Dan Seals Underneath that Big Montana Sky

By R. Keith Rugg, 7-18-09

	Photo courtesy Bernie Schillo

Back in the spring, I posted about the passing of Dan Seals, and it was the beginning of a nice correspondence with Bernie from over at Garrison, Montana, who had some memories of Dan that he shared with me, and I’d like to pass a few of his comments on to you.

On Addicted, there is a duet version with Cheryl Wheeler.  Cheryl was also managed by Dan’s promotor, Tony Gottleib.  [There is] an extra verse that is NOT in the recorded version.  Very impressive and should have been released.

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Another quick comment on his music - if you’ve ever seen the video for “God must be a Cowboy,” it was produced on-site in Garrison/Helena/Avon Montana, and a lot of our local people are in it - the black/white photos are the Gravely’s from Avon, Jeff Janke is in there, and I forget who all.  You will notice the “Beaverslides,” very distinctive to our area.  Dan did love Montana.  The parts of the video where Dan is standing in the road and singing were filmed in Kingman, Arizona.

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Also, if you liked Dan’s earlier music, you MUST get his last album, called “Make it Home.” It is great, some really good music in it.

My mother was from Deer Lodge, and Bernie and I tried to figure out if he and she might have known each other.  Given the timing, we decided they probably hadn’t run into each other.

But I did recently meet back up with some old family friends with roots in the Garrison area, and they do have a passing acquaintance with Bernie (and when I say roots in the area, I mean deep… When I last spoke with them, they were getting ready for a family-reunion type celebration at their Garrison homestead that is over a century old!)

And Bernie rides herd on the Riverfront R.V. park out there, so if you happen to RV-ing your way through Montana on I-90 and need a settle for the night, look him up!

Next time- some memories of Marie Osmond and comments on her current gig, straight from Sin City!