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At 21 he moved to Dallas, Texas, and landed professional gigs in house bands playing 5-6 nights a week (Longhorn Ballroom, etc.).  He discovered Montana on a road gig and moved to Missoula in 1974 continuing his full-time career in house bands as a journeyman guitarist.  Touring, Louie opened for and backed up many famous country stars, including Bakersfield artists David Frizell, Lawanda Lindsay, Tony Booth, Buck Owens in the 1970s as well as Restless Heart, Sawyer Brown, Bobby Bare, Ferlin Husley, Roy Head, and Vern Gosdin. 

Playing gigs locally in Western Montana 5 nights a week continually for many years Louie has played regularly with Country Boogie Boys, Haywire, Monte Monroe, and many other bands as lead guitarist and vocalist. After a recording date in 1998 for a TV ad with Hoyt Axton Louie became Hoyt’s personal guitarist helping the retired songwriter/performer co-write several of his last songs before Hoyt’s passing in 1999.   Louie was the cover feature story in the June 2013 issue of Missoula’s award-winning weekly The Independent as “arguably Missoula, Montana’s best guitarist” as well as a front-page feature in the Missoulian July 2019.

Louie plays in several band configurations (duo/quartet) all fronted by his smooth vocals and tasteful guitar work that is perfect for listening or dancing. His 6 piece band Texas swing band” Western Union ” (band members consist 3 of Montana’s Big Sky Mudflaps-David Horgan/steel, Beth Lo/bass, and Rich Brickman/drums; Montana’s stellar jazz and country guitarist DR Halsell rounded out by jazz/swing/county vocalist and rhythm guitar player Kimberlee Carlson) was the only Montana band chosen for the international Montana Folk Festival 2016.  Louie and Western Union have opened for Marty Stewart and Hot Rize as well as played, fairs, rodeos city festivals.  Louie and Kimberlee have had a residency at the River Edge Resort in Alberton, MT  for the last 8 years from June to September plus perform all around Western Montana.