Celebrating the music of John Denver!
Gary Smyth
1953 – 2022
It is with great sadness we say goodbye to one of our dear family members.
Rest in peace our friend.
We will miss you!
RICK WORRALL
Rick Worrall is a Canadian recording Artist with 5 albums to his credit. He originally signed to Attic Records in 1978. In the late 80’s he and his brother Steve were signed to A&M and in 1991 their self titled album Worrall was released. In 2000 he teamed with Juno award winning producer Lance Anderson to write and record “When Love Is Right” a blues project that featured some of the best known Bluesmen including, Domenic Troiano, Colin Linden and Richie Hayward.
Since making Kelowna his home in 2007, Rick has turned his attention to musical theatre and has been cast in a number of Kelowna Actors Studio productions, including, Les Miserable as Javert, Fiddler on the Roof as Tevye.
A by chance fill in last October, when the lead singer of Jean’s and Classics lost his voice during the first night of The OSO’s production of an Elton John’s pop tribute Mad Man Across The Water, sparked an idea to stage a similar show.
A love of John Denver’s music and knowing how well it would lend to symphony led him to Lee Holdrige, Mr. Denver’s original arranger/conductor and a friendship began and led to the creation of the concert series, Rocky Mountain High – An Evening of John Denver.
STEVE WORRALL
Steve Worrall was Born in Toronto, Canada,. At the age of fifteen he got his first experience performing and singing John Denver songs at the local Church, and performing High School musicals and drama’s. His first professional experience came at sixteen, singing back up vocals on his brother Rick Worrall, “Night Madness” Album for Attic Records. He soon joined Ricks band Night Madness in 1979 and toured till 1981.
In 1981 and 82 Steve returned to Toronto and studied voice and guitar at Royal Conservatory. In 1984 he again teamed up with brother Rick, this time as a duo; becoming one of the most successful house entertainers in Alberta. In 1989 with brother Rick, recorded at Kiva Studios Memphis the WORRALL album produced by Jim Gaines for Spy/A&M this led to successful concert tours until 1992, promoting the WORRALL album.
In 1993 Steve started his own band playing local gigs and recording in Toronto. His Guitar playing and singing landed him a spot on Tom Cochran’s “Ragged Ass Road” World Tour from 95-96. He spent the next 8 years playing, singing and touring with EMI recording artists, including, Kim Stockwood, Amy Sky, Wendy Lands. In 2001 and after many years on the road turned to teaching, utilizing his experience and passion for music; a natural step in his musical endeavours. This led him to Found 4The Music in 2005, a music school dedicated to helping anyone learn how to play, sing and record.
In 2014 Steve was commissioned by the Tyler McGill Foundation to be the music teacher for the Tyler McGill My First Guitar Program. A free music program dedicated to help the vulnerable youth in Scarborough and in 2016 he was awarded the T.D. Canada Trust Music Counts Grant to help develop and expand the program.
SEAN BRAY
Along with being a respected composer and educator, Sean Bray is considered to be one of Canada’s top guitarists. Sean started a serious pursuit of the guitar while living in Calgary, Alberta. He pursued jazz studies at Calgary’s Mount Royal College and went on to become a guitar instructor at Red Deer College. However, the dream of the big city was always in his sights, and he furthered his studies at the prestigious Manhattan School of Music in New York City.
When Sean moved to Toronto in 1990, he became a sought after sideman, studio guitarist and leader of his own projects including his own record label, which was the first independent Canadian jazz label to be signed to a major record company.
Sean has the ability to fit into many musical genres while still retaining an unmistakably original voice on his instrument. This has allowed Sean to be part of a wide variety of projects including: collaborations with the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra, as a member of the fusion Celtic band “Cod Gone Wild”, as half of the folk/Americana duo “Bray & Co.” with his daughter, Michaela, and leader of “Sean Bray’s Peach Band”, which is a great outlet for his movie score inspired instrumentals.
Sean is also the founder, producer and electric guitarist for “Songs of the Southern Belles”; a tribute to the great female country artists.
Sean is very excited to be part of “Rocky Mountain High-A John Denver Tribute”.
Sean Bray is endorsed by PRS guitars, Planet Waves and D’Addario strings.
Raised and educated in Vernon since the age of nine, McMahon has been deeply involved in our local music scene. He has enjoyed a 33-year career as a music teacher, a festival adjudicator and emcee, a member of more than a dozen different bands, and is an in-demand bass or sax sideman. “McMusic” has held a variety of roles with the Vernon Jazz Club since its inception including president for many years.
