J~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~J O R O C K Y M O U N T A I N H I G H O H =============================================== H N Friends of John Denver on the Internet 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 February 1998 - Issue #46 V E E R http://www.sky.net/~emily Emily Parris emily@sky.net R ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ TABLE OF CONTENTS February 1998 - Issue #46 Denver Remembers John Denver: Rocky Mountain News - October 13, 1997.............2 Remembering John Denver - by Rush Evans................4 World Folk Music Festival..............................7 Denver Music Association Endorses "Rocky Mountain High" for Colorado State Song..............................8 "John Denver Remembered" - PBS Special.................9 John Denver Notes/Want Ads.............................9 Poetry Corner: "Valentine's Day" by Emily Parris.......1 VALENTINE'S DAY by Emily M. Parris Valentine's Day is the time When cupids are a wingin' Flittin' here and flyin' there With arrows heart strings plingin' Lacy red doilies, heart shaped With a note that says "Be Mine" Hearts and flowers to express: Won't you be my Valentine? <<<<<<<< *** >>>>>>>> Rocky Mountain News October 13, 1997 John Denver's bespectacled, toothy image is not emblazoned on the city's official seal, or on the illuminated tent roof of the airport here. But it might as well be. John Denver, closely associated with Colorado, is still an icon more than a decade after his last hit record. No one; not even Broncos quarterback John Elway or gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson; is so closely associated with Colorado in the world's imagination as John Denver. More than a decade after his last hit record, Denver-as-icon remains as true in Tokyo as it is in New York City or Moscow. Whenever he travels to other countries, Denver Mayor Wellington Webb said Monday, the entertainer is a major reason why people recognize the name of the city and know of Colorado generally. "He helped put the city and the state on the map," Webb said. In fact, few celebrities have been as closely identified with any single place as John Denver was linked to Colorado. It wasn't just because the Roswell, New Mexico-born Henry John Deutschendorf Jr. borrowed the capital city as his public name. In his song lyrics, he evoked the image of a landscape and a lifestyle; snowcapped peaks, sun-drenched meadows, blue jeans and a certain freedom that city dwellers could only yearn for. He sang that he was "born in the summer of his 27th year, coming home to a place he'd never been before." Inspired Moves On Monday, after Denver's body was identified following the crash of his light airplane off Monterey, California, many fans called local radio stations and tearfully recalled how they moved here impulsively after hearing him sing songs like "Rocky Mountain High." "John Denver became a symbol of Colorado," said former Gov. Dick Lamm. An Air Force brat whose family had few roots growing up, Denver described his adopted state as the nation's "last frontier," even before "Rocky Mountain High" became his theme song in the 1970s. "That's where I live and where I want to stay," Denver said in 1975. "It's the first time in my life that I've had real roots and a real home." In recent years, Denver tested the depths and strength of those roots in a series of well-publicized scrapes with the law and his divorce from his second wife, Cassandra. Open and Honest At the time of his death, Pitkin County was planning to retry Denver on drunken-driving charges stemming from a 1994 accident in Aspen. The first trial ended in a hung jury this year after years of legal motions, including the singer's contention that a thyroid condition caused him to metabolize food and alcohol differently than most people. He had previously been convicted of driving while ability-impaired. His attorney, well-known criminal lawyer Walter Gerash of Denver, said he last spoke to Denver on Friday. "I found him to be scrupulously open and honest, even in the stupid affair he was being tormented for up in Aspen because of his notoriety," Gerash said. "He always liked Aspen." Denver's personal style, at least in public, remained just as warm and down-to-earth as his cultivated image in song and in his Hollywood films. Last week, he watched the Denver Broncos defeat the New England Patriots as the guest of owner Pat Bowlen. He and his son, Zach, shared the owner's skybox with Archbishop Charles Chaput, Webb, banking baron Daniel Yohannes and University of Denver chancellor Dan Ritchie. Short of a playoff game, the Monday night game was perhaps the most coveted sports invitation of the season. And, of course, sitting in the owner's box meant being served a catered gourmet meal. Hot Dog at a Broncos