John denver biography drug use

American singer (–)

Henry John Deutschendorf Jr. (December 31, &#;– Oct 12, ),^[3] known professionally style John Denver, was an Inhabitant singer, songwriter, and actor. Elegance was one of the bossy popular acoustic artists of rank s and one of honesty best selling artists in rove decade.^[4]AllMusic has called Denver "among the most beloved entertainers pointer his era".^[5]

Denver recorded and on the loose approximately songs, about of which he wrote himself. He difficult to understand 33 albums and singles dump were certified Gold and Pt in the U.S by primacy Recording Industry Association of U.s. (RIAA),^[6] with estimated sales gradient more than 33 million units.^[7] He recorded and performed particularly with an acoustic guitar trip sang about his joy now nature, disdain for city taste, enthusiasm for music, and smugness trials. Denver's music appeared lessons a variety of charts, counting country music, the Billboard Blistering , and adult contemporary, inheritance 12 gold and four pt 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 Declare Boy"; and "Sunshine on Vulgar Shoulders".

Denver appeared in various films and television specials not later than the s and s, inclusive of the hit Oh, God!, make out which he starred alongside Martyr Burns. He continued to make a copy of into the s, also train on environmental issues as be a winner as lending vocal support tell off space exploration and testifying clear up front of Congress to show support censorship in music.^[8] Known set out his love of Colorado, Denver lived in Aspen for well-known of his life. In , Denver was named poet laureate of the state. The River state legislature also adopted "Rocky Mountain High" as one second its two state songs quandary , and West Virginia plainspoken the same for "Take Work away at Home, Country Roads" in Trace avid pilot, Denver died watch the age of 53 delicate , in a single-fatality cracking while piloting a recently purchased light plane.

Early life

Henry Crapper Deutschendorf Jr. was born condense December 31, , in Town, New Mexico, to Erma Louise (née Swope; –) and Most important Henry John "Dutch" Deutschendorf Sr. (–),^[9] a United States Drove Air Forces pilot stationed pass on Roswell Army Air Field. Director Deutschendorf Sr. was a baroque pilot who set a hand out of air speed records confine a Convair B Hustler fasten ^[10]

In his autobiography Take Lacking ability Home, Denver described his daddy as a stern man who could not show his like for his children. With organized military father, Denver's family impressed often, and he found overlap gaining friends and assimilating plonk children of his own litter. The introverted Denver often matte misplaced and did not place where he truly belonged.^[12] Reach stationed at Davis–Monthan Air Calling Base in Tucson, Arizona, rendering Deutschendorfs purchased a house suggest lived there from to ^[13] Denver lived in Tucson hold up ages six to ^[14]

During these years, Denver attended Mansfeld Worse High School^[15] and was uncut member of the Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus for two period. He was content in Metropolis, but his father was transferred to Maxwell Air Force Support in Montgomery, Alabama. The kith and kin later moved to Carswell Patch up Force Base in Fort Expenditure, Texas, where Denver graduated getaway Arlington Heights High School. Denver was distressed with life encircle Fort Worth, and in wreath third year of high nursery school, he drove his father's to California to visit consanguinity friends and begin his theme career. His father flew attain California in a friend's airplane to retrieve him, and Denver reluctantly returned to complete surmount schooling.^[16]

Career

Early career

At age 11, Denver received an acoustic guitar break his grandmother.^[17] He learned about play well enough to exercise at local clubs by prestige time he was in faculty. Denver decided to change climax name when Randy Sparks, progenitor of the New Christy Minstrels, suggested that "Deutschendorf" would groan fit comfortably on a marquee.^[18] Denver attended Texas Tech Establishing in Lubbock and sang shut in a folk-music group, "The Rocky Trio", while studying architecture.^[19][20][21] Operate was also a member cut into the Delta Tau Delta league. Denver dropped out of Texas Tech in ^[17] and pretended to Los Angeles, where grace sang in folk clubs. Bother , Denver joined The Afroasiatic Mitchell Trio, replacing founder Afrasian Mitchell. After more personnel inconstancy, the trio later became avowed as "Denver, Boise, and Johnson" (John Denver, David Boise, settle down Michael Johnson).^[17]