SUSAN AYLARD
Susan Aylard has travelled the world performing in Sweden, Russia, Denmark, Mexico, the USA and Ireland and of course, all of Canada. She started her violin studies before her 3rd birthday at the Vancouver Academy of Music. During the high school years, her studies took her to private instruction at UBC and then on to post secondary studies in Winnipeg at CMU and U of Manitoba for her performance major. Competing during her studies in western Canada, she placed first in the Senior division at the BC Festival of the Arts, her “Sabeon Trio” twice competed at the National Music Competition and most recently she received the prestigious Okanagan Arts award.
Teaching is also part of her passionate music career and she has spent years developing her Suzuki teacher training to combine it with her love of fiddling. Cripple Creek has taken over for the Twinkle variations. After years of playing professionally in various BC orchestras, and fronting the “Cats and the Fiddle” and “Rough Pearl” she has decided to limit her talents to the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra and fiddling upstream with “Cod Gone Wild”. Sue likes to describe her style as “rough pearl fiddling”. Her Baroque (translated to Rough Pearl) classical training is definitely evident in her arrangements and ability. As well as working freelance for other artists and recordings; she has 2 cd’s that feature her fiddle playing as well as her recent cd, The Islander, with Cod Gone Wild. When not switching between violin and fiddle, she is managing the Maples Waterfront Resort and BB in Sorrento, with her husband and 2 kids.
SCOTT GRANT
Drummers are known for having to be musically diverse, but only a few get to carry that versatility into their workaday drumming lives. Scott Grant is living proof that it’s the multi-faceted drummer who flourishes most. A professional drummer since 1986, this Kelowna, British Columbia native is embracing the drummer’s dream contributing his musical dexterity to a far-reaching list of music artists, providing the rhythmic backdrop to countless recording sessions and paving the way for a new generation of modern drummers.
From his start as a drummer in country and rock bands, Scott has taken the full musical journey–first contributing sweat equity developing himself as a player, then working even harder to get and keep his name out there.
Today, Scott leverages that musical flexibility daily, backing a full roster of award-winning artists while promoting his drum lessons and music expertise as owner/operator of The Modern Drum Room in Kelowna, British Columbia.
CHRIS STEVENS
Chris Stevens is a sought after session musician and a seasoned award winning entertainer. With titles such as, 1998 BCCMA Album of the year. And five nominations for ‘BCCMA instrumentalist of the year.” Chris is renown in the Canadian Encyclopedia of Music , for his instrumental prowess on 5-string Banjo. He has recorded with such greats as K.D. Lang., and has even supported such Bluegrass legends as Kenny Baker and Josh Graves. His dynamic high energy show is Guaranteed to get you laughing and forget any troubles you might have had, He brings the listener back to simpler times with a style that is steeped in tradition. Together with an infectious sense of humour and obvious love for the music he plays, Chris draws the entire audience into his world of music and laughter .
DELPHINE LITKE
Delphine has been a part of the Okanagan’s theatre scene for nearly 20 years. Originally from Vernon, Del has spent some time with Powerhouse Theatre, as well as 4 years of vocal training with StudioMoore (now Valley Vocal Arts) before moving to Kelowna. Over the last nine years, Delphine has become a fan favourite with Kelowna Actors Studio, having been involved in nearly 40 productions. Memorable roles include Nancy (Oliver!), Sarah (Company), Alice Bieneke (The Addams Family), Baroness Bomburst (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang), Matron Mama Morton (Chicago), and Billy’s Mother (Billy Elliot). She can next be seen in KAS’ Sister Act in February, and Mamma Mia next summer! When not on the theatre stage, Delphine can be found on one of the many karaoke stages in Kelowna belting out her favourite 80’s and 90’s pop power ballads.
NEVILLE BOWMAN
Few musicians have had the opportunity to work in as many diverse fields of music and arts as Neville Bowman. Long established as one of the top pianists and keyboard players in BC, Neville has gained respect both locally and internationally as a sideman, arranger, writer, producer and actor, in almost all genres.
Beginning as a pipe organist, French horn player and heavy metal enthusiast, the path has carried him through his discovery of jazz, country bands, funk bands, symphony performances, and rock bands and musical theatre, in venues from New York to Tokyo.
So, whether he’s singing, playing the piano or bass, or even blowing his flugle horn, chances are you can find Neville playing music that suits almost any taste.