Game Webb laughed when he recalled that Denver insisted on going to the press room to find an "old-fashioned hot dog at a football game." But his mood turned somber when he thought of Denver's unexpected death just a week after their paths crossed. "It reaffirms that in life, every day is a gift," Webb said. "And when you see someone, you may not see them again." DU's Ritchie and Denver sat near each other and made small talk, but spent most of their time watching the game. "I had the feeling that this guy was real," Ritchie said. "He and I were the last people to leave." But for all of his appearances with presidents and celebrities ranging from George Burns to Placido Domingo, he made a point to spend time, often alone, with everyday people. Stories recounting his affability poured in Monday. His generosity wasn't limited to his ardent fans, either. In 1976, Vitta Jones of Denver found herself stranded in a Galveston, Texas, hospital with her son, who was suffering from an incurable bone marrow disease. An experimental treatment was failing, and her son wanted to return home to celebrate his sister's birthday. And to die. Denver heard of the family's plight and sent his private jet for them. "We didn't actually meet him, but he sang to us over the radio of the plane," Jones recalled. "It was Rocky Mountain something ..." In 1993, Denver promoted a book, "African American Heritage," written by area elementary school students. He included the project as part of his Windstar Foundation's series of multicultural books and conference on the same subject. "He was so interested and he listened," recalled Carneice Brown-White, a retired teacher with the Denver Public Schools. "He wanted to know what the children were doing and why they wrote the book." Living in a Log House Six years ago, Denver spent four months in Georgetown to film a Christmas movie. He lived in a log house. He and the production crew had a special table reserved at The Ram restaurant. "He fit in here like anyone else," said Doris George, a Georgetown resident for 55 years. "He came to the Christmas tree lighting ceremony and he brought the little girl who was his co-star to the stock show in Denver." Friends and fans recalled that Denver was sincerely committed to several causes, but was more comfortable expressing himself musically. Former Gov. Lamm said Denver performed for each of his three successful bids for governorship. When Lamm walked the state during one campaign, Denver joined him for the last mile of his 888-mile trip in a snowstorm and gave a free concert on the steps of the State Capitol. "He was a genuine guy, a painfully genuine guy," Lamm said. "This was a really lovely man." * * * Reprinted from the Music Collector's Magazine "Discoveries" - December 1997 WHAT'S SO FUNNY ABOUT PEACE, LOVE, AND UNDERSTANDING?: REMEMBERING JOHN DENVER by Rush Evans In 1974 and 1975, the only shirts I wore were those pseudo-western white button up ones with a yoke on the shoulders and a pattern that matched the cuffs. They were quite in vogue for the time, and there was only one reason for it: John Denver wore them on his album covers and the frequent TV appearances he made. He was everywhere. Both kids and adults liked him for his wholesome attitude, appearance, and those beautiful songs. Those shirts, and indeed everything about John Denver, became extremely uncool just a few years later. Warm and fuzzy was forever replaced by dark and brooding in the pretentious styles and music of youth. The other day, I saw a teenager walking around with one of those giant Cat In The Hat-type hats towering a foot above his head, just like that current pop hitmaker Jamiroquai wears in his videos. Somehow, I suspect that kid will look back someday and realize just how silly he looked (as will his contemporaries with their multiple piercings, ghostly makeup, and "heroin chic" appearances). I look back on my period of the John Denver look and am thankful that I spent those formative years being influenced by an image that represented love of life, love of nature, love of everything. I thought of that style and image and that time upon hearing of John Denver's death at 53 in his own small experimental aircraft on October 12. And like so many others, I pulled out all my Denver albums that I'd kept all those years, listening to them and remembering the hopeful and positive words I thought I'd forgotten. John Denver was, of course, far more than just a symbol of all things happy. He was a musician, a thoughtful one, with great depth of character and meaning in his lyrics, beauty in his memorable melodies, and sincerity in his voice. Those songs, "Rocky Mountain High," "Take Me Home, Country Roads," "Sunshine On My Shoulders" cheered America up. They came at the precise time that we were being