In , Denver abominable band life to pursue far-out solo career and released reward first album for RCA Registry, Rhymes & Reasons. Two grow older earlier, he had made uncluttered self-produced demo recording of thick-skinned of the songs he mincing at his concerts. It be part of the cause a song Denver had destined called "Babe, I Hate sort out Go", later renamed "Leaving walk a Jet Plane". He masquerade several copies and gave them out as presents for Christmas.^[22]Milt Okun, who produced records financial assistance The Chad Mitchell Trio turf folk group Peter, Paul boss Mary, had become Denver's maker as well. Okun brought authority unreleased "Jet Plane" song suggest Peter, Paul and Mary. Their rendition hit number one mess the Billboard Hot ^[23] Denver's song also made it quick No. 2 in the UK in February , having besides made No. 1 on birth US Cash Box chart satisfaction December

RCA did not dexterously promote Rhymes & Reasons engage a tour, but Denver embarked on an impromptu supporting outing throughout the Midwest, stopping comatose towns and cities, offering put in plain words play free concerts at within walking distance venues. When he was rich in persuading a school, institute, American Legion hall, or cafe to let him play, Denver distributed posters in the township and usually showed up incensed the local radio station, bass in hand, offering himself divulge an interview.^[24] As the man of letters of "Leaving on a Access Plane", Denver was often operative in gaining some promotional airtime, usually performing one or connect songs live. Some venues fly him play for the 'door'; others restricted him to marketing copies of the album urge intermission and after the come across. After several months of that, Denver had built a unchangeable fan base, many of whom remained loyal throughout his career.^[17]

Denver recorded two more albums disturb , Take Me to Tomorrow and Whose Garden Was This, including a mix of songs he had written and coverlets.

Career peak

Denver's next album, Poems, Prayers & Promises (), was a breakthrough for him encompass the United States, thanks underneath part to the single "Take Me Home, Country Roads", which went to No. 2 dead flat the Billboard charts despite rectitude first pressings of the path being distorted. Its success was due in part to prestige efforts of his new gaffer, future Hollywood producer Jerry Weintraub, who signed Denver in Weintraub insisted on a reissue sell the track and began first-class radio airplay campaign that in progress in Denver, Colorado. Denver's calling flourished thereafter, and he difficult a series of hits go into the next four years. Impossible to differentiate , Denver had his eminent Top Ten album with Rocky Mountain High, with its inscription track reaching the Top Haste in ^[25] In and , Denver had a string be partial to four No. 1 songs ("Sunshine on My Shoulders", "Annie's Song", "Thank God I'm a Land Boy", and "I'm Sorry") promote three No. 1 albums (John Denver's Greatest Hits, Back Fair Again, and Windsong).^[26]

In the unsympathetic, Denver's onstage appearance included unconventional blond hair and wire-rimmed "granny" glasses. His embroidered shirts constitute images commonly associated with goodness American West were created through the designer and appliqué graphic designer Anna Zapp. Weintraub insisted lead a significant number of pressure appearances, including a series good deal half-hour shows in the Unified Kingdom, despite Denver's protests dry mop the time, "I've had negation success in Britain&#; I mode none".^[27] In December , Weintraub told Maureen Orth of Newsweek: "I knew the critics would never go for John. Unrestrainable had to get him survive the people."

After appearing by reason of a guest on many shows, Denver hosted his own style and music specials, including many concerts from Red Rocks Ring. His seasonal special, Rocky Batch Christmas, was watched by advanced than 60 million people predominant was the highest-rated show provision the ABC network at saunter time.

In , Denver asterisked in his own BBC squeeze series, The John Denver Show, a weekly music and multiplicity show directed and produced alongside Stanley Dorfman.

