J~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~J O R O C K Y M O U N T A I N H I G H O H =============================================== H N The John Denver Internet Fan Club N D D E M O N T H L Y N E W S L E T T E R E N N V D E C E M B E R 1 9 9 5 V E E R http://www.sky.net/~emily Emily Parris emily@sky.net R ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ TABLE OF CONTENTS December 1995 Rocky Mountain High goes over 1,000 members!..........1 Lee Holdridge now has a www page......................1 John Denver Multi Media Center........................1 RMH Newsletter Trivia Contest.........................2 The Christmas Gift: John Denver Christmas Video.......3 New Michael Martin Murphey www Page...................3 Why We Should NOT Be Closet John Denver Fans by Ann Schnitz....................................4 James Burton Falls on Hard Times......................6 Poetry Corner: "Time To Live" by Sarah Montgomery...................6 "There Is This Place Where I Can Go" by D. Stemple...6 "A Little Town Named Aspen" by Emily Parris..........7 "Thoughts Uplifting and Folksy" New York Times (6/20/95)..........................8 "Entertainer JD Vows To Continue His Work" Hamden Chronicle (12/9/93)........................8 * * * Rocky Mountain High Goes Over 1,000 =================================== At press time we have 1,070 members in 24 countries. The are only three states in the U.S. that we don't have any members from and they are Wyoming, North Dakota and South Dakota. LEE HOLDRIDGE WWW Page ====================== LEE HOLDRIDGE now has a web page. You can get to it through the RMH JD Page or......http://www.caprica.com/~holdridge For more information about Lee Holdridge or the web page write to Adam Holdridge at (holdy1@aol.com). JOHN DENVER MULTI MEDIA CENTER ============================== Gary Keck's John Denver page is now called The "John Denver Multi Media Center." ====================================================== THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH NEWSLETTER T R I V I A C O N T E S T ====================================================== The answers to these trivia questions are found in the first 20 issues of the Rocky Mtn High Newsletters. Who can answer all 20 questions? Send your entries to "emily@sky.net." The first 3 correct email entrants will receive a print copy of "Circle of Love". ........................................... 1. In what newsletter were the Prodigy members featured? 2. What issue featured the poem "Circle of Love"? 3. Which RMH newsletter told about John receiving the Albert Schweitzer Award? 4. Where could you find information about John's peace efforts in 1972? 5. What issue had a form to request back issues of RMH? 6. When was the Lee Holdridge www page announced in RMH? 7. How many parodies of J.D. songs have there been in RMH? and in what issues did they appear? 8. In what newsletter were the lyrics to John's "A Song For All Lovers" reprinted? 9. Where was John with his ping-pong table? 10. In what issue did RMH have a birthday? 11. What newsletter had an article from "Talker's Magazine"? 12. What issue contained a recipe from the "Tower Restaurant"? 13. In what newsletter did the "John Denver High On Life" article appear? 14. In what issue was the album "Minneapolis Does Denver" announced? 15. What issue had information on both the Windstar Foundation and the Cousteau Society? 16. In what issue was there an 'Apology' from John himself? 17. What issue had an article by Gary Wolf? 18. What issue had a press release from John about the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge? 19. Which newsletter contained the article "A New Verse to Annie's Song"? 20. In what issue did we hear that John was....."Raised on Country Music"? Entries must be received before midnight on 12/31/95. Winners (and the answers) will be announced in issue #21 / Jan 1996. * * * * * Thanks everyone for a GREAT 2 years! * * * * * ========================================================= THE CHRISTMAS GIFT (1986) Starring John Denver ========================================================= During the Holiday Season you will probably see copies of John's Made-for-tv movie THE CHRISTMAS GIFT in stores. The movie was featured in the Postal Employee's Magazine since one of their POST OFFICES was featured prominently in the movie: POSTAL EMPLOYEES MAGAZINE December 6, 1986 A Star Is Born The Georgetown, CO Post Office can be seen starring in a special television movie this holiday season. "It is a delightful film that will warm the hearts of everyone who sees it" states Postmaster Gary Canterbury about THE CHRISTMAS PRESENT, which airs on CBS this December. In the film, John Denver plays a New York architect who comes into town on Sunday with his daughter and sees people going into the Post Office. He has an important letter to mail to New York, but he doesn't realize that the post office is open that day only for letters to Santa Claus. After an initial confrontation, Denver falls in love with the postmaster, played by Jane Kaczmarek, and learns "the true meaning of Christmas." Canterbury and Communications Manager Scott Budny of the Denver Division worked with the film's producers and writers to help reflect accuracy in postal scenes and dialogue. "Having them shoot in a working post office was a big challenge," says Canterbury, "but we managed to get all the day's mail up and out on time with a minimum of disruption for our customers." Clerks Mary Ann Reid and Diane Berglof helped to see that everything went smoothly with customers during the