Fan Submission By: Tim Lasiuta, Alberta, Canada
On June 24, 2017 western music fans in Torrington, Alberta were treated to the last Canadian performance of Rex Allen Jr.
For close to two hours, the 2016 AMA Western Male Artist of the Year took music fans on a walk through his and his father’s, Rex Allen Sr., musical careers and took part in Canada’s 150th birthday party held in central Alberta.
“We set out to celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday and bring exceptional entertainment to Torrington,” said Tim Lasiuta, concert organizer and a Canadian Producer for Bright Frontier Films. “In 2016, I met Rex in Innisfail and that included this special performance. “
Fans came from as far as the British Columbia and Saskatchewan borders and from Edmonton to Calgary to hear Allen perform. Not only did he perform in the evening, but he was also parade marshal for the 30 minute parade that snaked through the hamlets streets.
“Rex also hosted the playing of two of his father’s films Colorado Sundown and in the seniors centre, ” said Lasiuta. “A good crowd of people went back in time 50 years to watch B-westerns like they did when they were young.”
Allen answered questions from the audience after the second film and shared personal memories from his life.
“My dad called me when I was in the army and told me I had to come out to the ranch,” said Allen. “So I came out and he led me to the pasture where Koko had died. That was the only time I saw him cry.”
Allen told his fans stories of Nudie the tailor and shared memories of Slim Pickens as well as Roy Barcroft, the nicest meanest bad guy around.
Bright Frontier Films Inc. filmed the concert as part of their documentary, Sunrise to Sunset, which has filmed in Nashville, Ohio and soon, Wilcox for his final performance. To date, Charlie Daniels, Crystal Gayle, Ranger Doug, Lisa Stewart, The Oak Ridge Boys and David Frizzel have been interviewed.
The Bauers, a musical family with local roots going back 80 years, performed to warm the crowd up.
Composer of Arizona’s state song, Allen, told stories of his near misses at replacing Kenny Rogers in the West Christy Minstrels and being part of the Sons of the Pioneers and experimented with lisps with a ‘Pit to hiss in’ joke that had the crowd howling.
The mainly grey hair crowd sang to “Cool Clear Water”, “Tumbling Tumbleweeds”, “Last of the Silver Screen Cowboys”, “Ride Cowboy Ride” and many other familiar songs.
All funds raised went to support the Torrington Ag Society, a non-profit group that spans more than 40 years of community activities.
When the final note of “Happy Trails” had been sung, memories had been created for those in attendance. Lois Gorr, a local resident had tears in her eyes and whispered ‘thank you’ for an amazing concert.