Remembering Ben Bullington: the Man and His Music
The mood was festive in the lobby of the Ellen Theater in downtown Bozeman on June 5 as fans and friends gathered to celebrate the life of the late Ben Bullington, a doctor, singer-songwriter and performer who touched the lives of many in Montana and beyond.
“Ben is here,” said Joanne Gardner, as she moved among the crowd greeting guests and sharing stories of the tall doctor with the engaging smile who wrote songs that touch the heart. “I’m wearing his ring--Tom [Murphy] is wearing his shoes.” Gardner counted Bullington among her dear friends, performing with him and helping to spread his music to a wider audience, and staying by his side as he dealt with the pancreatic cancer that would take his life in 2013. Gardner was the moving force behind Friday evening’s concert, bringing a talented group of performers (who also happened to be Ben’s friends) together for what would prove to be a wonderful evening of music and memories.
Those performers included Darrell Scott, whose latest release, “10-the Songs of Ben Bullington,” is rising fast on the charts--the Ellen concert was a CD release event of sorts (the first and only other “10“ release show took place in Nashville to rave reviews in mid-May). Scott and Bullington met in Montana, and the fact that Scott (an NSAI Songwriter of the Year, Americana 2007 Song of the Year winner, ASCAP Songwriter of the Year, and multiple Grammy nominee) made this recording speaks to the connection he and Bullington made in a very short time.
Bill Payne (Little Feat), who collaborated with Bullington musically before his death, was also there at the Ellen Theater on the keyboards, as was John Lowell on guitar, Kris Clone (piano, vocals), Tom Murphy (mandolin, vocals), Buff Brown (harmonica), Russell Smith (standup bass), and Gardner herself on vocals.
Inside the theater, the mood was more hushed than in the lobby, almost reverent. The packed house in the Ellen was still as Darrell Scott stepped up to the microphone and started the evening off with these simple words: “Welcome to our Lovefest.”
It was indeed a lovefest, as these friends of Ben Bullington brought their love for the man forth with their renditions of his music in the first set. Kris Clone sat at the piano and gave a solo tribute to his friend. Bill Payne played “The Last Adios,” the tune from the movie “Crazy Heart” that he and Bullington collaborated on. And the stories were there, too, along with the music.
“Ben loved life, family, his friends...but he hated flies,” said John Lowell, as he began a soulful rendition of Bullington’s song “I Despise Flies.” Russell Smith related the time when he was considering getting a “green card” so he could smoke medical marijuana, and discussed the matter with Ben.
“Why would you want the government to know you are smoking marijuana?” was Bullington’s reply. Gardner recalled how Ben got her singing again, and reminded the crowd that “We’re also here to thank Darrell Scott.” The first set closed with all of the performers onstage to play Ben’s tribute to the small town he once practiced medicine in, a little tune with a lot of feeling called “White Sulphur Springs.”
After a break, Darrell Scott took the stage to play the songs he had decided should be on that tribute recording to Ben Bullington. The multi-talented performer did so with a wonderful singing voice, as well as guitar, lap steel, and piano.
“Ben recorded 67 songs,” said Scott. “Picking ten was tough.” The choices Scott made are a good fit. Scott began with “Lone Pine” and “Sage After Rain,” two songs with a lot of Montana in them--and more.
“There’s a lot of depth in these songs,” Scott said. “I don’t think Ben was afraid of death.” Ben wasn’t afraid of the music “establishment,” either, as was demonstrated by his song “Country Music, I’m Talking to You,” his jab at corporate Nashville, especially the industry’s treatment of the Dixie Chicks in the wake of their non-support for the Iraq War.
“In the last months of Ben’s life I started sending iPhone recordings of me singing a song of his,” Scott told the audience near the end of the show. “The first iPhone recording, ‘I’ve Gotta Leave You Now,’ ends this album. That recording is what Ben heard, and he loved it--I think it’s important that the iPhone version be on the album, just as Ben heard it.” And when Scott played the song, in which Bullington essentially bids his sons farewell, there were not many dry eyes in the house.
The show ended with all performers onstage for “In the Light of Day,” which the audience participated in. It was an appropriate end to a fine show honoring a man who loved his life, his friends, and his music.
“10-the Songs of Ben Bullington” is on sale at Cactus Records and Gifts in Bozeman, and even at Target Stores nationwide. Pick up a copy and you’ll know why this recording is so special to so many folks.
