John Denver

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John Denver (December 31, 1943 – October 12, 1997), born Henry John Deutschendorf, Jr., was an American folk singer-songwriter and folk-rock musician who was one of the biggest selling artists of the 1970s. In his lifetime, he recorded and released some 300 songs, about half of which he had written, and served as the Poet Laureate of Colorado.

Denver's songs were suffused with a deep and abiding kinship with the natural world. Songs such as "Take Me Home, Country Roads," "Leaving on a Jet Plane," "Thank God I'm A Country Boy," and "Rocky Mountain High" are popular all over the world. Often singing and writing folk songs about the western lifestyle, the human condition, and planet earth, he was named the Poet Laureat of his home state of Colorado in 1977. His songs are characterised by sweet melodies, elegant guitar-strumming, and his soulful rendition of the lyrics. Denver has been commonly referred to and nicknamed "The Poet For the Planet", "Mother Nature's Son" (based on the Beatles song he renditioned) and "A Song's Best Friend".

Contents

Early years

Denver was born in Roswell, New Mexico. His father, Henry Deutschendorf, Sr., was an Air Force officer and flight instructor, and his family moved around the American Southwest and South a lot while Denver was growing up. Denver was a life long Christian, raised Presbyterian and converted Lutheran, but often said he shared many beliefs with Zen Buddhists. In his memoirs, Denver cited that as a child he had some troubles at home, most notably with his father.

As a teenager, he received a 1910 Gibson acoustic guitar from his grandmother, and polished his skills enough to be able to perform at local clubs by the time he was in college. Adopting the surname "Denver" after his favorite city, he dropped out of Texas Tech University in 1964, and moved to Los Angeles, California. Denver sang in the smokey underground folk clubs in L.A., and in 1965 joined the Chad Mitchell Trio, a folk group later renamed "The Mitchell Trio" and then "Denver, Boise, and Johnson". In the mid-late '60's, he joined the folk group "The Byrds", but left to go solo before the band made it big.

In 1969, he abandoned the band life to pursue a solo career, and released his first LP, Rhymes and Reasons. It was not a huge hit, but it contained "Leaving On A Jet Plane", which became a number one hit for Peter, Paul and Mary two years later. He recorded two more albums in 1970, Whose Garden Was This? and Take Me to Tomorrow. Although these albums were not as successful as those that followed, they would all be certified gold by the RIAA, and later considered to be some of Denver's most revered work.

Peak of career

John Denver featured on cover of Rolling Stone (May 8, 1975).

Denver's next album, Poems, Prayers and Promises, released the following year, was a breakthrough for him in America, thanks in part to the single, "Take Me Home, Country Roads," which went to number two. His career flourished from then on, and the hits came pouring in for the next four years. In 1972, Denver scored his first top ten album, with Rocky Mountain High, while its title track reached the Top Ten in 1973. In 1974, "Sunshine On My Shoulders" and "Annie's Song" both went to number one, and "Back Home Again" made it to number five. In 1975, he again had two number ones, "Thank God I'm A Country Boy" and "Calypso/I'm Sorry," and a top twenty hit, "Sweet Surrender."

Denver hosted numerous television specials including several world-televised concerts from Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Denver. He also made legendary appearances on the Muppet Show. This was the beginning of a life-long friendship between the singer and Jim Henson which spawned two television specials Denver made with The Muppets. He even tried his hand at acting starring in the 1977 film, Oh, God! opposite George Burns. Denver would go on to host the Grammy Awards five times in the 1970s and 1980s, as well as guest-host The Tonight Show more than any other person in history.

In 1975, he was recognized as the Country Music Association Entertainer of the Year. By this time, many people considered him the most popular artist of the 1970s, and a legend in the making.

In 1977, he co-founded The Hunger Project, along with Werner Erhard and Robert W. Fuller. Denver served for many years, and supported the organization until his death. He was also appointed by President Jimmy Carter to serve on the President's Commission on World Hunger.

In 1979, he performed "Rhymes & Reasons" at the Music for UNICEF Concert, which gained him exposure to worldwide audiences; he donated the royalties from the song to UNICEF.

Image and Politics

Denver had a distinctive image, with bowl-style dutch boy, blonde hair complemented by bell-bottom jeans and cowboy boots. He was known for his catch phrase, "Far out!", as well as his western accent. Denver became outspoken in politics in the mid-seventies. In 1976, he campaigned for Jimmy Carter, who became a close friend and ally. Denver was a supporter of the Democratic Party, as well as a number of charitable causes for the environment, the homeless, the poor, the African AIDS crisis, and hunger. He founded the charitable Windstar Foundation in 1976 to promote sustainable living. His dismay at the Chernobyl disaster led to precedent-setting concerts in parts of communist Asia and Europe. During the 1980's, he was a critic of the Reagan Administration's environmental policies. In the 1990s, Denver was critical of the Republican-dominated Congress. He denounced the NRA as a corrupt political machine that could buy off politicians.#redirect [[Template:Fact]] Denver wrote an open letter to the media opposing oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (which his lobbying had helped to expand in 1980). The letter, which he wrote in the midst of the 1996 Presidential election was one of the last Denver would ever write.