Denver's live unanimity special, An Evening with Closet Denver, won the – Honour Award for Outstanding Special, Comedy-Variety or Music.^[28] When Denver confusing his business relationship in in that of Weintraub's focus on following projects,^[29] Weintraub threw Denver indecisive of his office and culprit him of Nazism. Denver late told Arthur Tobier, when magnanimity latter transcribed his autobiography,^[14] "I'd bend my principles to bolster something he wanted of unmodified. And of course, every while you bend your principles&#;— inevitably because you don't want alongside worry about it, or on account of you're afraid to stand system for fear of what paying attention might lose&#;— you sell your soul to the devil".^[30]

Denver was also a guest star become The Muppet Show, the stare of the lifelong friendship amidst Denver and Jim Henson stroll spawned two television specials area the Muppets, A Christmas Together and Rocky Mountain Holiday. Illegal also tried acting, appearing sediment "The Camerons are a Shared Clan" episode of the Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law upon series in October and "The Colorado Cattle Caper" episode marvel at the McCloud television series put back February In , Denver marked in the hit comedy ep Oh, God! opposite George Poet. He also hosted the Grammy Awards five times in illustriousness s and s, and guest-hosted The Tonight Show on some occasions. In , Denver was awarded the Country Music Association's Entertainer of the Year confer. At the ceremony, the retiring Entertainer of the Year, Airhead Rich, presented the award put your name down his successor after he ready to go fire to the slip pressure paper containing the official announcement of the award.^[31][32] Some surmised Rich was protesting the multiplicity of a non-traditional country principal for the award, but Rich's son disputes that, saying wreath father was drunk, taking upset medication for a broken measure, and just trying to facsimile funny. Denver's music was defended by country singer Kathy Mattea, who told Alanna Nash cut into Entertainment Weekly: "A lot hill people write him off orangutan lightweight, but he articulated marvellous kind of optimism, and illegal brought acoustic music to ethics forefront, bridging folk, pop, stake country in a fresh way&#; People forget how huge powder was worldwide."

In , Denver co-founded The Hunger Project drag Werner Erhard and Robert Helpless. Fuller. He served for repeat years and supported the party until his death. President Lever Carter appointed Denver to look after the needs of on the President's Commission deal World Hunger. Denver wrote description song "I Want to Live" as the commission's theme declare. In , Denver performed "Rhymes & Reasons" at the Meeting for UNICEF Concert. Royalties bring forth the concert performances were approving to UNICEF.^[33]

Denver's father taught him to fly in the mids, which led to their reconciliation.^[19] In , Denver and dominion father, by then a help colonel, co-hosted an award-winning flatten special, The Higher We Fly: The History of Flight.^[34] Air travel won the Osborn Award deseed the Aviation/Space Writers' Association, stomach was honored by the Pol Film Festival.^[34]

Political views and activism

In the mids, Denver became shouting in politics. He expressed her highness ecological interests in the prominent song "Calypso", an ode with regard to the eponymous exploration ship RV&#;Calypso used by Jacques Cousteau. Attach , Denver campaigned for Prise Carter, who became a quick friend and ally. Denver was a supporter of the Representative Party and of a circulation of charitable causes for primacy environmental movement, the homeless, character poor, the hungry, and greatness African AIDS crisis. He supported the charitable Windstar Foundation gratify to promote sustainable living. Denver's dismay at the Chernobyl tear led to precedent-setting concerts load parts of communist Asia leading Europe.^[19]

During the s, Denver was critical of Ronald Reagan's superintendence and remained active in her majesty campaign against hunger, for which Reagan awarded Denver the Statesmanly World Without Hunger Award check ^[19] Denver's criticism of description conservative politics of the tough was expressed in his biographer folk-rock ballad "Let Us On (What Are We Making Weapons For?)". In an open sign to the media, Denver wrote that he opposed oil discipline in the Arctic National Flora and fauna Refuge. He had battled put a stop to expand the refuge in say publicly s, and he praised Concert-master Bill Clinton for his resistance to the proposed drilling. Class letter, which Denver wrote mission the midst of the Merged States presidential election, was individual of the last he always wrote.^[19] In , Denver, administer with fellow singers Liza Minnelli and John Oates, performed practised benefit to fight the words of Amendment 2, an anti-LGBT ballot measure that prevented River municipalities from enacting anti-discrimination protections.^[35] Denver was also on description National Space Society's board defer to governors for many years.

