============================================= *** R O C K Y M O U N T A I N H I G H *** ============================================= The John Denver Internet Fan Club Monthly Newsletter December 2005 Editor: Emily M. Parris ================================================ http://www.rockymtnhigh.org * emily@parris.net ================================================ Table of Contents December 2005 * Issue #140 John Denver Events..............................2 "John Denver An Example For All of Us" by Jeannine Jordan-Squire...................4 Letters to the Editor...........................5 CD Reviews: "John Denver: A Song's Best Friend"...........6 "Christmas Celebration Concert"...............6 "Almost Heaven" Review by Carole Romanowski.....6 John Denver Notes...............................7 Poetry Corner: "Flying High, Flying Free" by Julie Gilleand..9 "Welcome To Morning" by Cynthia Gullage.......9 John Denver Want Ads...........................10 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ "Almost Heaven" will end its run on Broadway on 12-31-05 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ======================================= J O H N D E N V E R E V E N T S ======================================= December 3, 2005 - England - Songs for Christmas 2005: A John Denver Style Christmas Show / Part one will be John Denver Christmas songs and Part two will be a selection of John Denver songs with a festive finale 3:00pm Chapeltown Scout Hall, Burncross Road, Chapeltown, Sheffield, South Yorkshire / (0014) 246 1463 www.timberwolf-studios.com Email: neilandgill@timberwolf-studios.com December 3-4, 2005 - Annapolis, MD - Hard Travelers Annual Christmas Show at the Rams Head Concert Hall in Annapolis. Saturday, 12-3-05 show at 7:00pm / Sunday 12-4-05 show at 6:00pm * http://ticketing.ramsheadtavern.com 410-268-4545 December 9 & 10, 2005 - Newcastle England * "An Evening With John Denver Music" - A Tribute Concert performed by Steve Kern 7:00pm / Kirkby Church Hall / Kirkby-In-Cleveland 01642 714061 or 01642 713575 for tickets Steve Kern: http://JohnDenverTribute.com December 9-10, 2005 * Nashville, TN - Chris Nole and Brittany Allyn at the Sambuca Restaurant in Nashville, TN http://www.chrisnole.com / www.brittanyallyn.com (615) 248-2888 / 601 12th Ave South - Nashville, TN www.sambucarestaurant.com December 16, 2005 * Aspen, CO - Jim Salestrom's Colorado Christmas - Wheeler Opera House 7:30pm $25 http://www.wheeleroperahouse.com December 17, 2005 - Doylestown, PA - Christopher Westfall will present "Sounds of the Season", an evening of holiday music you love; sing-a-long! 7:30pm Salem United Church of Christ / 186 East Court Street Admission: $10 Info: < PAhough@aol.com > December 21, 2005 * Rahway, NJ * Christopher Westfall Christmas Concert 7:30pm St. Mark's Church, 287 Hamilton Street Admission: $14 732-382-3108 Maureen < newbeginningtour@aol.com > December 22, 2005 - "Higher Ground" on Encore Action (cable) and Movie Plex / Check local listing for times. "Higher Ground" (1988) stars John Denver, Meg Wittner, David Renan, Brandon Marsh and John Rhys-Davies December 31, 2005 - Haddonfield, NJ - Christopher Westfall will play at the First Night town celebration. 3 Performances beginning at 7:00pm http://www.firstnighthaddonfield.org January 21, 2006 - England - Steve Brook will be playing an afternoon Concert at St. Joseph the Worker Church in Coventry. 3:00pm Christine Moon president@fojd.org.uk January 23, 2006 - Largo, FL - The Rocky Mountain Memory Show, a "Tribute to John Denver" starring Ron Rich and the Stone Tree Band / Shows at 2:00pm and 7:00pm Largo Cultural Center / 105 Central Park / Largo, Florida Tickets: $15 (727) 587-6793 February 10 and 11, 2006 - Steamboat Springs, CO * Brad and Kathy Fitch with the Yampa Valley Boys will present 2 events of concerts featuring the songs of John Denver / The Mountain Theater, Ski Times Square Info: Steve Jones (970) 879-4746 www.cowboybrad.com April 28-30, 2006 - PA Friends of John Denver - Annual Spring Retreat - Bitter Goose Lodge $55 - Deposit of $20 required. Make checks or money orders payable to Susan Spohn / 628 Hemlock Street / Pittsburgh, PA 15202 Info: < spohn@infionline.net > May 20, 2006 - U.K. - Country Roads Walk - A walk is being planned in Northamptonshire. 10:00am Red Kite Centre, RSPB Barn, Top Lodge in the Rockingham Forest. It is a 4 mile walk. http://lookingforspace.bravehost.com/index.html rockymountain.high@ntlworld.com or 01485 570911 June 17, 2006 - Baltimore, MD * 2nd Bi-Annual "Nightingala" "A Musical Tribute to John Denver" Concert for John Hopkins School of Nursing. / Peabody Conservatory of Music / 1 Mount Vernon Place / Peabody Concert Hall 8:00pm / 6:00 - VIP "Great Chefs" Reception in the Peabody Library * http://www.musicunites.com/Schedule.htm July 1, 2006 - UK - Country Roads Walk - 6 mile walk in Haworth Yorkshire. 