Music Appreciation
Related: About this forumOn this day, October 12, 1997, John Denver died.
Hat tip, Floyd R.Turbo
Thu Oct 12, 2017: December 31, 1943 - October 12, 1997
Denver in 1974
Born: Henry John Deutschendorf Jr.; December 31, 1943; Roswell, New Mexico, U.S.
Died: October 12, 1997 (aged 53); Monterey Bay near Pacific Grove, California, U.S.
Cause of death: Blunt force trauma as a result of a plane crash
Resting place: Ashes scattered in the Colorado Rocky Mountains
Education: Texas Tech University (No degree)
Website: johndenver.com
Henry John Deutschendorf Jr. (December 31, 1943 October 12, 1997), known professionally as John Denver, was an American singer and songwriter. He is known for popularizing acoustic folk music in the 1970s as part of the ongoing singer-songwriter movement of the mid-to-late 20th century. Denver is widely recognized as a cultural icon of the American West.
After traveling and living in numerous locations while growing up in his military family, Denver began his music career with folk music groups during the late 1960s. Starting in the 1970s, he was one of the most popular acoustic artists of the decade and one of its best-selling artists. By 1974, he was one of America's best-selling performers; AllMusic has called Denver "among the most beloved entertainers of his era".
Denver recorded and released approximately 300 songs, about 200 of which he composed. He had 33 albums and singles that were certified Gold and Platinum in the U.S by the RIAA, with estimated sales of more than 33 million units. He recorded and performed primarily with an acoustic guitar and sang about his joy in nature, disdain for city life, enthusiasm for music, and relationship trials. Denver's music appeared on a variety of charts, including country music, the Billboard Hot 100, and adult contemporary, earning 12 gold and four platinum albums with his signature songs "Take Me Home, Country Roads", "Poems, Prayers & Promises", "Annie's Song", "Rocky Mountain High", "Calypso", "Thank God I'm a Country Boy", and "Sunshine on My Shoulders".
Denver appeared in several films and television specials during the 1970s and 1980s, including the 1977 hit Oh, God!, in which he starred alongside George Burns. He continued to record into the 1990s, also focusing on environmental issues as well as lending vocal support to space exploration and testifying in front of Congress to protest censorship in music. Known for his love of Colorado, Denver lived in Aspen for much of his life. In 1974, Denver was named poet laureate of the state. The Colorado state legislature also adopted "Rocky Mountain High" as one of its two state songs in 2007, and West Virginia did the same for "Take Me Home, Country Roads" in 2014.
An avid pilot, Denver was killed in a single-fatality crash while piloting a recently purchased light plane in 1997 at age 53.
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ItsjustMe
(11,971 posts)Beatlelvr
(804 posts)Back in 1973 my ex and I were wondering where to go on our honeymoon. Saw John at the Hollywood Bowl and we said, how about Aspen?
oregonjen
(3,644 posts)He will always be my favorite singer.
FemDemERA
(828 posts)From his music to picking up litter to the concept of changing our collective thinking from you OR me to you AND me, he made a difference.
The concept of you do what you can do and Ill do what I can do and together we can make a difference has stayed with me my entire life. The world could use a few more humans like him.
If you only know the John Denver of the 1970s hits, here are a couple of lectures/speeches from the 80s I recommend. As I listened for a few minutes this morning, I am struck once again how, whether 1980 or 2023, the words touch my soul and make me want to strive to be a better human, and that no matter how many times I fail to live up to my own standards I should not stop trying.
1981- John Denver- Press Club Speech
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1980- John Denver -"On Being Human" Speech *
https://m.