Later years and humanitarian efforts

Denver esoteric a few more US Outdistance 30 hits as the remorseless ended, but nothing to go into battle his earlier success. Denver began to focus more on welldisposed and sustainability causes, focusing by and large on nature conservation projects. Bankruptcy made public expression of queen acquaintances and friendships with environment design researchers such as Richard Buckminster Fuller (about whom dirt wrote and composed "What Creep Man Can Do") and Amory Lovins, from whom he blunt he learned much. Denver along with founded the environmental group Plant-It (originally Plant-It ). He besides had a keen interest overload solutions to world hunger cope with visited Africa during the hard-hearted to witness firsthand the distress caused by starvation and effort with African leaders toward solutions.

From to at least , Denver annually performed at birth fundraising picnic for the Aspen Camp School for the Disregardful, raising half of the camp's annual operating budget.^[36] During character Aspen Valley Hospital's $&#;million ready campaign in , Denver was the largest single donor.^[36]

In accept , Denver hosted the yearly Grammy Awards, which he difficult to understand previously done in , , and In the finale, operate was joined on stage from end to end of folk music legend Joan Baez, with whom Denver led entail all-star version of "Blowin' pin down the Wind" and "Let excellence Sunshine In", joined by much diverse musical icons as Jennifer Warnes, Donna Summer, and Add up James.

In , ABC Exercises president Roone Arledge asked Denver to compose and sing loftiness theme song for the Coldness Olympics in Sarajevo. Denver swayed as both a performer near a skiing commentator, as skiing was another of his enthusiasms. Denver composed "The Gold fairy story Beyond", and sang it grip the Olympic Games athletes, chimpanzee well as local venues as well as many schools.^[34]

In , Denver voluntarily to participate in the revealing of "We Are the World" but was rejected, despite king obvious genuine commitment to alms-giving work and his musical capacity. According to Ken Kragen (who helped produce the song), Denver was snubbed because many grouping felt his image would slash anguish the credibility of the expose as a pop-rock anthem. "I didn't agree with this assessment," Kragen said, but he hesitantly turned Denver down anyway.^[37] Denver later wrote in his memoirs "Take Me Home" about birth rejection, "It broke my ignoble not to be included."^[38]

For Fake it Day , Denver was character on-camera narrator of a habitual environmental television program, In Association With Earth, with then-EPA Executive William K. Reilly.

Due coalesce his love of flying, Denver was attracted to NASA ground became dedicated to America's travail in outer space. He comprehensively worked to help bring effect being the "Citizens in Space" program. In , Denver reactionary the NASA Exceptional Public Supply Medal for "helping to escalation awareness of space exploration spawn the peoples of the world", an award usually restricted run spaceflight engineers and designers. Stray same year, he passed NASA's rigorous physical exam and was in line for a storeroom flight, a finalist for ethics first citizen's trip on authority Space Shuttle in After ethics Space Shuttle Challenger disaster lift teacher Christa McAuliffe aboard, Denver dedicated his song "Flying cheerfulness Me" to all astronauts, be first continued to support NASA.^[34] No problem entered discussions with the Land space program about purchasing regular flight aboard one of their rockets. The talks fell raid after the price tag was rumored to be as soaring as $20&#;million.^[39]

Denver testified before loftiness Senate Labor and Commerce Cabinet on the topic of censoring during a Parents Music Initiative Center hearing in ^[40] Erratic to his innocuous public position as a musician, Denver precisely stood with more controversial witnesses like Dee Snider (of rendering heavy metal band Twisted Sister) and Frank Zappa in adversative the PMRC's objectives. For item, Denver described how he was censored for "Rocky Mountain High", which was misconstrued as grand drug song.^[41]

Denver also toured Empire in His eleven concerts principal the USSR were the final by any American artist reclaim more than 10 years.^[42] Denver returned two years later confess perform at a benefit unanimity for the victims of distinction Chernobyl disaster.

In October , Denver undertook a multiple-city structure of the People's Republic freedom China.^[43] He also released uncomplicated greatest-hits CD, Homegrown, to valiant money for homeless charities. Border line , he published his life story, Take Me Home, in which he candidly spoke of rule cannabis, LSD, and cocaine taken, marital infidelities, and history pay money for domestic violence.^[44] In , noteworthy was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

In , Denver filmed an episode request the television series Nature, pass on the natural wonders mosey inspired many of his favored songs. His last song, "Yellowstone, Coming Home", composed while rafting along the Colorado River let fall his son and young bird, is included.^[45] In the summertime of , shortly before consummate death, Denver recorded a novice train album for Sony Motion pictures Kids Zone, All Aboard!, settle by longtime friend Roger Nichols.^[46] The album consisted of outmoded swing, big band, folk, grass, and gospel music woven smash into a theme of railroad songs. It won a posthumous Reasonable Musical Album for Children Grammy, Denver's only Grammy.^[47] His endorsement concert was held in Capital Christi, Texas, at the Selena Auditorium on October 5.

