PORT ANGELES — Ted Vigil was a rock ‘n’ roll musician who was not wild about John Denver’s songs.
“Oh, my gosh, this is really corny music,” he remembers saying.
But then Vigil, a man with an open mind — and whose mother was a Denver fan — gave it another listen.
Upon revisiting the singer’s platinum-selling records, Vigil thought: “You know, this is really good music.”
It so happened that the Olympia High School graduate bore a striking resemblance to Denver. In 2006, he entered the Talent Quest in Laughlin, Nev., and with his tribute to the late singer-songwriter, won the national title.
Vigil has since traveled far — even sailing to Cozumel, Mexico, on the Royal Caribbean line’s Kountry Kruz — with his John Denver tribute show. He’ll arrive at the Port Angeles High School Performing Arts Center, 304 E. Park Ave., this Saturday night for “Rocky Mountain High,” a benefit concert for the Port Angeles High School Orchestra program.
Opening the 7 p.m. show will be the local country-rock band Haywire, featuring vocalist Amanda Bacon and Portland, Ore., mandolinist-keyboard player Rich Landar.
Vigil’s tour comes in the wake of a John Denver tribute album, “The Music Is You,” featuring Dave Matthews, Lucinda Williams, Allen Stone, My Morning Jacket and other artists singing Denver’s songs. And Vigil is well aware of this music’s power, 16 years after Denver’s death in a plane crash in California.
When Vigil sings “Take Me Home, Country Roads” in West Virginia or nearby, “the whole crowd will stand up and sing,” he said. “It’s amazing.”
Out West, “Rocky Mountain High” is often the song that brings people to their feet.
“People remember going camping . . . and family times,” said Vigil. “When I’m watching people’s reactions, it’s like I’m a vehicle for them to get back to their good memories.”
Denver was beloved, Vigil believes, because he wrote and sang his songs — “Leavin’ on a Jet Plane,” “Sunshine on My Shoulders,” “Annie’s Song” — from the heart. And yes, some call them corny. Vigil doesn’t mind.
“It’s funny how you get desensitized to things,” he said. The singer hopes to bring people back in touch with simple pleasures: hiking in the mountains, “slowing down a bit and enjoying life.”
In his concerts, Vigil tells stories along with the songs, so listeners can get to know him. He grew up in Olympia with a mother and uncle who were musicians; their Sunday get-togethers were leavened with bluegrass.
Vigil’s mother, Pat Habersetzer, died 12 years ago. He changed his name from Habersetzer to Vigil because he liked the sound of it — not unlike Denver, who was born Henry John Deutschendorf Jr.
Before his life as a John Denver tribute artist began seven years ago, Vigil did “a little bit of everything.” He’s worked on a fishing boat in Alaska, driven trucks and toiled as an electrician.
These days, he values the opportunity to connect with people through music, whether they’re in West Virginia, Washington or China. He’s headed for a 30-day concert tour of that country later this year.
“Come and take a trip,” he says of Saturday’s show. “Relive some cool memories.
“I bring at least a couple of people on stage; I try to make it a community event. We’ll be laughing and singing together.
“That’s my show.”
Tickets, priced from $10 to $25, are on sale at Northwest Fudge & Confections, 108 W. First St., Port Angeles; at Pacific Mist Books, 121 W. Washington St. in Sequim; and with a service charge at www.NWperformingarts.com.
Remaining seats will be available at the door of the Port Angeles High School Performing Arts Center.
