Rob Quist

Born January 5, 1948, in Cut Bank, Montana, Quist began singing at a young age and learned to play multiple instruments, including trombone and cello.{{cite web|last1=Lincoln|first1=Marga|title=Rob Quist headlines benefit concert for Tanzania|url=http://helenair.com/entertainment/yourtime/rob-quist-headlines-benefit-concert-for-tanzania/article_06e49de4-4f89-11e0-b587-001cc4c002e0.html|website=Helena Independent Record|accessdate=May 25, 2017|language=en|date=March 17, 2011}} As a high school senior, he led the Cut Bank Wolves to the 1966 Class B Boys State basketball championship under coach Willie Degroot before playing basketball at the University of Montana.{{cite web|last1=Larson|first1=Seaborn|title=Quist's quest for the House follows a familiar trail|url=http://www.greatfallstribune.com/story/news/local/2017/03/23/quists-quest-house-follows-familiar-trail/99568132/|website=Great Falls Tribune|accessdate=May 25, 2017|language=en|date=March 23, 2017}} While at UM, he also successfully auditioned to join the Jubileers singing group. While in the Jubileers he met Steve Riddle, and the two decided to form a band which eventually evolved into the Mission Mountain Wood Band.{{cite web|last1=Ellis|first1=Simone|title=In Without Knocking|url=http://archive.umt.edu/montanan/s06/knocking.shtm|website=The Montanan|publisher=University of Montana|accessdate=April 27, 2017}}

{{Main|Mission Mountain Wood Band}}

The Mission Mountain Wood Band was a bluegrass and country rock band that played their first public performance opening for the band Rare Earth in 1971. The group went on to tour nationally and opened for many notable acts of the era,{{cite web|title=Never Long Gone: The Mission Mountain Wood Band Story| url=http://www.montanapbs.org/NeverLongGone/| website=MontanaPBS|accessdate=April 27, 2017| date=November 15, 2009}} but were also popular headliners in their local region for events such as the University of Montana's Aber Day kegger.{{cite web|last1=Lincoln|first1=Marga|title=Mission Mountain Wood Band to help Helena celebrate 150 years with free concert|url=http://helenair.com/news/local/mission-mountain-wood-band-to-help-helena-celebrate-years-with/article_d0abfb7c-0be2-11e4-a3f1-0019bb2963f4.html|website=Helena Independent Record|accessdate=March 25, 2017|language=en|date=July 15, 2014}} They performed on national television on shows such as Hee Haw and the ABC Cheryl Ladd Special. After the band broke up in 1982, Quist joined with fellow members Terry Robinson and Kurt Bergeron to form the Montana Band, which continued to tour extensively and took first prize in the Willie Nelson country challenge. Quist had left the Montana band prior to a tragic plane crash that killed Robinson, Bergeron and the other members of the band.{{citation|newspaper=The Washington Post|title=Bluegrass musicians killed in plane crash|date=July 6, 1987|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1987/07/06/bluegrass-musicians-killed-in-plane-crash/dcc472fc-a405-4a7f-951f-1cf05eca8151/}}

File:Rob Quist.jpg

File:Team Quist.jpg

As a solo performer Quist formed a backup band called Great Northern.{{cite web|last1=Webb|first1=Jaci|title=25 years after tragedy, Montana Band launches anniversary tour at ABT|url=http://billingsgazette.com/entertainment/music/years-after-tragedy-montana-band-launches-anniversary-tour-at-abt/article_f02c55f8-d32d-5cc6-813e-8dc41db74a83.html|website=The Billings Gazette|accessdate=March 25, 2017|language=en|date=June 15, 2012}} He periodically reunites with the surviving members of the Mission Mountain Wood Band for a small number of concerts.{{cite web|last1=Turvey|first1=Dana|title=Mission Mountain Wood Band to Play at Harrah's South Shore Room |website= South Lake Tahoe Events|url=http://www.southlaketahoe.com/events/shows/mission-mountain-wood-band-to-play-at-harrahs-south-shore-room|accessdate=April 27, 2017|date=2010}}

