Distinctly Montana Magazine

D I S T I N C T LY M O N TA N A • W I N T E R 2 0 1 9 54 THE ELLEN RESTORATION 2019 marks the 100th anniversary of The Ellen Theatre in downtown Bozeman. To ensure that this magnificent building is here for another 100 years, we're raising money for a major façade renovation. Our goal is $470,000 and we're already halfway there. Thanks to a generous matching grant from the Taylor Family Foundation, all donations will be doubled. For nearly a century, Ellen has welcomed hundreds of thousands of happy patrons. Last year alone, 55,000 people visited this grand showplace. Now it's our turn to say thank you. This stylish lady deserves a beautiful exterior, to match all the terrific talent that has appeared on her stage. Your contribution ensures that Ellen will continue to entertain not only all of us and our children, but many generations to come. THE CIMMARON BAND, BILLINGS ANDY WILSON – LEAD VOCALS, GUITAR • LAURA WILSON – VOCALS, KEYBOARD • NICOLE WILSON – VOCALS, PIANO, FIDDLE www.facebook.com/thecimarronband e Cimmaron Band wasn't always a family affair, but it has been for 24 years, at least. Andy Wilson started the band in 1980, but it really took off once he met his wife, Laura, who Andy points out is "known as the fastest yodeler in the Northwest United States." She's played keyboard—and yodeled for the band since 1984, and they've toured, "seeing the country from the casinos of Nevada, the Opryland Hotel in Tennessee, and a short stint in Hawaii." Now their daughter Nicole plays with the band, and her sister Stephanie sometimes joins. Andy's favorite Montana song is "Blue Montana Skies" written by his friend, T J Casey, a songwriter residing in Livingston: "In the song he sings of different features other states in the country have, but I always comes back to the 'Blue Montana Skies.' It has since become one of my favorite songs about Montana and I get a great reaction from the audience when I perform it." ACCORDING TO ERIC FUNK, COMPOSER, PIANIST, CONDUCTOR, PROFESSOR, CURATOR OF 11TH & GRANT, ALL AROUND MENSCH: "When people travel from Germany to Poland to the Czech Republic to Hungary, they hear clearly different music. Coun- tries are about the size of states, Mon- tana the size of Germany. As we start to become something perhaps best described as "The United Countries of America," as each state achieves a unique identity and culture, it's no surprise that many of us hear a "Montana sound." Phil Aaberg and I agree on this and find it in our music. It's clearly different from the surrounding states, which each have THEIR own distinctive sound." TO MAKE A DONATION Visit TheEllenTheatre.org Or call 406-585-6910 Or mail a check to: The Ellen Theatre P.O. Box 28 Bozeman, MT 59771-0028 The Ellen is a non-profit group 501(c)(3), (Tax ID 84-1374984). All gifts are tax-deductible.

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