From the moment he steps on stage, clad in a classic cowboy乌鸦传媒檚 white floral button down with an acoustic in hand, it乌鸦传媒檚 clear that Rick Worrall is a John Denver fan.

And, if the get up didn乌鸦传媒檛 solidify that fact, Worrall was the brain child behind Rocky Mountain High 乌鸦传媒� An Evening of John Denver, which overtook the Kelowna Community Theatre March 29 and 30 before rocking to a near-full crowd at the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre March 31.

With a hand-full of local talent and the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra, the night was filled with the famous ditties of the acclaimed American singer/songwriter led by Worrall at the helm.

Worrall fell in love with Denver乌鸦传媒檚 sound in the early 乌鸦传媒�70s when he first heard the track Sunshine on My Shoulders off Denver乌鸦传媒檚 fourth studio album Poems, Prayers & Promises.

乌鸦传媒淚 put it (Sunshine on My Shoulders) on, and this song, I wore it out,乌鸦传媒� Worrall said, recalling the time he first heard it on vinyl. 乌鸦传媒淭here was something about this song.乌鸦传媒�

Despite playing the track often in his early years, Worrall乌鸦传媒檚 love for the dittie was apparent when he offered the smooth and thoughtful vocals to Vernon audiences.

Enter Mia Harris, whose petite stature does nothing to hide her soprano powerhouse vocals, from which Rocky Mountain High, an already electric performance, was enlightened.

Harris 乌鸦传媒� a voice teacher at the Penticton Academy of Music and singer boasting performances with the OSO, Bumbershoot Theatre, Opera Kelowna and more 乌鸦传媒� delivered the lines with an educated and sophisticated panache.

Vernon-born Delphine Litke 乌鸦传媒� an astute performer in the Okanagan theatre circuit 乌鸦传媒� also took the stage, singing alongside Worrall for the majority of the show.

The roughly two-hour performance wound quickly through two-sets, the first of which ended on the high of Denver乌鸦传媒檚 fisherman乌鸦传媒檚 dream in the form of Calypso, where the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra showed its truest colours.

乌鸦传媒淲hen you乌鸦传媒檝e got this (OSO) behind you, this song, it乌鸦传媒檚 just far out,乌鸦传媒� Worrall said.

And, under the baton of the internationally-renowned composer and Denver乌鸦传媒檚 own arranger Lee Holdridge, the OSO shone and added a palpable body to the track.

Holdridge, who has worked with the likes of Barbra Streisand and Neil Diamond, was invited over the phone by Worrall to lead the 乌鸦传媒渇olk symphony乌鸦传媒� after Worrall heard that the music charts were no longer.

乌鸦传媒淚 scared him because I said, 乌鸦传媒業乌鸦传媒檓 your biggest fan.乌鸦传媒� I had no idea Lee had seen Misery too many times,乌鸦传媒� Worrall laughed.

The tracks ebbed and flowed, winding through Denver乌鸦传媒檚 expansive discography, before the final guest singer took the stage: Vernon乌鸦传媒檚 own Justin Moore.

乌鸦传媒淰ernon should be very proud. He乌鸦传媒檚 an amazing up-and-comer,乌鸦传媒� Worrall said after Moore dropped his operatic vocals that far exceed his years.

Moore, the son of two Juilliard alumni, appeared as comfortable on stage for Rocky Mountain High as he is fronting Vernon rock group Armonia.

And, as Rocky Mountain High gears up for the finally, Harris, Litke and Moore return to the stage to rock Denver乌鸦传媒檚 quintessential track, Take Me Home, Country Roads, to a standing ovation.

乌鸦传媒淭his whole show has been a pleasure,乌鸦传媒� Worrall said as the curtains closed. 乌鸦传媒淭his has been an incredible labour of love.乌鸦传媒�

entertainment@vernonmorningstar.com
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