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 My Capsule
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| Name: | John Denver |  | | Gender: | M | | E-mail: | Private | | Address 1: | 1234 | | Address 2: | | | City: | Pasadena | | State/Province: | CA | | Zip/Postal Code: | 13872 | | Country: | USA |
| Birth Date: | 0000-00-00 | | Birth City: | Roswell | | Birth State/Province: | NM | | Birth Country: | USA |
Early years
Denver was born in Roswell, New Mexico. His father, Henry Deutschendorf, Sr., was an Air Force officer and flight instructor. As a typical military brat 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.
By far Denver's most folk album, Rhymes and Reasons would open up his life long solo career.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 smoky 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 1969, he abandoned the band life to pursue a solo career, and released his first album for RCA Records, 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 that same year. 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
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 near Denver. He also made appearances on The Muppet Show. This was the beginning of a life-long friendship between Denver 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 multiple times.
1972's Rocky Mountain HighIn 1975, he was recognized as the Country Music Association Entertainer of the Year. At the Country Music Association awards ceremony, reigning Entertainer of the Year Charlie Rich (who himself had a series of crossover hits) was to present the award to his successor; instead of reading the name of the winner, he set fire to the envelope with a cigarette lighter and announced in tones of disgust, "My good friend, John Denver!". Some considered it a statement against country pop and the Music Row-controlled Nashville Sound, while others rejected Rich's actions.
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. He wrote and dedicated the song "I Want to Live" as the theme song for the Hunger Project.
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 and trend-setting image, his blond hair cut in a "dutch-boy" style, complemented by bell-bottom jeans and cowboy boots. He was known for the catch phrase "Far out!" that punctuated his concerts and conversation, his happy, positive image, and his western accent. As his interests began to go beyond just his music, Denver put his appeal to good use in many areas.
[edit] Political activism
Denver's final album with RCA; One World , was a blunt jab at the results of war.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 1980s, he was a critic of the Reagan Administration's environmental and defense spending policies. His outrage at the conservative politics of the 1980s was famously expressed in Denver's autobiographical folk rock ballad Let Us Begin (What Are We Making Weapons For). Denver was also critical of the Republican-dominated Congress and American Conservatism of the 1990s. He denounced the NRA as a corrupt political machine that could buy off politicians in a open letter he wrote to the media opposing oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Denver had battled to expand the refuge in the 1980s, and praised President Bill Clinton for his opposition to the proposed drilling. The letter, which he wrote in the midst of the 1996 Presidential election, was one of the last Denver would ever write.
Despite his many differences with Republican leaders and Presidents, Denver was a sought-after guest at state dinners hosted by Richard Nixon and George H.W. Bush. His "all-American" image and soft spoken lyrics of peace and harmony made him a popular entertainer. In 1972, at a Washington, D.C. concert, Nixon and then Premier of the People's Republic of China Zhou Enlai were members of the audience. After the concert, which included Denver's infamous parodies "The Ballad of Richard Nixon" and "The Ballad of Spiro Agnew" , the Premier purchased 500 cassette tapes of the country folk ballad "Take Me Home, Country Roads" which would become the first western music legally played in the People's Republic of China.
Denver's 1977 LP I Want To Live .John Denver was a graduate of Werner Erhard's Erhard Seminars Training (EST):
"He was an 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[1]."
Denver wrote and dedicated the song "Looking for Space" to EST. This song came from his 1975 album "Windsong". It became the theme song for the training organization.
Later years and humanitarian work
1985's Dreamland ExpressIn subsequent years, Denver had a lower-profile career.
As his career slowed down, Denver focused more on 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, 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 to work with African leaders towards a solution.
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 with those of his musical counterparts and his testimony was arguably the strongest influence on Congress. [citation needed] 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.
1991's Different DirectionsIn 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, Denver had a few incidents involving driving under the influence of alcohol. He was released on both counts, as it was cited that he had a blood metabolism problem that 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 Denver's hometown of Aspen, Colorado.