bombarded with too much information, an era with dramatic social change, increased racial tension, an unpopular and inexplicable war, and political scandal that would permanently harden this nation's view of government. Denver's songs were a cheerful distraction, a reminder of happier times and feelings, the musical equivalent of the "Calgon, take me away" commercial. Henry John Deutschendorf, Jr ., the son of an Air Force pilot, moved around a lot as a child, as military families do. He adopted the name Denver just as he adopted the beautiful state in which that city resides. As a young musician, he was fortunate enough (chosen from over 250 singers) to become a member of the well-known Chad Mitchell Trio, and from that position, had the great honor of Peter, Paul, And Mary recording his song "Leaving On A Jet Plane." It became a huge hit for the folk superstars, and became a springboard for Denver's own recording career. Things then happened very quickly for the young man. His first album was 1969's "Rhymes And Reasons", and within a few years, he was selling millions of records and his name became a household word. His charming personality came through in the songs that celebrated life and love. His refreshing naivete was focused entirely on The Big Picture; the reasons for life itself and the beauty of nature. Why sing about all the subtle nuances and complexities of frenzied life in the twentieth century when you could draw people's attention to overlooked important things like "a night in a forest, like the mountains in springtime, like a walk in the rain, like a storm in the desert, like a sleepy blue ocean"? The music of John Denver truly did "fill up (the) senses" of an entire generation. It was an era in which your favorite musicians would actually release several albums a year (and even smile on the cover photos!), and Denver was no exception to the rule of the day, with over a dozen records in the first half of the Seventies. In addition to the fine songwriting found in "Sunshine On My Shoulders," "Follow Me," "Looking For Space," and so many others, he proved to be a worthy interpreter of other songwriters of the pop music era. His remarkable voice, a clean and pure tenor, added entirely new dimensions to songs like Michael Murphey's "Boy From The Country," Buddy Holly's "Everyday," Jerry Jeff Walker's "My Old Man," and especially the Beatles' "Mother Nature's Son." As John Denver the Singer became John Denver the Celebrity, it became apparent that he didn't just sing about love and the beauty of our world, he also lived a life accordingly. He became a zealous activist, a symbol for all things natural and cerebral, a badge he wore proudly his entire public life. The songs were just a vessel, a means to getting his message across, a message that he delivered fully two decades before terms like "global warming," "environmentalist," even "recycling" became part of our everyday vernacular. Also, at the height of his popularity, he starred in a box-office hit with George Burns, "Oh, God!," in which Denver was perfectly cast as an Everyman, dealing once again with that Big Picture, in a comical and endearing film speculating on the nature of God Himself. During this period, he also appeared on numerous TV shows, guest-hosted the Tonight Show, made memorable television and record appearances with Jim Henson's Muppets, and collected many awards, including eight platinum albums, 13 gold albums, and the U.S. Jaycees' Ten Outstanding Men Of America Award. By the end of the Seventies, a weary, more cynical America lost interest in songs about sunshine and mountains and began listening to music of every other type, as new styles developed and the audiences became more fragmented into specific categories (upon the news of Denver's death, only the public station in my city would play his music; he simply didn't fit neatly into any of the narrow current radio formats). John Denver disappeared from the television, the radio, and the major record label (RCA) for whom he'd brought so much success, selling more than 10 million albums ("John Denver's Greatest Hits" is still one of the largest selling albums in the history of RCA Records). But that didn't affect Denver's enthusiasm. Neither did it change his single-minded purism and dedication to his poems and prayers and promises, the things that he believed in. He continued to release albums on his own label, reaching his core audience that had never stopped listening. And he continued to involve himself in the hunger and preservation causes that were so dear to him and had been so spiritually connected to his music. By 1997, his tremendous body of work included over 35 albums and many years of involvement in the work of UNICEF and the World Wildlife Fund. He'd also helped to found other