John Denver was a member of Werner Erhard's Erhard Seminars Training (EST):

"He was any early follower of Werner Erhard, founder of the self-improvement association known as EST (Erhard Seminars Training). Denver once asked Erhard if he might become a trainer in the EST organization but was told he could contribute more by continuing his career as an entertainer— spreading the message, through his music, of taking personal responsibility for whatever happens in the world. Several of his subsequent songs reflected that philosophy." The Internet Movie Database, Biography for John Denver, Trivia, [John Denver, bio]

Later years and humanitarian work

In subsequent years, Denver had a lower-profile career. He had a few more U.S. Top 30 hits as the 1970s ended and 1980s began, but nothing to match the success he enjoyed earlier.

As his career slowed down, Denver focused more on his humanitarian and sustainability work. He worked extensively on conservation projects and helped to create the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. Denver made public expression of his acquaintance or friendship with ecological-design researchers like Richard Buckminster Fuller and Amory Lovins, from whom he said he learned much. He also founded his own environmental group called the Windstar Foundation. Denver had a keen interest in the causes of and solution to hunger, and visited Africa during the 1980s to witness first-hand the suffering caused by starvation and also to work with African leaders towards a solution.

Denver was propelled to take on nuclear power after the Chernobyl disaster.

Denver testified alongside Frank Zappa and Dee Snider on the topic of censorship during a Parents Music Resource Center hearing in 1985. His appearance and music sharply contrasted those of his musical counterparts and his testimony was arguably the strongest to influence Congress. Denver also toured Russia in 1985 and returned two years later to perform at a benefit concert for the victims of the Chernobyl accident. In October 1992, he undertook a multiple city tour of China. Denver also released the "Homegrown" CD of his greatest hits to raise money for charities helping the homeless.

In 1994, he published his autobiography, Take Me Home. In 1996, he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and his "legend" status was ensured.

In early 1997, Denver filmed an episode for the Nature series, centering on the natural wonders that inspired many of his best-loved songs. The episode contains his last song, "Yellowstone, Coming Home," which he composed while rafting along the Colorado River with his son and young daughter.

When his career as a musical icon slowed down and his humanitarian work picked up its pace, John Denver had a few incidents involving driving under the influence of alcohol. He was released on both counts, as it was cited that Denver had a blood metabolism problem which caused tests to indicate that he had alcohol in his blood when he actually did not.

The Lyrics to Colorado's unofficial anthem, "Rocky Mountain High" in Rio Grande Park in Aspen, Colorado. Denver promoted the free-spirited culture of the resort city, his hometown.

Death

On October 12, 1997 Denver was killed when the Long-EZ aircraft he was piloting ran out of fuel just off the coast of California at Pacific Grove. Denver apparently lost control of the aircraft while attempting to manipulate the fuel selector handle. Denver had recently purchased the aircraft and had only had about a half-hour orientation flight the day before the accident. The NTSB cited Denver's unfamiliarity with the aircraft and his failure to have the aircraft refueled as causal factors in the accident. Denver was the sole occupant of the aircraft. Upon announcement of his death, Governor Roy Romer of Colorado ordered all Colorado flags to be lowered to half-staff to honor Denver. Denver's life was celebrated at funeral services at Faith Presbyterian Church in Aurora, Colorado on October 17, 1997. Further tributes were made at the following Grammy and Country Music Association Awards.

Denver's final album, All Aboard! consisted of old fashioned swing, big band, folk, and gospel styles of music woven into a theme of railroad songs. All Aboard! won a posthumous Best Musical Album For Children, a fitting end to Denver's career.

In 2000, the movie Take Me Home; The John Denver Story was released based on Denver's memoirs. His music remains very popular around the world and more previously unreleased and un-noticed recordings are now sought-after collectibles of both the Folk and Country genres.

Related artists

Denver started his recording career with the Chad Mitchell Trio; his distinctive voice can be heard where he sings solo on Violets of Dawn. He recorded three albums with the Mitchell Trio, replacing Chad Mitchell himself as lead singer. His group Denver, Boise and Johnson released a single before he moved on to a solo career.

Bill Danoff and Taffy Nivert, co-writers of Denver's most familiar song, Take Me Home, Country Roads, were close friends of him and his family. The pair appeared as singers and songwriters on many of Denver's albums until they formed the Starland Vocal Band in 1976. The band's albums were released on Denver's Windsong Records label.

Denver's early solo success was largely due to a recording of his Leaving on a Jet Plane which was recorded by Peter, Paul and Mary. It became a number 1 hit for the group.

Denver recorded songs by Tom Paxton, Eric Andersen, John Prine, David Mallet, and many others in the folk scene.