filming. ANNOUNCE: Michael Martin Murphey WWW Page ========================================= From: Gary Keck Around 20 years ago, John Denver introduced me to Michael Martin Murphey by singing his song "Boy From the Country". John Denver also sang on Michael's album "Swans Against The Sun". Michael has had several hits since, including "Wildfire" and "What's Forever For". He is now singing traditional western music.I have put together a web site for this songwriter/singer/entertainer at http://www.tucson.com/outback/keck/mmm/ Please have a look! ============================================ Why We Should NOT Be Closet John Denver Fans by Ann Schnitz ============================================ I am a fairly new Net Surfer, so it was only recently that I was able to read the Rocky Mountain High Newsletter. I came across the article "Are You A Closet John Denver Fan?" that was in RMH several months ago -- and I thought I would just about explode (all apologies to whoever wrote this piece originally). Let me explain why. As a devoted John Denver fan for the past 24 years, I have known my share of ostracism, and in fact, there were times that I wanted to hide it too. But folks, let's face it here. If we want to see John get back on top of the charts and back where he should be, then the last people in the world who should act ashamed of being JD fans should be us!! We, the loyal ones, who've been through thick and thin with John, should now take this opportunity to proudly wear our concert t-shirts and play John's music out loud where other people (GASP!) can hear it, and play some of the new material for our friends who for years have been saying "Yuch --- you like that guy?", and let the whole world know that John has never gone anywhere, and is singing and writing spectacularly. (Frankly, if I see one more article where it says "John is back", I will surely go ballistic!) While it is true that the last few years have been difficult, we all know that as human beings, we go through some rough water before we reach the shore. It is John's misfortune to have to do this in a fish bowl with all of us watching. But, as at all other times, he has managed to come out with his integrity and his good attitude intact. That's what we have to remind those people who say disparaging things about the DUIs or any other misstep John has made. We can't let people think that JD is a washed up has-been who crashes into trees periodically -- because that simply isn't true. So friends, be proud to be a John Denver fan. Don't hide it and act ashamed. That doesn't help any of us, and it certainly doesn't help John any. You might hear some snickers and you might have to shoulder some disagreeable criticism. Take that opportunity to educate. Tell everyone how wonderful our guy is, how we truly know him to be. Play "For You" for them, or "Eagles and Horses", and mostly, don't let that stuff get you down. Just remember that they don't understand. And who knows, you just might convert a "Denver Hater" into a "Denver Devotee". Even one more is a great accomplishment. =========================================================== J A M E S B U R T O N =========================================================== Charles White reports that James Burton, who has played with John for many years now, has been through a serious hardship during the past few months: Last August, James fell from a tree that he was trimming in his yard and broke his left foot in many places. He was hospitalized, surgery was performed, and complications resulting from the surgery put him in a coma for several days and, nearly killed him! He has since gone through extensive therapy and still needs crutches to get around. It is uncertain as to when he will be able to work again. In the mean time, he has no insurance coverage (as many musicians don't), and has incurred over $100,000 in medical costs; therefore, a medical fund has been established by his fan club president, Sylvia Corley. If you would like to contribute to this fund please write to me for her postal address. ********************************************************** P O E T R Y C O R N E R ********************************************************** TIME TO LIVE by Sarah Montgomery Dedicated to John Denver You were such a sweet, happy young boy In a changing age of youthful innocence Your face endlessly lit up with joy Life was grand good fun - doing what you loved But you hadn't yet had time to live. Your voice was light, careless and free Your smile was wide and brighter than the sun You laughed often and easily The greatest thing in life - finding your old guitar But you'd still not had the chance to live. Now, your hair is shorter, your voice richer You've known more shades of blue Your smile is rare, and softly wistful Your eyes are clouded by what you've seen And you've begun traveling life's challenging road. You've tasted of frustration and anger, of being alone You've had to rethink of who you are But you've tapped a strength buried deep within More vulnerable than ever, by letting us be with you You've endured and died, and found the will to live again. The young boy that you were will never be again The young man who strived has grown and grown again The man you've been becoming is different and new And can shed the tears that have released you Along the unmarked road you travel, you've let us love you. By being who you are, and letting us share You've lived through the heartbreaks, the pain and the love You've been through the abyss and come out above Now join hands with us, reaching out to you Built out of