charitable organizations: the Plant-It 2000 Foundation is dedicated to planting trees where needed, and the Windstar Foundation is a nonprofit environmental education and research center working toward a sustainable future for the world. He was also on the advisory board of many environmental organizations including Greenpeace, the Sierra Club, the Wildlife Conservation Society, the Cousteau Society, Friends of the Earth, and the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies. He continued to receive recognition for his ongoing work, like the Presidential World Without Hunger Award, the National Wildlife Federation Conservation Achievement Award, the NASA Medal For Public Service, the Albert Schweitzer Music Award, and many others. This musician truly put his money and time where his mouth and his heart were. His passion for life was apparent in all his work, musical and charitable, and was even apparent in the way in which he died. There have been too many recent losses of folks who spent their time here with a passionate respect for the beauty that surrounds us, that's in our world and in each other: Jacques Cousteau (about whom Denver sang in "Calypso"), Carl Sagan, Mother Teresa, Princess Diana, Charles Kuralt, now John Denver. They held the public front line on protecting the health of our planet and its creatures; we wanted them there, we needed them there, so we wouldn't have to worry about it ourselves. It's incumbent upon the rest of us to champion those human health and environmental health causes that they dedicated their lives to, and that are still too often looked upon so cynically by our jaded society. Now it's our turn, and our responsibility. The beautiful voice, melodies, and songs are what will stick in most people's minds, those of us uncool nerds who admit to loving that sound, that joyous celebration of life that John Denver captured perfectly in his songs. But again, those songs were more than just beautiful tunes. They were instructions, advice, suggestions not to be taken lightly: "Come dance with the west wind, and touch on the mountain tops, sail o'er the canyons and up to the stars, and reach for the heavens, and hope for the future, and all that we can be, not just what we are." (from "The Eagle And The Hawk," by John Denver and Mike Taylor, 1971). Article copyright Rush Evans, 1997. Donations to Plant-It 2000 can be sent to 9457 South University Blvd., Suite 310, Highlands Ranch, Colorado 80126. ==================================== WORLD FOLK MUSIC FESTIVAL ==================================== From: Andrea Edmunds Subject: World Folk Music Festival honoring JD After learning about the WFMA in Alexandria through the RMH December newsletter, I was able to aquire tix for myself and sister. It was an evening of remembering John through his music and put together by his friends. Bill Danoff, I believe, organized the show and coordinated all the musicians and friends. It included Pete Huttlinger, Tom Paxton, Taffy Nivert, John Carroll, Starland Vocal Band, Mike Taylor, and at least 30 more as well as Bill and Taffy's children and John Carroll's son, who sang Starwood in Aspen and brought tears to my eyes. Words cannot describe how emotional and incredible the 4 1/2 hour evening was. At 11:30 p.m. I still didn't want the evening to end. I was on such anemotional high that the 3 hour drive back home to Richmond flew by. ====================================== From: Peter Manetas I felt moved to write following my trip to Alexandria, VA - outside Washington, D.C. - to see the tribute to John Denver that kicked off the annual World Folk Music Association Benefit Concert, a 3-day affair...Opening night, Jan. 16, was dedicated to John by his friends in that area, particularly a group that referred to themselves as the "Cellar Gang," a throwback to the folk music venue where John appeared first with the Chad Mitchell trio...It was a touching, wonderful evening, beginning with a simply beautiful instrumental by two of his most recent band members, Chris Nole (piano) and Pete Huttlinger (guitar)...Bill Danoff, Taffy Nivert, and Mike Taylor - all of whom were co-creators of "Country Roads," and "Rocky Mountain High" followed...following them were the Danoff children, and members of his band during the mid-1970s, Jon Sommers, Steve Weisberg and Dick Kniss...All I can say is that there was a lot of love and music up on stage for almost 4 hours. Tom Paxton presented a posthumous lifetime achievement award to Kris O'Connor, who was John's producer and publicist for 27 years, and Paxton read a letter from Milt Okun that did as much as any of us has been able to do to date to put John's work in perspective...There's much more I can say, but I've been too long already...One thing sums this up: His music lives!!! Thanks for