Rob Quist and Great Northern have performed his original music with the North Dakota State Symphony, the Fairbanks (Alaska) Symphony, the Glacier Orchestra as well as the Billings, Butte, Helena and Missoula Symphonies. He has written and recorded national television and radio ads for Levi's 501 Jeans, Amtrak's Empire Builder and Original Coors. His original song, "Blue Jean Love Affair" was heard in the Top 20 Country Music Markets.{{cite web|title=House of Quist featuring Rob Quist 01/06/2011 Bozeman, Montana, Zebra Cocktail Lounge - Music Event {{!}} BozemanEvents|url=http://www.bozemanevents.net/01/06/2011/house-of-quist-featuring-rob-quist/|accessdate=May 25, 2017|date=January 6, 2011}}

During a stint in Nashville, Quist forged a songwriting partnership and enduring friendship with Michael Martin Murphey. Their partnership culminated in their song "Close to the Land" which became the theme song for the American Public Television program "America's Heartland." The song went on to win Song of the Year at the Texas Music Awards. His original song "America...Pass It On" and video featuring Jack Gladstone won a Finalist Award at the International Wildlife Film Festival for National Geographic, received airplay on Public Television and featured at many Interpretive Centers throughout the United States. Quist has released 15 CDs of mostly original music about the lives and history of the people of Montana and the West, placing his songs on Billboard and Independent Charts. Quist received airplay in Great Britain, Belgium, Italy, Japan and Switzerland. Both as a solo artist and with M2WB, Quist appeared with a number of musical acts including Heart, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Jimmy Buffett, Dolly Parton, The Allman Brothers Band, Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Bonnie Raitt,Parrett, p. 66 the Charlie Daniels Band, Tim McGraw, Martina McBride, and Jay Leno.{{citation needed|date=May 2017}}

Quist has been featured on CBS National News in a segment called "Country Comes to New York"; he was a guest artist on the Riders in the Sky national radio show "Riders Radio Theater" as well as Montana Public Television. He composed original music for the Montana Repertory Theatre Production "Voice of The Prairie" and original songs for a production about rodeo in present-day Montana, tentatively titled "Cowboy Up."

Quist was one of the first honorees to be inducted into the University of Montana School of Fine Art's "Hall of Honors", saluted as "a celebrated Montana musician and composer who has captured the spirit of the West in his music, an evocative and versatile artist whose gift of song has touched the hearts and souls of his countrymen, an eloquent proponent of the history and beauty of the West whose legacy in song will be embraced by generations to follow."

File:Rob Quist speaking 04.jpg

{{main|2017 Montana's at-large congressional district special election}}

On January 4, 2017, Quist announced he would seek the Democratic nomination for the special election that was anticipated to fill the U.S. House seat held by Ryan Zinke, as Zinke was expected to be nominated to be Secretary of the Interior. Quist was endorsed early on by former Governor Brian Schweitzer, and was selected as the Party's nominee on March 5.{{cite web|url=http://billingsgazette.com/news/government-and-politics/montana-musician-rob-quist-joins-candidates-to-replace-u-s/article_90b7553a-e3b9-5c7c-966b-b99a6b95f37b.html|title=Montana musician Rob Quist joins candidates to replace U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke|date=January 4, 2017|accessdate=January 12, 2017|work=Billings Gazette|first=Tom|last=Lutey}}{{cite web|author=Bobby Caina Calvan|url=http://www.greatfallstribune.com/story/news/local/2017/03/05/montana-democrats-picking-candidate-congressional-seat/98776790/|title=Rob Quist wins Democratic nomination for congressional seat|agency=Associated Press|date=March 5, 2017}} Quist stated, "I was approached by people who I really respect and they asked me to run. And my first thought was 'Wait a minute, I'm not a politician.' Their response was, 'exactly.'" Quist cited as qualifications his work with the state government, lifelong experience traveling in and around Montana, and his upbringing in a ranching family.{{cite web |url= http://billingsgazette.com/news/government-and-politics/montana-musician-rob-quist-joins-candidates-to-replace-u-s/article_90b7553a-e3b9-5c7c-966b-b99a6b95f37b.html |title= Montana musician Rob Quist joins candidates to replace U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke |location=Billings, Montana |publisher= Billings Gazette |date= January 4, 2017 |accessdate= February 23, 2017}} Independent Senator Bernie Sanders as well as the organization Our Revolution endorsed Quist in the race and campaigned for him.{{Cite news|url=http://billingsgazette.com/news/local/bernie-sanders-rally-for-rob-quist-moved-to-metrapark-expo/article_58bc66dd-df2f-5fcb-aec8-d239ecff522b.html|title=Bernie Sanders rally for Rob Quist moved to MetraPark Expo Center|last=Niedermeier|first=Jordon|work=The Billings Gazette|access-date=2017-05-20|language=en}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/05/in-montana-a-test-of-trump-country-populism/525834/|title=A Populist Test in Trump Country|last=Bullinger|first=Jake|work=The Atlantic|access-date=2017-05-25|language=en-US}}