10:00am Meet at the car park at the Haworth Church and the Bronte Parsonage Museum. http://lookingforspace.bravehost.com/index.html rockymountain.high@ntlworld.com or 01485 570911 July 2-9, 2006 Cruise Alaska with Jim Curry / "Alaska & Me Cruise" - Jim Curry will perform John Denver's Alaska songs and hits in concert with a full band. 800-826-6732 http://www.cruisemust.com / sales@cruisemust.com http://www.jimcurrysmusic.com 7 day cruise $50 deposit needed by January. July 15-22, 2006 Princess Cruise to Alaska with Christopher Westfall http://www.newbeginningtour.com It will feature a lot of sing-a-longs, including many favorites sung by John Denver. 732-282-3108 http://www.chriswestfall.com Weekends - Every Friday & Saturday - Branson, MO * "John Denver Lives" - Dinner 5:00pm & performance 5:30pm-6:30pm $24.95 Hillbilly Inn & Dinner Theatre / Hillbilly Inn Motel / 1166 West Highway 76 / Branson, MO 65616 info@hillbillyinn.com * 1-800-535-0739 www.johndenverlives.com * rodphil549@aol.com * * * * * * * * * * * John Denver: An Example For All Of Us by Jeannine Jordan-Squire 12/06/2005 LimaOhio.com This Christmas, I am coming out of the closet. I am proclaiming my secret passion far and wide: my favorite Christmas album is "John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together." I'm a purist, though. Some of the recent releases of the CD are missing a key song, Denver and Rowlf's version of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." Denver and Rowlf are really something special together. It's a travesty to cut that song. I know some stores have been playing Christmas music since they shelved their Halloween decorations, but I waited until the day after Thanksgiving. Then, after digging through the dusty shelves where I'd stashed my holiday movies and music, I found it, Denver's smiling face surrounded by all his Muppet friends. Let the Holidays begin! I like John Denver's music. I sing along when I flip his CD on. I know all the words. I had a very pleasant drive to school today listening to Denver and Miss Piggy warble their way through the "Twelve Days of Christmas," and it reminded me of a few important truths I had forgotten, or at least misplaced. John Denver looked like a Muppet. He sounded like a Muppet. When he performed with the Muppets, it was like a family reunion. I admit all that, and know that even his songs deserve some of the criticism they get. But only some of it. Our society has lost something important if we are too jaded and cynical to believe in magic. Christmas is all about believing that the impossible not only could occur, but did happen - and continues to. Regardless whether we're considering the magic of Santa making his epic journey around the world, or the sublime story of the Nativity, we are celebrating the illogical and impossible. John Denver and the Muppets blissfully rejoice in all the paradoxes and quandaries of the season, and that sense of play permeates my CD. Has our society lost all sense of joy and hope? We need to believe in Oz and Tinkerbell, in Santa's elves and the Tooth Fairy - at least sometimes. Few of us really live in a world where gansta rap reflects "reality" - but for some reason, society chooses to believe that rap shows "real life," while John Denver is sugary. Maybe so, but I'd rather live in the world Denver writes about than the one Tupac Shakur populated. When Henry David Thoreau wrote about animals being our brothers and flowers having consciousness, he became a classic; when Denver did the same thing, he became a joke. However, that's not my main defense of John Denver. Here's the biggie: he loved what he did, and worked hard to do it as well and as joyfully as he could. He knew he was the punchline of every would-be comic and cynic - and he sometimes laughed with them. He marched to a different drummer, to continue the Thoreau allusion - or more appropriately, jigged to a different mandolin! How many of us are strong enough to follow our bliss, wherever it may lead? How many of us are even aware of what our bliss is? To those who are, there's only one appropriate cheer: Far Out! So I drive down the road singing along with Kermit and Fozzie Bear and their human friend, John Denver, wondering if this will be the Christmas that just for an evening - just for a moment - we can all watch and wait and believe. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Songs for Christmas 2005 December 3, 2005 Hi Emily, Our recent show in Chapeltown, (Sheffield) England, was a huge success. The Scout Hall is a lovely intimate venue, and last Saturday it was very nearly full to capacity with fans of the music of John Denver. The first half of the show was full of Christmas songs from John's albums, video's and even his own Christmas shows. Part Two was a selection of songs spanning the length of John's career. Everyone enjoyed it so much that nobody left before the end, even though we over ran by about thirty minutes. We enjoy singing John's songs and we didn't want to go home either! The event raised money for our chosen charity "Thornberry Animal Sanctuary". Our audience came from miles around, some of the longest distance travelers having come over 300 miles just to see our show. Peace, Neil & Gill