Awards and Recognition

Best Musical Album For Children, 1997, "All Aboard!"
Grammy Hall of Fame Award, 1998, "Take Me Home, Country Roads"

Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist, 1975, 1976
Favorite Country Male Artist, 1976
Favorite Country Album, 1976, "Back Home Again"

Song of the Year, 1975, "Back Home Again"
Entertainer of the Year, 1975

Album of the Year, 1974, "Back Home Again"

Outstanding Variety, Music Or Comedy Special, 1975, "An Evening with John Denver"

Other recognition

Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, 1996
NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal, 1985

Discography

For a detailed description of Denver's discography, see John Denver Discography

In chronological order, 1969-1991 (U.S. Releases)

RCA Records

John Denver's 1974 album "Back Home again" went platinum

Rhymes & Reasons - 1969 Albums widely considered to be among Denver's most important works.
Take Me To Tomorrow - 1970
Whose Garden Was This? - 1970
Poems, Prayers, and Promises - 1971
Aerie - 1972
Rocky Mountain High - 1972
Farewell Andromeda - 1973
Greatest Hits - 1973 The first "Greatest Hits" album is important historically because it contains new, revisionist recordings of several hit songs. After its release these versions were used for airplay despite differing in subtle but important ways from the original versions; generally, they are more polished.
Back Home Again - 1974
An Evening with John Denver (live) - 1975
Windsong - 1975
Rocky Mountain Christmas - 1975
Spirit - 1976
Greatest Hits Vol. 2 - 1977
I Want To Live - 1977
John Denver (JD) - 1978
A Christmas Together (with The Muppets) - 1979
Autograph - 1980
Some Days Are Diamonds - 1981
Seasons of the Heart - 1982
It's About Time - 1983
Rocky Mountain Holiday (with The Muppets) - 1983
Greatest Hits Vol. 3 - 1984
Dreamland Express - 1985
One World - 1986

Windstar Records

Higher Ground - 1989
Earth Songs - 1990
The Flower That Shattered the Stone - 1990
Christmas, Like a Lullaby - 1990
Different Directions - 1991

Singles

"Leaving, On a Jet Plane" (1969)
"Friends With You" (1971) #47 US
"Take Me Home, Country Roads" (1971) #1 US
"The Eagle and the Hawk" (1971)
"Everyday" (1972) #81 US
"Goodbye Again" (1972) #88 US
"Farewell Andromeda (Welcome To My Morning)" (1973) #89 US
"I'd Rather Be A Cowboy" (1973) #62 US
"Please, Daddy" (1973)
"Rocky Mountain High" (1973) #9 US
"Sunshine on My Shoulders" (1974) #1 US
"Annie's Song" (1974) #1 US, #1 UK
"Back Home Again" (1974) #5 US
"Please, Daddy" (re-release) (1974) #69 US
"Calypso/I'm Sorry" (1975) #1 US
"Christmas For Cowboys" (1975) #58 US
"Sweet Surrender" (1975) #13 US
"Thank God I'm a Country Boy" (1975) #1 US
"Fly Away" (1976) #13 US
"It Makes Me Giggle" (1976) #60 US
"Like a Sad Song" (1976) #36 US
"Looking For Space" (1976) #29 US
"Baby, You Look Good To Me Tonight" (1977) #65 US
"How Can I Leave You Again" (1977)
"My Sweet Lady" (1977) #32 US
"How Can I Leave You Again" (re-release) (1978) #44 US
"I Want To Live" (1978) #55 US
"Downhill Stuff" (1979)
"Sweet Melinda" (1979)
"What's On Your Mind" (1979)
"Autograph" (1980) #52 US
"Dancing With The Mountains" (1980) #97 US
"Some Days Are Diamonds (Some Days Are Stone)" (1981) #38 US
"The Cowboy And The Lady" (1981) #66 US
"Perhaps Love" (with Plácido Domingo) (1982) #59 US, #42 UK
"Seasons Of The Heart" (1982) #78 US
"Shanghai Breeze" (1982) #31 US
"Wild Montana Skies" (1983)
"Love Again" (1984) #85 US
"Dreamland Express" (1985)
"Along for the Ride ('56 T-Bird)" (1986)
"And So It Goes" (1989)
"Take Me Home, Country Roads" (re-release) (1993)

Selected books

Denver published many songbooks, music instrumental teaching books and children's books:

Alfie the Christmas Tree (1990) ISBN 0945051255
Take Me Home: An Autobiography (1994) ISBN 0517595370
Poems, Prayers and Promises: The Art and Soul of John Denver (2004) ISBN 1575606178

References and footnotes

John Denver Christmas specials were referred to in an episode of the Simpsons called "Treehouse of Horror V". CM Burns is walking through his haunted mansion, talking about the history of the house to the Simpson family and references "..was the setting for 5 John Denver Christmas Specials", to which Homer responds with a shudder.

During the movie, Final Destination, "Rocky Mountain High" plays while the main character has a premonition that his flight to France will explode. Later, the song often plays just before a character dies.

External links

[Official website]
[John Denver Fan Club]
[Windstar Foundation, cofounded by Denver]
[Entry] from the All Music Guide
[Clips of his songs] from the Songwriters Hall of Fame website
[PBS Nature site]
[NTSB report on crash]
[When interfaces kill: what really happened to John Denver]
[John Denver] Record of donation by John Denver to "Nathan Rosenberg for Congress.", (brother of Werner Erhard)
[}}}] at YouTube live performance by Denver late in his career

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