John Denver
Biography
One of the most popular recording artists of the 1970s, country-folk singer/songwriter John Denver's gentle, environmentally conscious music established him among the most beloved entertainers of his era; wholesome and clean-cut, his appeal extended to fans of all ages and backgrounds, and led to parallel careers as both an actor and a humanitarian.
Born Henry John Deutschendorf in Roswell, NM, on December 31, 1943, he was raised in an Air Force family, and grew up in various regions of the southwestern U.S. As a teen, his grandmother presented him with a 1910 Gibson acoustic guitar, and while attending Texas Tech University he began performing local clubs. Adopting the stage surname "Denver" in tribute to the Rocky Mountain area he so cherished, he dropped out of college in 1964 to relocate to Los Angeles; there he joined the Chad Mitchell Trio, a major draw on the hootenanny circuit of the early '60s but in the twilight of their career at the time of Denver's arrival. Over time, however, Denver helped resuscitate the group on the strength of his songwriting skills; signed to Mercury, the Trio recorded a number of tracks, which the label repackaged in 1974 as Beginnings With the Chad Mitchell Trio.
Upon the departure of the last remaining founding member, the Chad Mitchell Trio became known as Denver, Boise and Johnson; the new group proved short-lived, however, when Denver exited in 1969 to pursue a solo career. That same year he recorded his debut LP, Rhymes and Reasons; while not a hit, it contained one of his best-loved compositions, "Leaving on a Jet Plane," an international chart-topper for Peter, Paul & Mary. Still, neither of Denver's follow-up albums, 1970's Whose Garden Was This and Take Me to Tomorrow, launched him as a solo performer; finally, with 1971's Poems, Prayers & Promises, he achieved superstardom, thanks to the million-selling hits "Take Me Home, Country Roads" and "Sunshine on My Shoulders." In the years to follow, Denver also scored with "Annie's Song" (penned for his wife) and "Back Home Again," and by 1974 was firmly established as America's best-selling performer; albums like 1975's An Evening With John Denver and Windsong were phenomenally popular, and he continued to top the singles charts with efforts including "Thank God I'm a Country Boy" and "I'm Sorry." Additionally, his 1974 best-of collection sold over ten million copies worldwide, and remained on the charts for over two years.
At the peak of his success, Denver was everywhere -- the governor of Colorado proclaimed him the state's poet laureate, his label Windsong was responsible for hits like the Starland Vocal Band's mammoth "Afternoon Delight," and he appeared in a number of ratings-grabbing television specials. In 1977, he even moved into film, co-starring with George Burns in the comedy hit Oh, God! During this time, however, he dramatically curtailed his recording output, and after 1977's I Want to Live, issued no new material until 1980's Autograph. The following year, he performed with opera star Placido Domingo, but as the decade progressed, Denver's popularity waned as he turned his focus more toward humanitarian work, focusing primarily on ecological concerns and space exploration; he also toured Communist-led Russia and China, and in 1987 performed in Chernobyl in the wake of that city's nuclear disaster. While maintaining a solid cult following, by the 1990s Denver had largely fallen off the radar, and he made more news for a 1993 drunk-driving arrest than he did for records like 1991's Different Directions. In 1994, he published an autobiography, Take Me Home. Tragedy struck on October 12, 1997, when his experimental aircraft suddenly crashed, killing him instantly. Denver was 53. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide
Selected Discography