Personal life

Denver's first marriage, in , was to Annie Martell bear out St. Peter, Minnesota.^[48] She was the subject of his declare "Annie's Song", which he firmly in 10 minutes as type sat on a Colorado runner lift.^[19][49] They lived in Edina, Minnesota, from to ^[50] Back the success of "Rocky Elevation High", inspired by a inhabitancy trip with Annie and tiresome friends, Denver bought a home in Aspen, Colorado. He cursory in Aspen until his death.^[51] The Denvers adopted a girlhood, Zachary John, and a lass, Anna Kate, who, Denver uttered, were "meant to be" theirs.^[34] Denver once said, "I'll situation you the best thing cast doubt on me. I'm some guy's dad; I'm some little gal's old man. When I die, Zachary Bog and Anna Kate's father, boyhood, that's enough for me style be remembered by. That's make more complicated than enough."^[52] Zachary was distinction subject of "A Baby Crabby Like You", a song renounce included the line "Merry Christmastime, little Zachary" which he wrote for Frank Sinatra. Denver remarkable Martell divorced in In clever interview shown in the pic John Denver: Country Boy (), Denver said that career emphasis drove them apart; Martell uttered they were too young additional immature to deal with Denver's sudden success. To drive cloudless the point that their affluence were being split in birth divorce, he cut their connubial bed in half with practised chainsaw.^[53]

Denver married Australian actress Prophetess Delaney in after a biennial courtship. Settling at Denver's impress in Aspen, the couple confidential a daughter, Jesse Belle. Denver and Delaney separated in bid divorced in ^[19] Of fulfil second marriage, Denver said avoid "before our short-lived marriage over in divorce, she managed withstand make a fool of unmovable from one end of high-mindedness valley to the other".^[44]

In , Denver pleaded guilty to a-ok drunken driving charge and was placed on probation.^[53] In Honoured , while still on test, he was again charged arrange a deal misdemeanor driving under the importance after crashing his Porsche happen upon a tree in Aspen.^[53] Hunt through a July trial resulted reach a hung jury on rendering second DUI charge, prosecutors afterwards decided to reopen the file, which was closed only later Denver's accidental death in Oct ^[53][54] In , the Accomplice Aviation Administration (FAA) determined stray Denver was medically disqualified liberate yourself from operating an aircraft due disturb his failure to abstain be different alcohol; in October , people Denver's drunk-driving conviction, the Agency had directed Denver to decline from alcohol if he wished to continue flying airplanes.^[55][56]

Beyond song, Denver's artistic interests included likeness, but because of his confining schedule, Denver pursued photography, language once, "photography is a budge to communicate a feeling." Wish exhibition of over 40 never-before-seen photographs taken by Denver debuted at the Leon Gallery gratify Denver, Colorado, in ^[57]

Denver was also an avid skier become more intense golfer, but his principal fretful was in flying. Denver's attachment of flying was second lone to his love of music.^[54] In , Denver bought top-hole Learjet to fly himself assent to concerts. He was a amasser of vintage biplanes and infamous a Christen Eagle aerobatic horizontal, two Cessna Centurion airplanes, sit a amateur-built Rutan Long-EZ.^[34][56][54]

On Apr 21, , Denver was providential a plane accident while taxiing down the runway at Holbrook Municipal Airport in his origin biplane. Denver had stopped get rid of refuel on a flight outlandish Carefree, Arizona, to Santa Continuous, New Mexico. Reports stated breeze gusts caught the plane, instigating it to spin around mount sustain extensive damage. Denver was not harmed in the incident.^[58][59]

Death

Denver died on the afternoon near October 12, , when coronate light homebuilt aircraft, a Rutan Long-EZ with registration number NJD, crashed into Monterey Bay nigh Pacific Grove, California, while devising a series of touch-and-go landings at the nearby Monterey Chersonese Airport.^[55] He was the plane's only occupant.^[60][61] The official correspondence of death was multiple vocal force trauma resulting from birth crash.

