Bigfork singer releases new CD

By LAURA BEHENNA

Bigfork Eagle

Recording her new CD, “The Flow of Life,” has been a life-long dream for Bigfork singer-songwriter Pam Leisinger.

“I’ve been singing for as long as I can remember, “ she said. “My family would get together when I was a little girl and my mom and uncle would play guitar, accordion, and piano and I would love singing along and soaking it all in. I started playing acoustic guitar when I was about 12 to accompany myself singing.”

Leisinger began performing while in high school, including singing one of her own compositions at her high school graduation ceremony. Her first Flathead Valley performance opportunity came soon after she moved to Bigfork with her husband in 1983, when a friend encouraged her to bring her guitar to a dance at the Swan River Community Hall. Leisinger was hesitant at first, but the band that night, including Dale and Kelly Jorgenson and their father Harold, invited her to come onstage. Dale asked her to perform with his band at other gigs.

That was the beginning of Leisinger’s singing career in the Flathead Valley, which she’s had to fit around her full-time job and raising her two sons with her husband. She has performed solo, as half of a duo and in a number of bands at venues throughout the valley.

The family musical tradition continues on with Leisinger’s two sons. “It has been very exciting to see my two sons become musicians and enjoy playing instruments and music,” she said. “They were both very involved with the CD project as C.R. (19) played guitar, mandolin, and bass on most of the songs and Doug (16) played drums. My mom, Shirley Gastel, even joined me by singing harmony on one of the inspirational hymns.”

Leisinger invites the public to attend a CD release party, live performance and dance this Friday, March 16, at 7 p.m. at the Swan River Community Hall, where it all started. The hall is located at 115 Swan River Road, just south of the Swan River School. C.R., Doug, and musician friends Lars Pointer, Roy Wilhelm, Doyle Wells and Dale Jorgenson will all be joining Leisinger on stage to perform selections from her CD and other songs.

Although Leisinger has a unique style of her own, her voice has been compared with that of Emmylou Harris. She wrote six of the songs on “The Flow of Life” drawing on her life experiences of love, loss, inspiration and moving on. The title song was inspired by watching her children grow up and the stages of life. The song also talks about how busy life can be and how important it is to take the time to help others along the way, she said.

“‘Timeless Love’ is another song on the CD that brings a lot of emotion to listeners. The song describes a love that goes on and on over time; no matter what may come between two people, their love lasts forever.”

“It has been great to get feedback from people about how my songs have touched them in some way, she added. “To know that the songs have meaning to someone is important to me.

Leisinger’s love of Montana shows in her songs “Burnin’ Up the Road” and Escalante.” She recorded “Meet Me in Montana” (written by Paul Davis) with her long-time friend and fellow musician, Roy Wilhelm. The two of them perform for the

dents at Lake View Care Center twice a month, a tradition that Leisinger and her son C.R. started when he was a junior in high school. C.R. still joins them to play music at the care center when he is home from college at Montana Tech in Butte.

Another long-time friend and fellow musician, Doyle Wells, played bass on some of the songs on the CD.

“Amazing Grace” concludes the album. “I originally wasn’t going to add this hymn to the CD, but along the way, I felt like I really needed and wanted to add it and to do an a cappella version of the song,” Leisinger said. “I’m really glad I did. It has been a blessing.”

Leisinger dedicated the CD to the memory of her father, Bob Gastel. “My parents, Shirley and Bob, have both been very supportive of my music, and even though we lost my dad a few years ago, I know that he would be very happy and proud of the CD,” Leisinger said.

Recording the CD over a span of about 14 months “was a great experience,” Leisinger added. “It was the first time for all of us to be in the studio. We learned a lot.” Lars Pointer of Cougar Canyon Studio in Woods Bay recorded and mixed the CD and produced it with Leisinger and her son, C.R., who was able to learn about the mixing and recording process.

“The Flow of Life” is available at Local Joe’s Gas and Grub, Echo Lake Store and Bigfork Auto Parts in Bigfork, and at Jones Music, Borders Books and Music, and Triple W Equipment in Kalispell. They are also available online at www.cdbaby.com. CDs will be for sale at the CD party on the 16th. For more information, contact Pam Leisinger at 837-0183 or leising@centurytel.net.