The special election was announced by Governor Steve Bullock on March 1 and set for May 25, the minimum 85 days required after Zinke's confirmation. The race generated considerable national attention, and over $17 million was spent, much of it by outside groups and on television ads, with Quist and third-party organizations supporting him being outspent by about four to one by his opponent Greg Gianforte and Gianforte's supporters.{{cite web|last1=Jacobs|first1=Ben|title=Montana election: race had tightened even before Gianforte assault charge|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/may/25/montana-special-election-gianforte-assault-charge-guardian|website=The Guardian|accessdate=May 25, 2017|date=May 25, 2017}}

Quist was endorsed by a number of politically progressive organizations as well as various unions, environmental organizations and sportsmen's groups.{{cite web|url=https://robquist.org/endorsements/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170331092736/http://robquist.org/endorsements/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=March 31, 2017|title=Endorsements - Rob Quist for Montana|publisher=|accessdate=May 25, 2017}} Quist's opponent had been endorsed over Quist by three Montana newspapers, the Billings Gazette, the Missoulian, and the Helena Independent Record, all owned by Lee Enterprises.{{cite web|last1=Cates-Carney|first1=Corin|title=Three of Montana's Largest Newspapers Endorse Gianforte For US House|url=http://mtpr.org/post/three-montanas-largest-newspapers-endorse-gianforte-us-house|website=Montana Public Radio|publisher=MTPR|accessdate=May 15, 2017}} However, the day before the election, Gianforte assaulted Ben Jacobs, a reporter from The Guardian, an incident captured on audio recording and which was witnessed by reporters from Fox News. Gianforte was charged with a misdemeanor for the incident.{{cite web|url=http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/politics/gianforte-charged-with-election-eve-assault/article_9df533bb-9919-51aa-8d0d-5d5cb4e48923.html|title=Gianforte charged with election-eve assault|first=Chronicle|last=Staff|publisher=|accessdate=May 25, 2017|archive-date=February 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201170814/https://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/politics/gianforte-charged-with-election-eve-assault/article_9df533bb-9919-51aa-8d0d-5d5cb4e48923.html|url-status=dead}} As news broke, the editorial boards of these three newspapers rescinded previous endorsements of Gianforte.[http://billingsgazette.com/opinion/editorial/gazette-opinion-we-re-pulling-our-endorsement-of-gianforte/article_34d90b42-545b-5e10-9355-605b7c5cb11f.html Gazette opinion: We're pulling our endorsement of Gianforte], Billings Gazette, Editorial Board, May 24, 2017. Retrieved May 25, 2017.{{cite web|url=http://helenair.com/news/local/an-ir-view-independent-record-withdraws-endorsement-of-gianforte/article_0d7d40b6-8d5d-587c-86f7-290a611b53db.html|title=AN IR VIEW: Independent Record withdraws endorsement of Gianforte|date=May 25, 2017 |publisher=|accessdate=May 25, 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://missoulian.com/opinion/editorial/missoulian-rescinds-gianforte-endorsement/article_ab947a9d-9220-5dc5-9193-f1ae9ef03c60.html|title=Missoulian rescinds Gianforte endorsement|date=May 24, 2017 |publisher=|accessdate=May 25, 2017}} However, as many voters had already cast early voting ballots, the incident had relatively little impact on the election. Gianforte later pled guilty.{{cite news |title=Montana Rep. Greg Gianforte misled investigators in assault case |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/11/17/greg-gianforte-misled-investigators-assault-case/876737001/ |accessdate=13 November 2019 |work=USA TODAY |date=17 November 2017}}

Quist lost the general election to Gianforte, 50% to 44%, with Libertarian Mark Wicks receiving 6%.{{cite web|url=http://mtelectionresults.gov/MyTrackedContests.aspx|title=Montana Secretary of State|website=mtelectionresults.gov|language=en|access-date=2017-05-26}} This result was the highest percentage of the vote for a Democrat in a Montana house race in the past four election cycles.{{cite web|last1=Conner|first1=James|title=Quist has best Dem 2-party numbers in last four U.S. House elections|url=http://www.flatheadmemo.com/archives_2017/may_2017/2017-05-26_2-party.html|website=Flathead Memo|accessdate=May 26, 2017|language=en|date=May 26, 2017}}

