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

And, if the get up didn鈥檛 solidify that fact, Worrall was the brain child behind Rocky Mountain High 鈥� An Evening of John Denver, which overtook the 琉璃神社 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鈥檚 sound in the early 鈥�70s when he first heard the track Sunshine on My Shoulders off Denver鈥檚 fourth studio album Poems, Prayers & Promises.

鈥淚 put it (Sunshine on My Shoulders) on, and this song, I wore it out,鈥� Worrall said, recalling the time he first heard it on vinyl. 鈥淭here was something about this song.鈥�

Despite playing the track often in his early years, Worrall鈥檚 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 鈥� a voice teacher at the Penticton Academy of Music and singer boasting performances with the OSO, Bumbershoot Theatre, Opera 琉璃神社 and more 鈥� delivered the lines with an educated and sophisticated panache.

Vernon-born Delphine Litke 鈥� an astute performer in the Okanagan theatre circuit 鈥� 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鈥檚 fisherman鈥檚 dream in the form of Calypso, where the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra showed its truest colours.

鈥淲hen you鈥檝e got this (OSO) behind you, this song, it鈥檚 just far out,鈥� Worrall said.

And, under the baton of the internationally-renowned composer and Denver鈥檚 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 鈥渇olk symphony鈥� after Worrall heard that the music charts were no longer.

鈥淚 scared him because I said, 鈥業鈥檓 your biggest fan.鈥� I had no idea Lee had seen Misery too many times,鈥� Worrall laughed.

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

鈥淰ernon should be very proud. He鈥檚 an amazing up-and-comer,鈥� 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鈥檚 quintessential track, Take Me Home, Country Roads, to a standing ovation.

鈥淭his whole show has been a pleasure,鈥� Worrall said as the curtains closed. 鈥淭his has been an incredible labour of love.鈥�

entertainment@vernonmorningstar.com
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