By Mick Holien
It is unfortunate that the world won’t have an opportunity to enjoy Tim Ryan Roulllier’s entire symphonic memoir that enthralled a record crowd in Missoula one summer night last year.
But leaving more than half of Play Me Montana on the cutting room floor is certainly not a negative because fine tuning the remainder of the masterpiece produces a 30-minute presentation to be featured by the Public Broadcasting System on their nationwide fundraising tour.
Gleaned from three days of David King magic filming and joined artfully by the Gordon Johnson directed Missoula symphony, which contributes incredible depth to the presentation, the countrywide June debut marks the culmination of a Rouillier’s dream musical career that began in his hometown of St. Ignatius and eventually lured him to Nashville.
The inaugural performance documenting Tim’s musical life starting with joining his grandpa Vic on the stage sold out the Dennison Theater setting a gross sales venue record.
Having known Tim since the early eighties when he fronted “Sugarfoot,” the house band at Missoula’s Duelin’ Daltons then in the midst of country music popularity when I was a KGVO DJ I can certainly attest to the maturation, depth and range of his voice.
And the work of King who counts stints with Disney Studios and Universal Cartoon Studios in California among a lengthy award-winning resume takes this presentation, which has been deemed Emmy worthy no doubt accelerates Rouillier’s song writing and performing career.
Hall of Fame writers Charlie Black, Sharon Vaughn and Alex Harvey conspired in the song writing with Rouillier whose credits include penning vocals for such artists as George Strait, Phil Vassar, Randy Travis, Kenny Rodgers, and Deana Carter besides producing the Reboot CD and joining the stage for a couple of years with Mission Mountain Wood Band.
He also had music contracts with CBS, RCA and Warner Brothers.
Outstanding duet and single vocals are excellently contributed by Lari White, who died shortly after returning to Nashville. Now entitled ‘”My Grandpa’s Fiddle” you can contact your local PBS affiliate for program scheduling beginning in June.