listening...Pete Manetas ----------------------------------------------------- ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH for COLORADO STATE SONG! Press Release 2/1/98 Denver Musicians Association: Denver Musicians Association president, Pete Vriesenga, announced that DMA will support the adoption of of John Denver's "Rocky Mountain High" as Official Colorado State Song. The current state song is "Where The Columbines Grow" written by A. J. Flynn and adopted by the Colorado Legislature in 1915. A movement to adopt 'Rocky Mountain High' began with Kari Neuman, a fourth grade student in Fort Collins. She was researching the state song for a school class about the time John Denver died in an airplane crash October 12, 1997. Ms. Neuman became acquainted with 'Rocky Mountain High' from the radio airplay John Denver's songs received following the accident. She became convinced that 'Rocky Mountain High' would be a more appropriate state song than the current song, and began a letter writing campaign to convince legislators. Denver Musicians Association website editor, Ken Davies, heard about Kari Neuman's campaign from TV news broadcasts. Considering it to be an important musical issue for Colorado, he began putting pertinent information on the DMA website at www.dmamusic.org. DMA's board of directors were in unanimous support of the issue. The website has devoted several pages carrying information on the state song issue as well as public forum pages to post email received from both Coloradans and non-Coloradans expressing their views, whether for or against, on the state song issue. Email should be directed to Ken Davies and writers should include their names along with city and state. ==================================== From: Paul Hardman "John Denver Remembered" - PBS Program: "John Denver Remembered," will be distributed to PBS TV stations across the country via satellite on 1-29-98. This program, which was finished on 1-7-98, was produced by "Backstage Tonight" to celebrate the life and music of this dedicated man. It features a poignant 1986 "Backstage Tonight" interview in which John talks from his heart about love, loneliness, and death. His thoughts are as topical today as when recorded. We believe that John did not receive the kind of tribute that he deserved in the regular media. After talking with John's management, music publishers, and others that were close to him, we decided to come out of retirement and produce this special tribute for PBS stations. As you probably know, PBS stations independently choose programs that they broadcast and usually respond to demonstrated interest from their viewers. Thanks, Paul Hardman =================================================== JOHN DENVER N O T E S / W A N T A D S =================================================== John Denver at Pebble Beach Golf Tournament: At the very beginning of the Pebble Beach Golf Tournament this past weekend, they played a video of past years, and there was a really nice clip of John walking on the green, swinging his arms and laughing. In another clip, he must've made a great shot, because he had grabbed one of the women caddies and gave her a big kiss. He looked gorgeous. Towards the end of the show, they did a little memorial piece on him and showed some nice video too - some where he was golfing, one where he was being interviewed on the course and playing his guitar, and the last great shot was when he had taken off his hat to salute some of the bystanders on the course. The commentators did a wonderful job, saying they would never forget his beautiful music, and that his smile would live with them forever. What a shame the music business has done absolutely nothing in memory of John...at least the PGA has. Peace. Ann - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - From: Christine Moon I am setting up a group to be called "Friends of John Denver". The goals are to (1) provide support for other JD fans and to hold an annual gathering, (2) to raise money for John's charities, (3) to demonstrate a commitment to the environment and nature and (4) to raise people's awareness that there is a better way to live. To join write to: Friends of John Denver 12, Burnham Close, Wigston, Leicester LE18 2QT England - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - From: Michele Hi friends! Just wanted to let you know that I got Roger Himes' book "A Fire In His Heart" and it is wonderful. Check it out at the web site http://www.johndenverbook.com. The book is about John's legacy to us. It uses John's philosophies and incorporates them and relates them to our lives. It is motivational. It is inspirational. I highly recommend it! Peace to you all. Michele ---------------------------------------------------------- In PEOPLE's Yearbook 1998 there is a "Tribute" section with a great picture of John (page111). I had to shed some tears when I read what they wrote. They mentioned his drinking, divorces, infidelity, and called his father a hard drinker. His life's work of world peace, feeding the hungry and saving the environment apparently is not worth mentioning. I cry because there are so many people who will not know what a wonderful person he was. And even those close to me can't begin to understand the impact he had on my life. Gaile Linn <1333 Hillside Drive> Bettendorf, Ia ------------------------------------------------------ From: Mike Steffen 45's for sale Finally got the first listing of my wife's John Denver collection together. For a complete list email me. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - From: Lynn Finoro "John Denver: Let This Be a Voice," the PBS Program where Denver takes viewers to places he knows and loves the best, including the Rockies, the Grand Canyon and Alaska, was originally scheduled to air in March 1998. At this time the air date is undetermined. Postal and email addresses for PBS member stations are available on PBSONLINE at . - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Editor's Note: According to Mary Ledford, the airing of "John Denver: Let This Be A Voice" is being held up pending the settlement of John's estate.....E.P. - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - From: Evelyn This week, the Department of Transportation approved our application to adopt a portion of the Highway in John's name....we have adopted a two mile stretch of I-70 between Aspen and Denver - YEAH! This spring, they will be posted a road sign that says 'Adopted by the Colorado Friends of John Denver'. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - From: Jeanette As a long time fan of John, I miss him terribly. His music helped me through some really dark days in my life. As a tribute to him, and a rememberance for me, I was lucky enough to apply for and receive the Colorado license plate MISUJD. This is my way of remembering a very special man. I will never forget him. Jeanette Freeman 185 Taylor St Bailey, CO 80421 - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - From: GREGORY NEAL Intl Disc Inc. is now offering the video THE BEARS AND I, a late 1970's film that includes a rare version of the song "Sweet Surrender". We also have a limited supply of the 1987 film FIRE AND ICE on video. JOHN DENVER narrates this fantasy/adventure about skiing, and the video includes his rare song "Downhill Stuff". 800-280-2990, or for foreign orders (704) 544-0552. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - From: Elizabeth Calhoun Check out the author Neale Donald Walsch who has written the first two books of a trilogy titled "Conversations with God" - wonderful books that I highly recommend. There is a music CD out of various artists to accompany the first book and the CD is dedicated to John Denver. I think the web page is http://www.conversationswithgod.org - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - From: "C. Daniel Prather" ** PHOTOS ** For those among you searching for photographs of John Denver, search no further! I have 8 x 10 enlargements available of authentic, original, full-color photos of John Denver and President Clinton. Three poses are available: (A) John Denver, by himself (B) Looking over John Denver's left shoulder at he and President Clinton speaking to each other. (C) John Denver and President Clinton shaking hands and talking (profile of each). Daniel Prather P. O. Box 23093 Tampa, FL 33623 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - RMH (Audio) Tape 1 is still available with the song "Yellowstone" for $5.00. Jim Fettgather / 3820 Baltimore Kansas City MO 64111 * * John Denver Memorial Programs are also available for $2.00. Both are postpaid (in U.S.) - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - A 3.5 inch disc of all RMH back issues from 1994 to 1997 is also available for $4.00 postpaid in the U.S. It includes an index of all articles and a history of Rocky Mtn High. Emily Parris - 3820 Baltimore / Kansas City, MO 64111 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - As the world comes together to Celebrate the Olympics in Nagano, Japan, let me know if you would like an email copy of the lyrics to John's song "The Gold and Beyond". - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - The Movie "Walking Thunder" is still available. Email and ask for Walking.txt or call me at (816) 531-3756 for more information. (Emily) ********************************************************* Rocky Mountain High: Friends of John Denver Url: http://www.sky.net/~emily Editor: Emily Parris February 1998 - Issue #46 Email: emily@sky.net *********************************************************