Personal life
Denver's first marriage was to wife Anne Martell of Sleepy Eye, Minnesota. Anne, the mother of two of his three children, was the subject of his much-beloved hit "Annie's Song", which was written by Denver during a hike in a state park near New Ulm, Minnesota. He and Anne adopted their son (Zachary) and daughter (Kate) after determining that Denver was infertile. His son, Zachary, was the subject of "A Baby Just Like You," a song he originally wrote for Frank Sinatra which also appeared on the Muppet Christmas special. After their divorce in 1982, he later married Australian actress and singer Cassandra Delaney, and together they had a daughter named Jesse Belle, after Denver sought medical treatment for his infertility. In the years after his second divorce, Denver and first-wife Anne Martell began to reconcile their friendship. At the time of his death, a tabloid rumor spread from The Enquirer magazine cited possible reconciliation of their marriage, but no evidence has subsequently arisen supporting this claim.
Death
A Long-EZ single-occupancy plane similar to Denver's.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.
The Long-EZ that Denver was flying is a two-place experimental aircraft, designed in the 1970s by Burt Rutan. Denver's particular plane, bought used, had been changed from Rutan's specs: The fuel tank change switch had been moved to the back from the front. Featuring tandem seats, when being flown solo it was to be flown from the rear seat. Denver, like many EZ pilots, was flying solo from the front.
Denver apparently lost control of the aircraft while attempting to manipulate the fuel selector handle, located in the rear cockpit in his plane, after running out of fuel in one tank. Witnesses stated that the plane made a sudden pitch-down plunge into the water, leading to speculation that, in reaching around to the rear, Denver bumped or kicked the side-stick control. The official investigation decided that he had likely inadvertently pushed the right rudder pedal trying to gain leverage to turn.
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. Prior to the accident, the FAA found that he did not meet the medical standards prescribed in Part 67 of the Federal Aviation Regulations due to his ongoing drinking problem, and a determination was made that he was not qualified for any class of medical at the time. At least a third-class medical was required to exercise the privileges of his pilot certificate. [2]
Upon announcement of his death, Governor Roy Romer of Colorado ordered all Colorado flags to be lowered to half-staff to honor Denver. He was cremated along side his 1910 Gibson guitar that his grandmother had given him, and subsequently inspired much of his legacy. 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 Grammys and Country Music Association Awards.
Denver's final album, All Aboard! consisted of old fashioned swing, big band, folk, bluegrass and gospel styles of music woven into a theme of railroad songs. All Aboard! won a posthumous Best Musical Album For Children Grammy, 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, starring Chad Lowe. His music remains very popular around the world and more previously unreleased and unnoticed recordings are now sought-after collectibles of both the folk and country genres.
Related artists
Main article: The John Denver Band
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 (also known as Windstar Records) label.
Denver's early solo success is often attributed to the 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 Mallett, and many others in the folk scene. His record company, Windstar, is still an active record label today.
Olivia Newton-John, whose across-the-board appeal to pop, MOR, and country audiences in the mid-1970s was similar to Denver's, lent her distinctive backup vocals to Denver's 1975 single "Fly Away." She also covered his "Take Me Home, Country Roads," and had a hit in the United Kingdom (#15 in 1973) and Japan (#6 in a belated 1976 release) with it.
John Denver's sound lives on in the music of tribute artists. John Adams, known as the "Dutch John Denver", has performed with John Denver and continues to play John Denver's music in small venues. John Adams lives in Colorado and regularly performs there, but also has performances worldwide and frequently returns to his country of birth, the Netherlands, to record and perform. The annual "Aspen in October" celebration in Aspen, Colorado pays tribute to John Denver with many events and performances, including a John Adams concert. Typically a few of John Denver's former band members also perform at this event.
References in Popular Culture
In the Simpsons episode Treehouse of Horror V, CM Burns walks through his haunted country house, talking about the history of the house to the Simpson family. He references that the mansion "..was the setting for 5 John Denver Christmas Specials", to which Homer responds with a shudder, "U-u-u-ugh. John Denver."
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.
In the South Park episode Cartman Joins NAMBLA, there is a ride called the "John Denver Experience". In this ride, a "Magic Carpet" style system slowly lifts the passengers to full ride height, then without warning, flips over and repeatedly slams the passengers into the ground. The ride's finish leaves the passengers submerged upside down in a tank of water. The overture during this is "Leaving On A Jet Plane". According to the South Park creators, another episode was based of Denver's Christmas specials.