Sharman www.timberwolf-studios.com <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> ========== CD REVIEWS ========== New John Denver DVD is Wonderful! I just found the newly released DVD from Sony/BMG entitled "John Denver: A Song's Best Friend" in the locally owned Backdoor CD's & Tape Store and immediately bought it. I want to let you know that this DVD is a phenomenal piece of work! It is very touching, respectfully and professionally done - one of the best releases since his death. I have seen it twice through. It was as enjoyable the second time as I am convinced it will be the hundredth. And it was a bargain at $14.95. Check locally for it and ask for it if you do not see it. Peace, Hochima < Hochima@aol.com > < < < < < * * * > > > > > "Christmas Celebration Concert" Some of you may have heard of a "new" Christmas CD by John called "Christmas Celebration Concert." This cd is really a shortened version (first put out last year) of the Washington DC December 1996 Christmas Concert. It has 12 songs on it, but none of the talking to the audience that was included on the original "Christmas In Concert" cd. So, disappointingly, nothing new. :-( Peace, Christine Moon President, Friends of John Denver www.fojd.org.uk < < < < < < < < * * * > > > > > > > > "Almost Heaven" Review by Carole Romanowski < whispjesse@aol.com > I had the great fortune to attend the performance of Hal Thau's new two-hour musical "Almost Heaven: The Songs of John Denver" at the New York City off-Broadway theater, The Promenade, on Saturday November 12th, 2005. John is very much loved - the theater was packed to over 85% capacity. Before entering the theater, the lobby displayed two large colorful canvas wall hangings of John, John's guitars (and guitar case) used during his career, plus album and CD covers and pictures of John. I was so lucky to stop two performers - Nicholas Rodrigues and Lee Morgan - and get their autographs! They both related to me they listened to John's music for years and strongly believed in John's message. So it gave them both a sense of personal pleasure to perform in this musical. The 6 singers (7 - John was included in the cast in the playbill!), gave incredible performances presenting 28 of John Denver's songs sung against colorful backdrop scenes depicting America during the years of social upheaval when John composed his music - the late '60's and early '70's - ie "Country Roads" (Vietnam), "Rhymes and Reasons" (the Martin Luther King shooting), "I Wish I Could Have Been There" (Woodstock), etc. The singers were up close and personal with the audience since the band was placed at the back of the stage behind the performers. Jim Newman gave an excellent performance of John Denver, and all the performers sang passionately with rich, beautiful voices while keeping eye contact with the audience. Their presentation was professional, riveting and infectious - they had the audience toe-tapping and hand-clapping to "Grandma's Feather Bed" and teary-eyed while singing "All of My Memories." Near the end of the show, John Denver himself appeared on the backdrop singing the beginning of his musical composition "Yellowstone", while the singers respectfully turned their backs on the audience to view and honor John's performance. The singers then ended the show with performing the rest of "Yellowstone" written after John's demise, and there wasn't a dry eye in the house. They received two well-deserved standing ovations! In conclusion... "Almost Heaven", in my opinion, was a beautiful and sensitive tribute to John Denver, to his music and message, and did him justice. It presented a decent account of John's musical career reflecting American history and culture and his own life during these years. The only change I would have made in this musical, if I had it in my power, would have been to drop Almost from the title of the show and add John's physical presence on the stage. Then the musical truly would have been just pure Heaven!!! ======================================= J O H N D E N V E R N O T E S ======================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - John Sommers and Mack Bailey will be touring in New Zealand in the Spring with John's band "Heart of the Rockies" (Twirp Anderson, Cash Cashman and Randy Utterback). The trip leaves from Los Angeles on April 10, 2006 and returns on April 24. For details of the itinerary and cost, please contact John at info@johnsommers.com - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The group Jars of Clay sings "Christmas For Cowboys" on an album called "Maybe This Christmas Tree." - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Michiel ten Brug has put a video clip on his website at http://home.wanadoo.nl/mtenbrug/denver/ It is from the Australian TV special "Flying High" made in 1994. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Evelyn Hartung: The Christopher Canyon book "Country Roads" is very beautiful. He certainly understands John Denver's message and heart. