver songs such as: “Take Me Home, Country Roads”; “Sunshine on My Shoulders”; and “Leaving on a Jet Plane”.
"It's definitely a show for all ages, and not just John Denver fans but because the quality of the performers is top tier," said Rick.
Tickets are available by calling the Evergreen Theatre box office, at 604.485.2891, or in-person at Powell River Recreation Centre.
To see a preview of the concert on Youtube, or for more information about the performance, go to rockymountainhighconcert.com/about-the-concert.
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