File:Bernie Sanders Bozeman, MT.jpg campaigned with Quist the weekend prior to the 2017 special election]]

Politico described Quist's policies as "an economic fairness platform" and "a commitment to Montana's particular brand of prairie populism."{{Cite news|url=http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/05/13/montana-special-election-rob-quist-democrat-215128|title=How a Prairie Populist Could Redraw Montana's Electoral Map|work=Politico Magazine|access-date=2017-05-14}} According to the Washington Post, the Quist campaign opted not to turn the special election into a referendum on Trump's alleged scandals, but to focus on "policy decisions by the president and congressional Republicans."{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/2017/05/20/4dbc06e6-3d7e-11e7-a058-ddbb23c75d82_story.html|title=Analysis {{!}} For Democrats, special elections may be preview of 2018 campaigns|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=2017-05-20}}

Quist thinks the country should eventually move to a single-payer healthcare system.{{Cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/332638-populists-clash-in-montana-race/|title=Populists clash in Montana race|last=Evans|first=Garrett|date=May 10, 2017|work=The Hill|access-date=2017-05-14}}{{Cite news|url=http://wamu.org/story/17/05/16/candidates-confront-gop-health-care-bill-in-montana-special-election/|title=Candidates Confront GOP Health Care Bill In Montana Special Election|publisher=WAMU|access-date=2017-05-17|language=en-US}} Quist opposed efforts to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare),{{Cite news|url=http://mtpr.org/post/gianforte-quist-weigh-healthcare-bill|title=Gianforte, Quist Weigh-In On Healthcare Bill|last=Whitney|first=Eric|publisher=Montana Public Radio|date=May 4, 2017}} stating in 2017 that doing so would "raise healthcare costs for working Montanans", which is consistent with an analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation, and be a "tax cut for millionaires".{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2017/05/19/montana-democrat-closes-with-health-care-message-in-closely-watched-congressional-race/|title=Montana Democrat closes with health-care message in closely watched congressional race|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=2017-05-20}}

Quist has criticized inequality in the United States, and argued that tax breaks for the rich exacerbates the inequality.{{Cite news|url=http://missoulian.com/news/local/quist-verbally-jabs-at-gop-opponent-in-health-care-town/article_9869ea68-4684-5cb4-ae5c-531e37f7978f.html|title=Quist verbally jabs at GOP opponent in 'health care town hall' in Missoula|last=Erickson|first=David|work=Missoulian|date=March 30, 2017|language=en}} He has called for tax cuts for the working class.{{Cite news|url=http://mtstandard.com/news/opinion/guest/rob-quist-tax-cuts-for-working-montanans-not-millionaires/article_3cc0bd74-1cee-5305-a990-597b985f3ebf.html|title=Rob Quist: Tax cuts for working Montanans, not millionaires|last=Quist|first=Rob|work=Montana Standard|access-date=2017-05-17|language=en}}

Quist opposes the privatization of federal lands, military intervention and regime change, as well as any form of religious ban or registry.{{cite web|author=Troy Carter|url= http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/politics/rob-quist-touring-state-lobbying-dems-ahead-of-u-s/article_1b0c9fc5-83f6-5e3d-85d9-0ecd8d353b66.html |title= Rob Quist touring state, lobbying Dems ahead of U.S. House election |location=Bozeman, Montana |publisher= Bozeman Daily Chronicle |date= January 22, 2017 |accessdate= February 23, 2017}} Quist has called for transferring money from the federal military budget "towards health care or Social Security".{{Cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/greg-gianforte-vs-rob-quist-nonpartisan-candidate_us_58ff9d63e4b0631b8fc9c528|title=Greg Gianforte vs. Rob Quist vs. Mark Wicks: Nonpartisan Candidate Guide for 2017 Montana Congressional Race|last=Project|first=Campus Election Engagement|date=April 25, 2017|website=Huffington Post|language=en-US|access-date=2017-05-14}} Quist supports a constitutional amendment to overturn the Citizens United Supreme Court decision.{{Cite news|url=http://www.missoulacurrent.com/general/2017/03/montana-citizens-united/|title=Group calls on Quist, Gianforte to fight Citizens United|date=March 7, 2017|work=Missoula Current|access-date=2017-05-14|language=en-US}} He has called for investments in clean coal technology, as well as energy from wind, solar, biomass and geothermal sources.{{Cite news|url=http://billingsgazette.com/news/government-and-politics/quist-gianforte-support-coal-but-differ-on-policy/article_b6cbf2b9-7b14-5f6a-96ae-4817fd9511ec.html|title=Quist, Gianforte support coal, but differ on policy|last=Lutey|first=Tom|work=The Billings Gazette|access-date=2017-05-14|language=en}}