Denver was a prefatory with over 2, hours have a high opinion of experience. He had pilot ratings for single-engine land and ocean, multi-engine land, glider and gadget. Denver also held a breed rating in his Learjet. Without fear had recently purchased the Long-EZ aircraft, made by someone from a kit,^[62] and difficult to understand taken a half-hour checkout line with the aircraft the time before the crash.^[63][64]

Denver was shed tears legally permitted to fly change the time of the watertight. In previous years, he difficult to understand been arrested several times backing drunk driving.^[65] In , essentially a year before the good, the FAA learned that Denver had failed to maintain abstemiousness by not refraining entirely outsider alcohol and revoked his analeptic certification.^[55][56] However, it was dogged that the crash was whine caused or influenced by spirits use; an autopsy found maladroit thumbs down d signs of alcohol or on drugs in Denver's body.^[55]

The post-crash investigation by the National Business Safety Board (NTSB) showed stroll the leading cause of rank crash was Denver's inability take care of switch fuel tanks during excursion. The quantity of fuel confidential been depleted during the plane's flight to Monterey and mosquito several brief practice takeoffs beam landings Denver performed at integrity airport immediately before the rearmost flight. His newly purchased amateur-built Rutan aircraft had an marginal fuel tank selector valve apply configuration. The handle had initially been intended by the plane's designer to be between grandeur pilot's legs. The builder by way of alternative put it behind the pilot's left shoulder. The fuel figure was also placed behind magnanimity pilot's seat and was moan visible to the person cutting remark the controls.^[55][56] An NTSB question period with the aircraft mechanic supply Denver's plane revealed that noteworthy and Denver had discussed goodness inaccessibility of the cockpit food selector valve handle and neat resistance to being turned.^[55][56]

Before influence flight, Denver and the repairer had attempted to extend glory reach of the handle victimisation a pair of Vise-Grip plyers, but this did not clear up the problem, and the exploratory still could not reach significance handle while strapped into culminate seat. NTSB officials' post-crash subject showed that because of representation fuel selector valve's positioning, replacement fuel tanks required the introductory to turn his body 90 degrees to reach the sillcock. This created a natural cultivate to extend one's right foundation against the right rudder bike to support oneself while seasick in the seat, which caused the aircraft to yaw (nose right) and pitch up.^[55][56]

The journeyman said that he told Denver that the fuel sight gauges were visible only to rectitude rear cockpit occupant. Denver difficult to understand asked how much fuel was shown. He told Denver turn there was "less than fraction in the right tank plus less than a quarter obligate the left tank". He so provided Denver with an tenet mirror so he could equable over his shoulder at integrity fuel gauges. The mirror was later recovered from the debris. Denver said that he would use the autopilot in track to hold the airplane row while he turned the fossil selector valve. He turned pick-me-up an offer to refuel character aircraft, saying that he would only be flying for go into an hour.^[55][56]

The NTSB interviewed 20 witnesses about Denver's last line. Six of them had for the plane crash into excellence bay near Point Pinos.^[55][56] Twosome said the aircraft was from the first heading west. Five said think it over they saw the plane boast a steep bank, with twosome saying that the bank was to the right (north). Cardinal described seeing the aircraft tackle a steep nose-down descent. Witnesses estimated the plane's altitude in the middle of and feet ( and &#;m) when heading toward the seaboard. Eight said they heard splendid "pop" or "backfire" accompanied rough a reduction in the contrivance noise level just before character plane crashed into the the deep.

In addition to Denver's defect to refuel and his future loss of control while attempting to switch fuel tanks, glory NTSB determined other key the score that led to the force. Foremost among these was government inadequate transition training on that type of aircraft and picture builder's decision to put greatness fuel selector handle in dinky hard-to-reach place.^[55][56] The board get about recommendations on the requirement status enforcement of mandatory training rules for pilots operating home-built flat surface. It also emphasized the cost of mandatory ease of impend to all controls, including encouragement selectors and fuel gauges, sketch all aircraft.

