The Montana Logging and Ballet Company got its start in Billings, MT by four Rocky Mountain College alumni. Bob FitzGerald and Rusty Harper organized the musical group, The People Tree, while attending Rocky Mountain College in the 1960s. After 10 years of performing in Hollywood, the two decided to return to Montana where they began working in the admissions department at their alma matter. In 1975 they put together a "Rocky Road Show", enlisting the brothers Steve and Tim Holmes. The group toured schools across Montana, encouraging high school seniors to attend college, pitching Rocky as a prime option.

The show originally consisted of some popular songs with comedy bits thrown in. Most of the material was left-over stuff from The People Tree. The group was so successful with their recruitment efforts, the school requested they continue the road show.

After a few years of performing the show, the four decided to go their separate ways. Bob worked at Max Baucus' campaign manager when he ran for US Senate in 1978. When Baucus won the election the four men decided to perform again as a thank you for his staff. This would be the first time they took a popular song and rewrote the lyrics to make it political satire. Eric Feaver, president of the teacher's union, Montana Educators Association, encouraged them to write more satire, focusing on Montana education. Their material got shared nationwide and eventually Steve began writing original music to go along with the lyrics. The men debated if they should formally unite as a musical group, something they had not been up to this point. Although they had no desire at the time to record and tour, they decided to name the group The Montana Logging and Ballet Company. The name derived from a major Montana resource, timber, adding ballet because no one would know what it meant. This allowed them to be as creative as they wanted.

The group mainly performed for more liberal, progressive groups primarily in politics, education, and the arts. Performing mainly at organization conventions or fund raisers. Songs and comedy skits would focus on the particular group in the audience, making no two shows the same. Often material was not written until right before the show. Some jokes would be made up by individual members while on stage.

In 1987 the group met Archbishop Desmond Tutu after presenting him with a sculpture and performing an original piece, "Take the Barriers Down" written for him at a global gathering put on by the United Methodist Church Women's Division. Afterwards, Fitz held a fundraiser to assist in Tutu's work in South Africa to end Apartheid. Tutu was so appreciative when asked by the group if he'd come to Montana, he agreed. In 1990, at a time of great political unrest in his home country, Tutu came to Helena to make an appearance for one night alongside the MLBC. That same year they formed Upstream Records to produce their first recorded album, Take the Barriers Down, donating the sales funds to Tutu's work in South Africa.

They released their second album We Don't Get It was release in 1992.

They served as the resident political satirists on NPR's Weekend Edition, Sunday during President Bill Clinton's second term. According to the group, their material was always meant to "nudge" people to try and work together to make the world a better place". The albums Solutions to Our Nations Problems, Take 1, (1999) and Take 2 (2001) featured selections from these appearances.

Although the group did not write much of their music down in the early years, they made it a point to record their shows on cassette tape. Set lists were created for many shows showing the order of songs and comedy sketches, often abbreviating the song titles to just one or two words. Steve often added small jokes to the set list for the other members' amusement.

Each member brought their own unique skill set to the group, but none of them ever competed for solos or a lead role. Besides equal roles on stage, they also wrote as a group. They pride themselves on the fact they stayed together for an astounding 38 years.