It is a tradition at home games for the Baltimore Orioles major league baseball team that "Thank God I'm A Country Boy" is played during the middle of the seventh inning. During the bridge of the song, in which Denver holds a long note, fans yell "Ooooooooh!"
In an episode of Scrubs, Dr Reid's hair is referred to as "John Denver style" by Dr. Kelso.
In the Studio Ghibli film Whisper of the Heart, the song "Country Roads" is brought up many times as an important part of the plot.
In a scene of the movie "Dumb & Dumber", Harry comments about the desolate Nebraska road, under the impression they were in Colorado, by saying "I expected the Rocky Mountains to be a little rockier than this." Lloyd responds by saying, "I was thinking the same thing. That John Denver's full of shit, man."
In one scene of the 1996 action film, "The Rock" staring Nicolas Cage, Sean Connery and Ed Harris, the song "Leaving on a Jet Plane" is played. The song is played while the FBI is eating food in the penthouse, listening to Frank Sinatra. Meanwhile, "Mr. Mason"(Sean Connery) throws the FBI director off a ledge and "Stanley Goodspeed" (Nicholas Cage) holds him off.
In the movie "Armaggedon", Ben Affleck's character sings "Leaving on a Jet Plane" to Liv Tyler's character as they are preparing to board the shuttles, which are going to the asteroid.
At West Virginia University, after a victory, "Take Me Home, Country Roads" plays while the crowd sways arm in arm singing along.
At Wilfrid Laurier University, "Take Me Home, Country Roads" is played at the homecoming football game in honor of the coachs who moved from West Virgina to lead the then Waterloo Lutheran University Golden Hawks to their first Vanier Cup appearence.
Priyan Weerappuli, the leader of the Sri Lankan group Pahan Silu, refers to Denver as among his greatest musical influences.
In the "Magnum, P.I." seventh season episode "Limbo", the Denver song "Looking for Space" is played as at the end of the episode which was originally meant to be the series finale.
In episode 209, Hurricane, of The Upright Citizens Brigade, one of the characters goes to a John Denver fan club and finds out that all of the people in the fan clube believe John Denver's Songs originally contained the term "nut sack" and that the record companies forced him to change the lyrics to something more suitable for the listening audiences. And example of this is when one of the members sings sunshine on my shoulders but sings instead, "Sunshine on my nut sack makes me happy".
Awards and Recognition
[edit] Grammy Awards
Best Musical Album For Children, 1997, "All Aboard!"
Grammy Hall of Fame Award, 1998, "Take Me Home, Country Roads"
American Music Awards
Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist, 1975, 1976
Favorite Country Male Artist, 1976
Favorite Country Album, 1976, "Back Home Again"
Country Music Association Awards
Song of the Year, 1975, "Back Home Again"
Entertainer of the Year, 1975
Academy of Country Music Awards
Album of the Year, 1974, "Back Home Again"
[edit] Emmy Awards
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 "Greatest Hits" went platinum, and was one of the first albums world-wide to sell over 10 million copies.Rhymes & Reasons - 1969 [3]
Take Me To Tomorrow - 1970
Whose Garden Was This? - 1970
Poems, Prayers, and Promises - 1971 [3]
Aerie - 1972
Rocky Mountain High - 1972 [3]
Farewell Andromeda - 1973
Greatest Hits - 1973 [4]
Back Home Again - 1974 [3]
An Evening with John Denver (live) - 1975
Windsong - 1975 [3]
Rocky Mountain Christmas - 1975 [3]
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
[edit] Windstar Records
Higher Ground - 1989
Earth Songs - 1990
The Flower That Shattered the Stone - 1990
Christmas, Like a Lullaby - 1990
Different Directions - 1991
BMG Records
The Very Best of John Denver - 1994
The John Denver Collection (5 CD) - 1995
CMC Records
Love Again - 1996
[edit] Sony Wonder
All Aboard - 1997
Forever John - 1998
[edit] Singles
"Leaving On a Jet Plane" (1969)
"Friends With You" (1971) #47 US
"Take Me Home, Country Roads" (1971) #2 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) #69 US
"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 |
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