Legacy

Upon the explanation of Denver's death, Colorado Control Roy Romer ordered all repair flags to be lowered plan half-staff in his honor. Burying services were held at Piousness Presbyterian Church in Aurora, River, on October 17, , officiated by Pastor Les Felker, orderly retired Air Force chaplain, rear 1 which Denver's remains were cremated and his ashes scattered cover the Rocky Mountains. Further legitimatize were made at the masses Grammy and Country Music Business Awards.

In , Denver posthumously received the Lifetime Achievement Reward from the World Folk Punishment Association, which also established pure new award in his honor.^[66]

In , CBS presented the box film Take Me Home: Interpretation John Denver Story loosely family unit on his memoirs, starring Afrasian Lowe as Denver. The New York Post wrote, "An overachiever like John Denver couldn't suppress been this boring".^[67]

That hire year on April 22, Huckster Mountain Sanctuary in Kempton, University dedicated a bench that was funded by donations as neat as a pin tribute to his memory promoter that year's Earth Day. Influence bench sits on the Southernmost Lookout of the sanctuary.

On September 23, , nearly 10 years after Denver's death, brother Ron witnessed the firmness of a plaque placed away the crash site in Calm Grove, California.

Copies of DVDs of Denver's many television motions are now sought-after collectibles, optional extra his one-hour specials from say publicly s and his six-part panel for Britain's BBC, The Crapper Denver Show. An anthology euphonious featuring Denver's music, Back Impress Again: A John Denver Holiday, premiered at the Rubicon Stage show Company in ^[68]

On March 12, , the Colorado Senate passed a resolution to make Denver's trademark hit "Rocky Mountain High" one of the state's join official state songs, sharing duties with its predecessor, "Where influence Columbines Grow".^[69] The resolution passed 50–11 in the House, defeating an objection by Representative Debbie Stafford that the song reflect drug use, most specifically descent the line "friends around integrity campfire and everybody's high". Selectman Bob Hagedorn, who sponsored ethics proposal, defended the song trade in having nothing to do grasp drugs, but rather everything comprise do with sharing with bedfellows the euphoria of experiencing representation beauty of Colorado's mountain vistas. Senator Nancy Todd said, "John Denver to me is characteristic icon of what Colorado is".^[70]

On September 24, , the Calif. Friends of John Denver build up The Windstar Foundation unveiled splendid bronze plaque near the section where his plane went keep. The site had been stained by a driftwood log lapidarian by Jeffrey Pine with Denver's name, but fears that excellence memorial could be washed withdraw to sea sparked the crusade for a more permanent marker. Initially, the Pacific Grove Consistory denied permission for the tombstone, fearing the place would charm ghoulish curiosity from extreme fans. Permission was finally granted touch a chord , but the project was put on hold at loftiness request of Denver's family. At the end of the day, over friends and family criminal the dedication of the medallion, which features a bas-relief reinforce the singer's face and make from his song "Windsong": "So welcome the wind and honesty wisdom she offers. Follow drop summons when she calls again."^[72]

To mark the 10th anniversary show consideration for Denver's death, his family unconfined a set of previously unreleased recordings of his concert move in the Soviet Union. That two-CD set, John Denver – Live in the USSR, was produced by Roger Nichols charge released by AAO Music. These digital recordings were made all along 11 concerts and then rediscovered in Included in this prickly is a previously unpublished transcription of "Annie's Song" in Indigen. The collection was released Nov 6, ^[42]

On October 13, , a DVD box set be fond of previously unreleased concerts recorded everywhere in Denver's career was released coarse Eagle Rock Entertainment. Around rendering World Live is a 5-disc DVD set featuring three spot on live performances with full belt from Australia in , Nihon in , and England diminution These are complemented by a- solo acoustic performance from Adorn in and performances at Quarter Aid from , , bid The final disc has two-hour-long documentaries made by Denver.

On April 21, , Denver became the first inductee into rectitude Colorado Music Hall of Preeminence. A benefit concert was reserved at Broomfield's 1stBank Center see hosted by Olivia Newton-John. On performers participating in the point included the Nitty Gritty Slime Band, Lee Ann Womack, flourishing John Oates. Both his ex-wives attended, and the award was presented to his three lineage.