time is a family in which you have love. Copyright 1995 by Sarah Montgomery THERE IS THIS PLACE WHERE I CAN GO By David Stemple Dedicated To John Denver There is this place, Where I can go, Whenever things, Seem to be going wrong. There is this place, Where I can go When a loved one dies, Or moves half away, Around the world. There is this place, Where I can go, When I need an escape, From this world. There is this place, Where I can go, When I need a vacation, Far away from it all, But don't have the time, or the money. This place is, The music of John Denver, For it is in his music, That I get lost, In a different world. Whether you long for West Virginia, Colorado, Grandma's House, Alberta, Or a journey on the sea, It is all as close, As the nearest stereo, And the music of John Denver. For it is in the music of John Denver, That I lose myself within, And journey off, Into a different world. Copyright 1995 by David Stemple A Little Town Named Aspen by Emily M. Parris There's a little town named Aspen It has a certain glow I'd love to be able to see it When it's covered deep in snow When it's like a winter wonderland With skiers on every hill When in the air of Aspen There's a rocky mountain chill For it's lovely in the summer It's a green and pretty place But it must be so exciting To see those skiers race Whenever I hear "Aspenglow" It makes me warm inside I can almost hear the sleigh bells And I long to take a ride I can almost see the mountains Snow covered and lit by the moon As I hear the lilting melody Of John's romantic tune Copyright 1995 by Emily M. Parris THOUGHTS UPLIFTING AND FOLKSY New York Times - Pop Review 6/20/95 John Denver has always been the most Presidential-sounding American pop singer. Performing his folk-pop anthems exalting the rugged Western landscape, Denver paints a picture postcard vision of rustic life that is tinged with the rhetoric of the human potential movement. In concert, Denver suggests a grown-up John-Boy Walton, alternately ministerial and folksy as he imparts his message of spiritual uplift, humanitarianism and care for the environment. Those inspirational thoughts are couched in tidy verses that are vague enough to have a broad populist appeal but pointed enough to have political overtones. If Mr. Denver decided to ride into Washington on a white horse for one of his causes, he would know exactly what tone to take. Mr. Denver's concert at Radio City Music Hall on Saturday night to benefit the Wildlife Conservation Society was a typically smooth exercise in ceremonial grace. Except for having put on a few pounds, Mr. Denver seemed remarkably unchanged from 20 years ago when he was one of the country's two or three best selling pop singers. What has changed drastically is the pop climate. Mr. Denver's pastoral reveries have lost their footing in a pop mainstream increasingly obsessed with paranoia and complaint. Although Mr. Denver can be heard on country radio stations, as he pointed out on Saturday his music is really more western than country. That music is well made, and on Saturday it was brilliantly performed. Mr. Denver's voice, with its built in twang and rapid vibrato, has lost none of its oratorical clout. Singing with an almost mechanistic precision and with perfect pitch and enunciation, he projected his voice as though it were meant to bounce off mountainsides and resound to the very heavens. The old hits - "Rocky Mountain High", "Back Home Again", "Take Me Home, Country Roads", "Poems, Prayers and Promises" and "Sunshine On My Shoulders" sounded sturdy. So did lesser-known later songs like "Eagles and Horses" and "For You" although their messages were more abstract and spiritual. It is the material for an all-American song book. ENTERTAINER JOHN DENVER VOWS TO CONTINUE HIS WORK The Hamden Chronicle 12/9/93 (abridged) Global environmentalist and national performer John Denver was honored at Quinnipiac College last week by the Albert Schwitzer Institute For The Humanities (ASIH) for his legendary song-writing and devotion to humanity. Rhena Schwitzer Miller, daughter of Albert Schwitzer, presented Denver with the Albert Schwitzer Music Award for his lifetime dedication to global issues including world peace, the quality of the environment, and a solution to world hunger. "I feel very much undeserving of such a great honor," he said. "I pledge to you that I will spend the rest of my life earning this award." According to President of the Institute, Harold Robles, the award was presented for the first time to a popular contemporary artist, rather than classical musicians such as Leonard Bernstein, who was the last to receive the award in 1987. Approximately 500 students, faculty, and others attended the ceremony to see the world famous entertainer sing several songs about peace and the environment. Serving as master of ceremonies was television actor Dennis Weaver, a close friend of Denver's. Weaver, who is also involved in environmental and ecological issues, livened the crowd with his witty sense of humor, and preached about the seriousness of issues such as world peace and the environment. He also paid homage to Denver and commended him for his numerous accomplishments and undying efforts to keep peace in the world. "John Denver's ideas and ideals are very much alive," he stated. "His music is the language of the soul." Endfile http://www.sky.net/~emily ====================================================== Rocky Mountain High: The John Denver Internet Fan Club Issue #20 * December 1995 * emily@sky.net ======================================================