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Music of Montana

Adapted from Wikipedia · Discoverer experience

Montana became the 41st state of the United States and has people from many different backgrounds who enjoy many kinds of music. Because many people moved there and it is part of the American West, Montana has a long history of folk music and cowboy songs and poems.

The state also loves classical music. There are important music groups such as the Great Falls Symphony Orchestra, started in 1958, and the Bozeman Symphony Orchestra, started in 1963. The Helena Symphony, begun in 1955, is one of the best in the area. The Billings Symphony and Chorus is the main symphony in Montana and plays for the community often.

Montana even has two official state songs: "Montana" and "Montana Melody."

Native American music

See also: Indigenous music of North America § Plains

Montana is home to several Indian reservations and has many different tribes, each with their own special music. Some of these tribes include the Blackfeet, Crow, Flathead, Cheyenne, Chippewa-Cree, Gros Ventre, Assiniboine, and Sioux. Today, musicians blend old traditions with new styles. One example is Jack Gladstone, a folk musician who shares stories about Native culture. He has worked with another Montana musician, Rob Quist.

Popular music and musicians

Montana has many talented musicians. Country music fans might know Rob Quist, who was part of the Mission Mountain Wood Band. Another group, The Bridger Creek Boys , comes from Bozeman and did well in a big bluegrass competition.

Other famous musicians from Montana include Jeff Ament, the bassist for the band Pearl Jam, who went to the University of Montana. There’s also Steve Albini, a guitarist and producer, and Bruce Fairweather, who helped start the grunge music style.

Chan Romero from Billings wrote the song "Hippy Hippy Shake", which The Beatles liked to play. In the late 1990s, a band called The Skoidats from Helena and Missoula recorded music in New York City.

Many well-known singers and band members are from Montana, including Colin Meloy from the band The Decemberists and Isaac Brock, the lead singer of Modest Mouse. Country singer Doug Adkins was born in Havre, and another country musician, Randy Rhoads, grew up near Wolf Point.

John Mayer chose to live in Livingston and even named one of his albums after the area, Paradise Valley. One of Montana’s popular rock bands is Dawghouse from Helena.

The biggest indoor concert space in Montana is the MetraPark Arena in Billings, which opened in 1975.

Notable songs about Montana

Here are some well-known songs that celebrate the beauty and spirit of Montana:

Electronic

Electronic music composer Ruth Anderson was born in Kalispell.

Independent music scene

In the Flathead Valley, some well-known music groups and artists include Marshall Catch, who mixes country and rock music, Luke Dowler, a rock singer and songwriter, God Fearing Women, and The Rockaholics.

Music education

Several colleges in Montana offer music programs. These include the University of Montana, Montana State University, Montana State University Billings, and Rocky Mountain College. Students can learn about music and develop their skills in these schools.

Related articles

Montana

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Music of Montana, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.