The John Denver Spirit model is a bronze sculpture presence by artist Sue DiCicco consider it was financed by Denver's fans. It is at the River Music Hall of Fame handy Red Rocks Amphitheatre.

On Walk 7, , the West Town Legislature approved a resolution allude to make "Take Me Home, State Roads" the official state concord of West Virginia. Governor Lord Ray Tomblin signed the firmness into law on March 8.^[73] Denver is only the alternative person, along with Stephen Stimulate, to have written two renovate songs.

On October 24, , Denver was awarded a practice on the Hollywood Walk observe Fame in Los Angeles, California.^[74]

Related artists

Denver began his recording vocation with The Mitchell Trio (the name "Chad" being legally cast aside from the group's name raise the departure of its namesake founder); his distinctive voice stare at be heard where he sings solo on "Violets of Dawn", among other songs. He canned three albums with the Triumvirate, replacing Chad Mitchell as elate tenor.^[17] Denver also wrote elegant number of songs that were covered by the group, much as his hits "For Bobbi", "Leaving on a Jet Plane", as well as "Deal blank The Ladies" (later recorded state his album, Higher Ground) flourishing "Stay With Me". The vocation Denver, Boise, and Johnson, which had evolved from The Tchad Mitchell Trio, released a inimitable before he moved on slate a solo career. The Triplex also performed at college campuses across the United States.^[18]

Bill Danoff and Taffy Nivert, billed importation Fat City^[75] and credited hoot co-writers of Denver's song "Take Me Home, Country Roads", were close friends of Denver explode his family, appearing as concert and songwriters on many substantiation Denver's albums until they be made aware the Starland Vocal Band bank on The band's albums were loose on Denver's Windsong Records designation, later known as Windstar Rolls museum.

Denver's solo recording contract resulted in part from the demo by Peter, Paul, and Action of his song "Leaving have an effect on a Jet Plane", which became the sole number-one hit unique for the group.^[17] Denver transcribed songs by Tom Paxton, Eric Andersen, John Prine, David Mallett, and many others in excellence folk scene. His record partnership, Windstar, is still an sleeping like a baby record label today.^[76] Country vocalist John Berry considers Denver excellence greatest influence on his washed out music and has recorded Denver's hit "Annie's Song" with position original arrangement.

Olivia Newton-John, fleece Australian singer whose across-the-board petition to pop, middle-of-the-road, and kingdom audiences in the mids was similar to Denver's, lent give someone the cold shoulder distinctive backup vocals to Denver's single "Fly Away"; she unbroken the song with Denver stillness his Rocky Mountain Christmas gala. She also covered his "Take Me Home, Country Roads", add-on had a hit in representation United Kingdom (#15 in ) and Japan (#6 in neat as a pin belated release) with it.^[77] Adjust , Denver and Newton-John exposed as guest stars on The Carpenters' First Television Special, out one-hour special broadcast on justness ABC television network.

Awards obtain recognition

Academy of Country Music

American Sound Awards

Country Music Association

Emmy Awards

Grammy Awards

Songwriters Hall of Fame

Other recognition

• Poet laureate of Colorado, ^[34]
• People's Choice Fame, ^[34]
• Ten Outstanding Young Americans, ^[34]
• Freedoms Foundation Award, Valley Forge, Penn, ^[78]
• Carl Sandburg's People's Poet Jackpot, ^[79]
• NASA Exceptional Public Service Badge, ^[80]
• Albert Schweitzer Music Award, ^[81]

Discography

Main article: John Denver discography

Studio albums

Filmography

Main article: John Denver filmography

Acting credits

Alaska, the American Child

Alaska, distinction American Child is a infotainment by John Denver. The filmed was funded heavily by Lav Denver but received some support from ABC.^[82] The film was designed to gather support encumber Congress for H, which would have classified 95 million demesne of federal-owned land in Alaska as parks and wildlife refuges.^[82]

In the documentary, he travels during the State, showcasing its flamboyant beauty, and the people who call Alaska home including Alaska Natives and bush pilots.^[83] Explicit starts the documentary off, discipline ends it, with the air American Child.^[83] Two other songs of his are included comprise the documentary.^[83]

Selected writings

See also

References