Like a lot of people who live in the Flathead Valley, Garry Tallent is of retirement age, but unlike most of them he has no desire to give up his “day job” — which in his case means working as bass guitarist for Bruce Springsteen’s E Street band.

Tallent is an original member of the famous New Jersey-based band, and Tallent grew up on the Jersey Shore, and started playing in Springsteen’s bands when he was in his early 20s. He left New Jersey for Nashville in 1989, but now he lives quietly in Whitefish, enjoying the serenity of a small town.

Currently, Tallent is back in New Jersey with “The Boss,” rehearsing for the upcoming “Wrecking Ball Tour” of Europe and North America, but he took a break from rehearsing to talk about music and why he is involved with the Whitefish ticket raffle that will allow two lucky people to see the E Street band on the tour, which starts March 18.

“The fact is that for such a small town Whitefish has a great music program,” Tallent said. The raffle will benefit the North Valley Music School as well as the Whitefish Middle School and High School.

Tallent became involved with his own school band in fourth grade. From then through high school Tallent played the flute, clarinet, violin, stand-up bass, tuba and euphonium.

When he was 10 years old, Tallent got his first guitar.

“I got a guitar for Christmas in 1959. Just a cheap little pawn shop guitar. I fought with it until my fingers bled, but I played it anyway,” Tallent said.

Even though his school band did not have guitar players, his music teachers took extra time to teach him how to play the instrument in elementary and middle school.

Tallent grew up listening to the country music his parents played on the radio, but his heart was in rock ’n’ roll, listening to musicians like Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly and Little Richard.

“I just loved it. It was all just rock ’n’ roll for me,” Tallent said.

His advice to young musicians:

“Just practice. Learn as much as you can… absorb all you can. Seize every opportunity, which is why I want to encourage music instruction in Whitefish,” Tallent said.

Tallent has certainly done his share of nurturing of young talent over the years. He has worked as a producer or studio musician for many young and established stars including Steve Forbert, Marshall Crenshaw and Jim Lauderdale.

And other than being a rock star, he’s just like anyone else who moves to Montana for the quality of life. He even has visitors from back East who want to spend a while in Montana. The band Poco, which visited Whitefish in September, wrote a tribute to Tallent on their web page, after he sat in with them during a concert at Depot Park.

“What an awesome weekend it was! ... Whitefish sits in the mountains overlooking the beautiful Flathead Lake. ... The concert was in the park and it was a perfect day for a summer concert. PPL [Pure Prairie League] and the Montana Band Tribute Band rounded out the afternoon concert, but the highlight was when Garry Tallent sat in with us.”

He later invited the band to his “spread” just outside Whitefish and let them enjoy a sampling of the quiet life on his 30 acres. And like all visitors to the Flathead Valley, they wished they could have stretched out their visit a bit longer:

“We all agreed that we wished we could stay a few more days, but that’s rock ’n’ roll I guess.”

Garry Tallent figured out a way to enjoy the best of both worlds — the inviting serenity of Whitefish and the wild world of rock ’n’ roll. Now that takes a special talent.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com