Unplugged In The U.S.S.R.
2009

16 Biggest Hits
2006

Forever (3 Disc)
2006

Rhymes And Reasons
2005

The Essential John Denver
2004

Definitive All-Time Greatest Hits
2004

Love Songs And Poetry
2000

I Want To Live
1977

Spirit
1976

Windsong
1975

Back Home Again
1974

John Denver's Greatest Hits
1973

Farewell Andromeda
1973

Rocky Mountain High
1972

Poems, Prayers & Promises
1971
I saw John Denver in Austin in 1973 in the old Municipal Audtorium. I had many of his albums, including the Beginnings with Chad Mitchell Trio. He's still my favorite. I hope he's still singing someplace.
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GOT TO SEE JOHN DENVER IN CONCERT AND HE WAS SUPER FRIENDLY WITH THE PEOPLE HE WAS PERFORMING FOR,JUST A WONDERFUL TALENTED MAN WHO LEFT US DUE TO A PILOT`S SIMPLE MISTAKE,FAIL I N G TO SWICH GAS TANKS WHILE FLYING HIS OWN PLANE..
WE LOST A GIANT MUSIC MAN.. |
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he makes me think about our mother earth and how lucky we arethat she cares so much for us.and we should care more about her.
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I always felt the beauty in nature when he sung about it, and that is what his special talent was. I've flown over the Rockies several times, and they're huge. I didn't see any cornfields. Just big a** snow covered mountains.
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That John Denver was full of ****. I saw nothing but corn fields in the so called "Rocky Mountains"!
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I first heard John Denver when he appeared as the new member of the Chad Mitchell Trio at U. Houston in 1966. At first, I was disappointed not to see Chad, but John was great. I bought albums, went to his concerts at St. Mary's University in San Antonio and U. Texas in Austin, and closely followed his career. John was a great communicator , and his music brought people together--so m e t h i n g badly needed then and more so now. Miss him.
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He always make me proud to be a Coloradan. I wish he'd kept an eye on the gas gauge.
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Inspired words thru a gentle man who was humble to say the least - great music
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I love to just LISTEN quietly, softly, intently, his words are so powerful yet gentle. I just enjoy all of his recordings and his amazing talent.
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I saw him once in concert. He was great. I miss him so much. He is flying high now with God. What a poet and musician!
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JOHN DENVER WAS A POET AND A CARING PERSON. WHEN I THINK OF JOHN ALL I CAN SAY IS F A R O U T! I AM GLAD HE WAS APART OF MY LIFE WHEN I WAS YOUNG.
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I had the biggest crush on John back in 1973! I was four-and-a-h a l f , and I thought he was the hottest boy I had ever seen! Then and Andy Gibb and Saun Cassidy came along, and I forgot all Johnny Boy...until now. I sure do appreciate his soothing voice. He sure is missed.
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OH JOHN WHY DID YOU FAIL TO SWICH TO THE OTHER GAS SUPPLY,THAT WAS A FATAL MISTAKE,NOW YOUR GONE BUT ALL YOUR SONGS CAN STILL BE HEARD,YOU WERE A GREAT
TALENT JOHN BUT PANDORA MADE IT POSSIBLE TO HEAR YOUR FINE VOICE,REST IN PEACE JOHN,YOU WILL BE MISSED..THAN K S PANDORA |
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Tomrotramel, That maybe true ,but I didn't mention that song.(Rocky Mt. High) Listen to the lyrics of Poems Prayers and Promisses(on e of Johns own favorite songs) and he clearly sings about sittng around with good friends, passing the pipe around..It's not a bad thing. Sorry.
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FYI: Dean Baqdasarian The ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH John Denver spoke of was NATURE.
He respected NATURE, OUR PLANET and PEOPLE. He loved camping in the mountains, swimming in the Colorado river with his family and friends and especially singing about getting a NATURAL HIGH over NATURE. In high school I went to a concert in Anoka, Minnesota with a temp of 102 wrapped in a blanket. John Denver will ALWAYS BE IN MY HEART. Birdie (MOM of 4) (Grandmom of 4) |
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...enjoyed a concert with the music of John Denver last night. It was beautiful!! Jim Curry sang his songs complete with "dramatic images of nature". Lee Holdridge conducted the Kansas City symphony orchestra playing original scores. When/if it comes to your town, I highly recommend this truly spell binding evening!!!
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To me John Denver was the Icon for American Folk /Country music in the 70's . Like Don 1983 said ,he had the balls to stand up to the government about censorship and he even SANG about getting high, despite his nice clean cut good boy image that most people had of him.
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I miss him every day. I have great memories of his live performances . He was truly an amazing entertainer, and genuinly a good person. I've been hooked since 1972...He will forever hold a place in my heart.
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I saw John in San Diego in 78 or 79. He was at the Sports Arena. His band took their union breaks but he stayed and played for about 3 hours. He truly loved his fans. I started listening to his music when by kids were small.I did housework to John Denver.This was in the early 70's and the music was on 8track. I wore out 3 8 track tapes of the 1973 John Denver's Greatest Hits.When 8track was no more I immediately replaced my John Denver tapes with cassettes. I still love his music and just boug
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Great artist and one of the few musicians with the balls to stand up to Govenrment censorship in the 80's. Remember kids? Tipper Gore? that b@#$h! Frank Zappa and Dee Snider and John were the only ones to show up, where were the rest of musics so called rebels? i.e. punks? metalheads, etc? Phonies! John will forever be a great musician and a crusader for freedom of speech. R.I.P. John and thanks for speaking out against government intrusion!
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He was one of my favorite artists, I loved his songs and his adventures into nature and television. It is such a joy to listen to his songs once again here on this great website.
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I grew up on his music, I still remember watching his t.v. specials as a kid. His music is truly spiritual, just makes you feel good and brings back so many wonderful memories. I saw him in Las Cruces NM. shortly before he died and he was just amazing. I feel very lucky to have seen him, he was a very special entertainer.
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I have 14 of John Denvers' albums. I have followed him since his Rhythms and Reasons album.Many years ago.There isn't a song he has written or sung that I haven''t loved. He was the poet laurete of the Baby Boomer Generation.H i s words and dreams are now becoming reality.The wildlife finally have a voice because of him.We lost someone very dear to the enviorment.
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Even though he is long passed, his music still bring tears to the eyes, and makes the heart and soul weep, as he sure is sadly missed by me and amongst others, family, friends, and the fans. He will be long remembered. Barbara Caughlin on Pandora's radio on the internet.
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I grew up listening to john denver. i wish he was still around, i was only seven years old when he died. His music is pretty and so full of emotion.
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John, when you died in that experimental airplane crash my first feeling was anger. How could you die and deprive your fans of your future music along with your growing concern with environmenta l and social ills? Sorry John, I was being selfish. I miss your goofy glasses and always smile when I hear your music. RIP.
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His songs remind me of a time in my life when things were so much simpler..no cares and a lot of good music to listen to.
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JD-you are missed! Still love and listen to your music and it always makes me feel good.
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I believe that John Denver is a legend in the music industry. He will never be forgotten for his musical talent and his commitment to the enviornment.
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Nice to see some of the people who enjoyed JD at the height of his fame admitting they listened and loved his music. Everyone now acts like his music was too wussy and they never listened. Sure...
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