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GREAT FALLS \u2014 GREAT FALLS \u2014 For Don Barrozo, the Montana Hi-Line isn\u2019t just a stretch of track across the plains; it\u2019s a symbol of family, history, and home.<\/p>\n
Barrozo, who grew up in Great Falls, recently released “Workin’ the Hi-Line,” a song inspired by his father Paul\u2019s journey from the Philippines to Montana in the 1930s.<\/p>\n
Madison Collier reports – watch the video:<\/b><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n Montana Roots: Musical Duo Honors Family Legacy with New Song<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Paul was only a teenager when he came to the United States with his father. He first found work in agriculture before moving to the railroads, which eventually brought him to the Hi-Line. <\/p>\n When his father returned to the Philippines, Paul stayed behind; a decision that meant he never saw his parents again after immigration laws changed. <\/p>\n \u201cIt was bittersweet for him,\u201d Don said. \u201cBut he made a great life here. He worked for nearly 50 years at Columbus Hospital and became a bandleader who played everywhere. It was a part of who he was.” <\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/figure>\n That legacy is now part of his music. With his wife Joselyn, the duo wrote “Workin’ the Hi-Line” as a way to honor his father\u2019s story while celebrating the couple\u2019s own Montana roots.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen Joselyn said, \u2018You have to write a song about your dad, and the chorus has to include the Hi-Line,\u2019 it came together quickly,\u201d Don said.<\/p>\n The song\u2019s video was filmed in Fort Benton, where the couple showcased landmarks like the old grain silo, the bridge, and the historic Grand Union Hotel.<\/p>\n