Quist has pledged to protect public lands.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/may/21/montana-special-election-rob-quist-bernie-sanders-rally|title=More Bernie, less Trump: is this how Democrats will win Montana's special election?|last=Jacobs|first=Ben|date=May 21, 2017|work=The Guardian|access-date=2017-05-24|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}{{Cite news |url=http://www.kpax.com/story/35455522/poetmusician-rob-quist-navigates-uphill-road-in-us-house-race |title=Poet/musician Rob Quist navigates uphill road in U.S. House race |last=Dennison |first=Mike |access-date=2017-05-24 |language=en}} Quist supports the legalization of marijuana, saying "the war on drugs has been an abject failure."{{Cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/rob-quist-montana-house-race_us_590628f1e4b05c3976805500|title=Montana Democratic Candidate Affirms Support For Legalizing Marijuana|last=Fang|first=Marina|date=April 30, 2017|work=Huffington Post|access-date=2017-05-14|language=en-US}} Quist supports same-sex marriage.{{Cite news|url=http://mtpr.org/post/us-house-candidate-rob-quist-gun-rights-healthcare-trump-and-more|title=U.S. House Candidate Rob Quist On Gun Rights, Healthcare, Trump, And More|last=Mauk|first=Sally|access-date=2017-05-23|language=en}} Quist supports access to birth control, preventive screenings and abortion rights. Quist has argued that "the assault on women's reproductive rights" must come to an end. He has called for pay equity for women.{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/democrat-running-for-us-house-seeks-college-students-votes/2017/05/18/57da0564-3c2b-11e7-a59b-26e0451a96fd_story.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170519043538/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/democrat-running-for-us-house-seeks-college-students-votes/2017/05/18/57da0564-3c2b-11e7-a59b-26e0451a96fd_story.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2017-05-19|title=Democrat running for US House seeks college students' votes|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=2017-05-23}}

Quist accepts the scientific consensus on climate change and supports actions to mitigate climate change, saying climate change "could have a serious impact on our farms, ranches, and our economy." By contrast, Gianforte "did not have specific ideas on how to address climate change."[http://helenair.com/news/politics/state/gianforte-i-believe-we-can-develop-natural-resources-and-protect/article_658138f7-a25c-5066-9dd2-338bd34baae6.html Gianforte: 'I believe we can develop natural resources and protect the environment'], Helena Independent Record, Tim Kuglin, April 28, 2017. Retrieved May 25, 2017. and opposed closing coal-fired power plants.{{Cite news|url=http://billingsgazette.com/news/government-and-politics/quist-gianforte-support-coal-but-differ-on-policy/article_b6cbf2b9-7b14-5f6a-96ae-4817fd9511ec.html|title=Quist, Gianforte support coal, but differ on policy|last=Lutey|first=Tom|work=The Billings Gazette|access-date=2017-05-25|language=en}}

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• {{cite book|last1=Parrett|first1=Aaron|title=Montana Americana Music: Boot Stomping in Big Sky Country|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q0B8DAAAQBAJ|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|accessdate=April 27, 2017|language=en|date=2016|isbn=9781625857859 |ref=Parrett}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Quist, Rob}}

Category:1948 births

Category:20th-century American singer-songwriters

Category:21st-century American politicians

Category:21st-century American singer-songwriters

Category:American banjoists

Category:American male singer-songwriters

Category:Guitarists from Montana

Category:Living people

Category:Montana Democrats

Category:Montana Grizzlies basketball players

Category:People from Cut Bank, Montana

Category:20th-century American guitarists

Category:American male guitarists

Category:American men's basketball players

Category:20th-century American male singers

Category:21st-century American male singers

Category:20th-century American sportsmen