On Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 25, 1976, The Band held “The Last Waltz,” its farewell-to-touring concert at the Winter Ballroom in San Francisco.
The Band — Robbie Robertson, Rick Danko, Levon Helm, Garth Hudson and Richard Manuel — invited an array of musicians such as Eric Clapton, Joni Mitchell, Neil Diamond, Neil Young, Dr. John, Van Morrison and more to join the throng.
The concert, produced by famed promoter Bill Graham, was filmed by Martin Scorsese, who turned the footage into “The Last Waltz” documentary that was released in 1978.
In 2019, Park City-based bandleader Junior Richard put together a “Last Waltz” tribute concert at the Depot in Salt Lake City.
On Saturday, Richard and a bunch of Park City-area musicians will take on the dance again as a prelude to Live PC Give PC, Park City’s annual day of fundraising, at The Marquis Park City, 427 Main St.
The event presented by Mountain Town Music will raise awareness of Live PC Give PC and Mountain Town Music, said Ryan Walsh, director of community outreach.
“The idea went through some iterations,” he said. “We initially thought it would be a fundraiser for Mountain Town Music, but then we thought about the timing with Live PC Give PC. So we thought to make this a welcoming or an opening for Live PC Give PC.”
Mountain Town Music worked with a handful of nonprofits to bring this event to light, according to Walsh.
“Park Silly Sunday Market, KPCW, Sage Mountain, Live Like Sam, the Arts Council of Park City & Summit County and the Park City Community Foundation are some of those organizations who will have folks present and greeting friends, constituents and donors,” he said. “We’ve invited each of these groups to the stage and help us amplify our message of community involvement and community participation and donating during Live PC Give PC.”
The core musicians scheduled to perform Saturday include Jeremy Whitesides, Dave Mealey, Adam Fifield, Matt Wilson and Nick Chamberlain, said Richard, who was tasked to cast the concert.
“They are players in my band, Junior & Transportation, and they also play in the band The Pour and another band, Badfeather,” he said. “Then from there it’s a show where everyone has to play a part.”
Guest musicians include a who’s-who list of local players including Preston Creed, Sarah DeGraw, Rick Gerber, Matt Calder, J-Rad Cooley, Kate Chanson, Alicia Stockman, Tony Holiday, Dana Williams, Cole Hobbs and Sam Smith, according to Richard.
“I think Utah as a whole has an incredible amount of talent, and we’re lucky to have all of these talented Park City musicians here,” he said. “It was hard to choose who would be part of this.”
All of the musicians on the bill accepted the invitation, knowing they wouldn’t make a lot of money, Richard said.
“They are working really hard to learn the songs and do the show because it’s their passion, too,” he said. “And it’s for a good cause.”
Richard confessed he will perform the Neil Young segment of the show.
“I’m playing Neil Young because I’ve often been told I have a similar voice,” he said. “So, I fell into the part. Also, our musical director Jeremy Whiteside is hung up on that’s the part I should play. So I’ll do whatever the boss says.”
Walsh, on the other hand, will perform the Neil Diamond segment that includes the song “Dry Your Eyes,” culled from the singer’s 1976 album, “Beautiful Noise,” which Robertson produced.
“I was invited as part of a cast of many on a text chain,” Walsh said. “and I think I accepted before they had a chance to take it back.”
Walsh looks forward to performing the song.
“It’s great,” he said. “It’s emotional and has crescendos all the way through. And it’s an easy lift on guitar.”
Walsh will also dress the part.
“I’ll wear an electric blue suit,” he said. “During the original concert, Neil Diamond wore a red shirt, so I’ll wear a red shirt with polka dots, and I’ll wear aviator sunglasses. I’m considering wearing a wig, but I don’t know if I’m going to do that.”
In addition to performing the Neil Diamond song, Walsh is slated to be the evening’s emcee.
“I plan to get in and get out without much fanfare,” he said.
Richard says Saturday’s concert really isn’t a tribute show because everyone will add their own flair to the songs they perform.
“But it will still embody the energy of the original performance,” he said. “As I casted the parts, I tried to match who I thought would do a good job, but at the same time, I want to keep people guessing.”
Both Walsh and Richard are grateful to the Marquis who will provide the space for the concert.
“As far as locations, you have to have a big space for all the guests and the set up,” Richard said. “So this is the spot.”
Walsh says the 1,200-capacity venue is the perfect venue.
“It’s an historic landmark on Main Street that has been modernized and updated with a beautiful, functional, top-of-the-line sound system,” he said. “A large part of this being a great looking and sounding show is because of the venue.”
Richard remembers watching “The Last Waltz” documentary every Thanksgiving when he was a child.
“It was a tradition, and sometimes my dad and I would watch it twice on that day,” he said. “So, to me it’s always been something that is pretty important to me musically.”
The film and original concert’s popularity surprised Walsh.
“One of the things that struck me was how many people have told me how much they love the album or the movie when I tell them about Saturday’s show,” he said. “It has much more resonance than I originally expected when we started planning it.”
Richard is also happy the Park City production is one of many events that tips its hat to “The Last Waltz.”
“There’s a Denver one and a San Francisco one, and it’s cool to have something about this that is unique to Park City,” he said. “And that’s fitting, because it’s for Mountain Town Music and to raise awareness of local fundraising.”
Walsh likens Saturday’s performance to a “musical love letter to Park City from Mountain Town Music.”
“At the end of the day, it is about Live PC Give PC, and we want to remind everyone we are here to support our nonprofits,” he said. “We take that responsibility so heavily in this town.”
Mountain Town Music: ‘The Last Waltz’
- When: 8 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 2
- Where: The Marquis Park City, 427 Main St.
- Tickets: mountaintownmusic.org/thelastwaltz