Rick Worrall乌鸦传媒檚 goal was simple: to share his love of John Denver乌鸦传媒檚 music.
It snowballed from there, and Worrall, now backed by local talent and the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra, was able to bring in Denver乌鸦传媒檚 acclaimed composer, conductor and arranger Lee Holdridge to Kelowna and Vernon stages for Rocky Mountain High 乌鸦传媒� An Evening of John Denver March 29-31.
乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檝e always been a John Denver fan and I knew his music lent itself really well to the symphony,乌鸦传媒� Worrall said.
Inspired by a 2016 Elton John tribute put together by the band Jeans 乌鸦传媒榥 Classics and the OSO, where Worrall said he came in last minute to sing, he approached the symphony with his idea to celebrate Denver. And it all evolved from there.
乌鸦传媒淚 reached out to Lee Holdridge to see if I could rent the symphony charts,乌鸦传媒� Worrall said.
Holdridge returned Worrall乌鸦传媒檚 call within a few hours with the sad news that there were no longer any charts. However, after Worrall proposed that he come and conduct the symphony himself, Holdridge was on board and Worrall was thrilled.
乌鸦传媒淟ee, he乌鸦传媒檚 one of the Hollywood legends that乌鸦传媒檚 still going,乌鸦传媒� Worrall said. 乌鸦传媒淟ee is one of the top Hollywood composers and arrangers. He乌鸦传媒檚 done movies and TV 乌鸦传媒� he has seven Emmys for his TV work, and two Grammy Awards 乌鸦传媒� and he乌鸦传媒檚 worked with everybody. Whitney Houston, Barbra Streisand, he still works with Neil Diamond, and he乌鸦传媒檚 been working lately with Placido Domingo.乌鸦传媒�
Haiti-born and Costa Rica-raised, Holdridge relocated to the United States at the age of 15 before arranging for some of the country乌鸦传媒檚 biggest acts.
乌鸦传媒淏oth Steve (Worrall乌鸦传媒檚 brother) and I have had the opportunity to work with some pretty big people. We乌鸦传媒檝e had great opportunities, but I always seek out the opportunity to work with more people. Lee is as close as you can get to working with John Denver,乌鸦传媒� Worrall said.
Holdridge will hold the helm of the concert, which features Okanagan vocalists Steve Worrall, Mia Harris, Justin Moore and Delphine Litke backed by the band that includes Gary Smith, Scott Grant, Brian McMahon, Chris Stevens, Susan Aylard and guest pianists Neville Bowman and Melina Schein.
乌鸦传媒淭he band comprises some of the best players in the Okanagan,乌鸦传媒� Worrall said.
However, Worrall said, it乌鸦传媒檚 important to note that the show is less of a tribute and more of a celebration of the beloved American singer/songwriter.
乌鸦传媒淚 want the audience to come and enjoy the songs. I think people will be pleasantly surprised,乌鸦传媒� Worrall said. 乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檙e hoping that we乌鸦传媒檙e going to create a very similar experience as seeing John Denver without him being there.乌鸦传媒�
Rocky Mountain High 乌鸦传媒� An Evening of John Denver ignites the Kelowna Community Theatre March 29 and 30 at 7:30 p.m. and the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre March 31 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $59 adult, $54 senior and $27 youth and are available through the Ticket Seller in Vernon, 250-549-7469,, and Kelowna Tickets, 250-862-2867, . A portion of the proceeds will support the Boys and Girls Club of the Okanagan.
entertainment@vernonmorningstar.com
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