Rob Quist facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rob Quist
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Quist in 2017
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| Born |
Robert Ernest Quist
January 5, 1948 Cut Bank, Montana, U.S.
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| Education | University of Montana (BA) |
| Occupation | Singer–songwriter, politician |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) |
Bonni Willows
(m. 1979) |
| Children | 2 |
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Robert Ernest Quist (born January 5, 1948) is an American musician and politician. He is well-known for his work in bluegrass and country music. He was one of the first members of the Mission Mountain Wood Band. Rob Quist plays the guitar and banjo, and he also sings and writes songs. Other famous artists like Michael Martin Murphey and Loretta Lynn have recorded his songs.
Rob Quist is seen as a musical and cultural ambassador for his home state of Montana. The Governor of Montana, Brian Schweitzer, even appointed him to the Montana Arts Council. In 2017, Quist ran for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives as a Democratic Party candidate, but he did not win.
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Early Life and Music Beginnings
Rob Quist was born on January 5, 1948, in Cut Bank, Montana. He started singing when he was very young. He also learned to play many instruments, including the trombone and cello. In high school, he led his basketball team, the Cut Bank Wolves, to win the 1966 Class B Boys State basketball championship. He later played basketball at the University of Montana.
While at the university, he joined a singing group called the Jubileers. There, he met Steve Riddle. They decided to start a band together, which later became the famous Mission Mountain Wood Band.
Music Career in the 1970s and 1980s
The Mission Mountain Wood Band was a group that played bluegrass and country rock music. Their first public show was in 1971, opening for the band Rare Earth. The band then toured all over the country. They opened for many famous groups and were also very popular in their home state of Montana.
They even performed on national TV shows like Hee Haw and the ABC Cheryl Ladd Special. The Mission Mountain Wood Band broke up in 1982. After that, Quist formed a new group called the Montana Band with some of his old bandmates. This new band also toured a lot and won first prize in the Willie Nelson country challenge.
Rob Quist's Solo Music
As a solo artist, Rob Quist started a backup band called Great Northern. Sometimes, he still reunites with the surviving members of the Mission Mountain Wood Band for special concerts.
Rob Quist and Great Northern have performed his original songs with many symphony orchestras. These include the North Dakota State Symphony and the Glacier Orchestra. He has also written and recorded music for national TV and radio ads, like for Levi's 501 Jeans and Amtrak. His song "Blue Jean Love Affair" was very popular in country music.
While living in Nashville, Quist became good friends with Michael Martin Murphey. They wrote a song together called "Close to the Land." This song became the main theme for the TV show "America's Heartland." It also won "Song of the Year" at the Texas Music Awards. Another of his songs, "America...Pass It On," won an award at the International Wildlife Film Festival.
Quist has released 15 music CDs, mostly with his own songs. These songs often tell stories about the people and history of Montana and the American West. His music has been played on radio stations in many countries, including Great Britain, Japan, and Switzerland. Rob Quist has performed with many famous musicians, both alone and with the Mission Mountain Wood Band. Some of these artists include Heart, Jimmy Buffett, Dolly Parton, and Tim McGraw.
He has also been featured on CBS National News and was a guest on the "Riders Radio Theater" show. The University of Montana School of Fine Art honored Rob Quist by making him one of the first people inducted into their "Hall of Honors." They praised him for capturing the spirit of the West in his music.
Rob Quist in Politics
Running for Congress in 2017
On January 4, 2017, Rob Quist announced he wanted to run for a seat in the United States House of Representatives. This special election was held because the previous representative, Ryan Zinke, was expected to become a government secretary. Former Governor Brian Schweitzer supported Quist early on. On March 5, Quist was chosen as the Democratic Party's candidate.
Quist said he was asked to run by people he respected. He first thought, "I'm not a politician." But they replied, "Exactly!" He felt his experience working with the state government and growing up in a ranching family made him a good candidate. Senator Bernie Sanders also supported Quist and campaigned for him.
The special election was held on May 25, 2017. It received a lot of national attention. Many groups spent money on the election, mostly on TV ads. Quist and his supporters spent less money than his opponent, Greg Gianforte.
Quist was supported by many groups focused on social and environmental issues. He also had the backing of various unions and outdoor groups. However, his opponent was endorsed by three major Montana newspapers. The day before the election, Gianforte had an incident with a reporter. As a result, these newspapers changed their minds and withdrew their support for Gianforte. Many people had already voted early, so the incident did not change the election's outcome much.
Rob Quist lost the election to Gianforte. Quist received 44% of the votes, while Gianforte received 50%. Even though he lost, this was the highest percentage of votes a Democrat had received in a Montana House race in the past four elections.
Rob Quist's Political Ideas
Rob Quist's political ideas focus on making things fair for everyone. He believes in helping working families and protecting Montana's way of life. He often talks about how government decisions affect everyday people.
Quist believes the country should move towards a healthcare system where everyone has access to care. He was against efforts to get rid of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). He said that ending it would make healthcare more expensive for working people in Montana.
He has also spoken out against unfairness in the United States, especially when it comes to money. He thinks that tax breaks for very wealthy people make this problem worse. Quist has called for tax cuts that would help working-class families.
Rob Quist is against selling off federal lands to private companies. He also opposes military actions in other countries and any kind of religious ban. He has suggested moving money from the military budget to support healthcare or Social Security. Quist supports changing the Constitution to limit the influence of money in politics. He also believes in investing in clean energy sources like wind, solar, and clean coal technology.
Quist has promised to protect public lands for everyone to enjoy. He supports marriage equality for all couples. He also believes that women should have equal rights and equal pay for their work.
Quist agrees with scientists that climate change is happening. He supports actions to reduce climate change, saying it could seriously affect Montana's farms, ranches, and economy.
Images for kids
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Quist in 2017
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Quist performing in 2014
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"Team Quist and the Berners" 2017 campaign rally appearance featuring Quist's grown children Halladay (with banjo) and Guthrie (guitarist to right of lectern)
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Quist at a March 2017 campaign rally
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Bernie Sanders campaigned with Quist the weekend prior to the 2017 special election