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Veronica Watson would like to make contact with other John Denver fans. veronika@supanet.com - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Rediscover Music has a great catalog they send out and they always feature John Denver and Chad Mitchell Trio items. http://www.rediscovermusic.com - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Regarding a Commemorative Postage stamp for John, there is a web page that explains the process: www.usps.com/communications/organization/csoc.htm Ideas for stamp subjects should be sent to: Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee Stamp Development US Postal Service 1735 North Lynn St. Room 5013 Arlington, VA 22209-6432 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - "Singing Skies Foundation" of Richmond, California has announced its 2005 prize winners for high achievement in the field of John Denver music. The winners are: Eileen Stein - JD Spirit Newsletter Dawn Publications - Three JD children's books Scott Smith - Aspen/Pitkin County JD Library exhibit Joel Hannel - Dancing With the Mountains event Todd Eklof - JD Creation Spirituality paper www.cliftonunitarian.com/TheCreationSpiritualityofJohnDenver.h tm - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Smoky Dawson wrote a song for John called "Johnny Come On Home". Smoky's biography is called "A Life" and you can read more about him at: http://www.australianbiography.gov.au/dawson/bio.html - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ======================================= J O H N D E N V E R P O E T R Y ===================================== Flying High, Flying Free by Julie Gilleand Up in the sky, flying so high Free as a bird, no wonder why John loved it here with a view so clear In the freedom of the air, he knew no fear. The world is still crying, but John is still flying Higher than ever before As we grieve his dying, there can be no denying His spirit flies free ever more. _____________________________________ Copyright 1997-2004 by Julie Gilleand > > > > > o o o < < < < < Welcome To Morning by Cynthia Helen Gullage Welcome to morning. Embrace the new day. Life is a gift. Do not waste it away. Ever give thanks To our Father above. Step forth, then, in peace. And seek always to love. ____________________________________________________________ Copyright 2005 by Cynthia Helen Gullage < cgull@rogers.com > ================================================= JOHN DENVER W A N T A D S / F O R S A L E ================================================= Connie Poquette < connie-poquette@sbcglobal.net > I am looking for video copies of John's music videos. I'm also looking for an audio copy of the Gary Hart song. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Ronnie Lewis has John Denver LP's for sale: Email robnrj@comcast.net for a list. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Pete Huttlinger plays on the cd "Brazilian Christmas" by Lori Mecham. http://www.petehuttlinger.com You can hear "The Christmas Song" by clicking on http://www.petehuttlinger.com/music/The_Christmas_Song.mp3 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Dawn Publications is offering 25% off including John Denver books. www.dawnpub.com - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Kate Wolf's family has released the very first Kate Wolf DVD. It contains Kate's original Austin City Limits performance plus 1.5 hours of extras. http://www.katewolf.com - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - "A Fire In His Heart, & A Light In His Eyes" - John Denver's Legacy by Roger Himes $10 + $5 s/h. Send a check or money order to: Bill Young / PO Box 471 / Mountain View, CA 94042 Or send a paypal payment to jdsinger@sbcglobal.net - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To donate to Rocky Mountain High, send a check or money order to...Rocky Mountain High / c/o Emily Parris / 608 E. 96th St. / Kansas City, MO 64131 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Almost Heaven: Songs of John Denver http://www.almostheaventhemusical.com Photo Call: John Denver Musical Brings A Little Country to the Big City http://www.playbill.com/news/article/96232.html John Denver Peace Cloth http://www.johndenverpeacecloth.com Higher Ground Australia http://www.highergroundaustralia.com John Denver Christmas www.freewebs.com/sweetdreamsplace/jdchristmas.html Videoclip from Michiel ten Brug http://home.wanadoo.nl/mtenbrug/denver Friends of John Denver Campfire http://www.fototime.com/inv/681D13C16221869 Aspen Memories http://www.ncfriendsofjd.com/AspenMemories05-1.html DVD Archive http://www.angelfire.com/folk/duncanpumpkin/archive Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! To subscribe: rockymountainhigh-subscribe@emissives.com To unsubscribe: rockymountainhigh-unsubscribe@emissives.com ************************************************************* Rocky Mountain High: The John Denver Internet Fan Club emily@parris.net http://www.rockymtnhigh.org December 2005 * Issue #140 * Editor: Emily M. Parris *************************************************************