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 F E B R U A R Y 2 0 0 0 V E E R Emily Parris emily@sky.net http://www.sky.net/~emily R ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Table of Contents February 2000 * Issue #70 John Denver Events.......................................1 "John Denver: Mother Nature's Son" by John Collis reviewed by Emily M. Parris..........................2 Plant-It 2000 Special Promotion Michael Thau, Exec. Director of Plant-It 2000........3 Sunny Water's CD - "This Is Me".........................3 "John Denver Park Going To the Dogs?" By John Colson - Aspen Times 1/19/2000..............4 "Denver Doggie Park Idea Given the Boot" by John Colson - Aspen Times 1/21/2000...............5 John Denver Notes........................................6 Poetry Corner: "Aspen Breezes" by Kelly Robison.....................8 "Peace" by Emily M. Parris...........................9 John Denver Want Ads.....................................9 ===================================== J O H N D E N V E R E V E N T S ===================================== February 4, 2000 - Phil Christie at the Coffee Gallery, 2029 N. Lake in Altadena, CA. 8:00 pm (626) 398-7917 http://www.philchristie.com February 14, 2000 "Behind the Music" 12:00 pm VH1 "Singer-songwriter John Denver's rise to stardom in the 1970's and his 90's comeback attempt and accidental death. Includes interviews with Lyle Lovett and Geraldo Rivera." February 19, 2000 JD Gathering at Moccasin Lake Nature Park, Tampa, FL; Charlie Zahm will be singing John's songs. Pat (302) 239-5907 February 21 & 24th, 2000 "Life and Times of John Denver" 10:00 pm each day - TNN Cable Network March 4, 2000 - John Adams Concert / Isala Theatre - Stadsplein 5 in Capelle a/d IJssel (Rotterdam, NL) Info: john-adams@meandi.demon.nl March 25, 2000 - John Adams concert - Georgetown, TX JoLynn Long April 1, 2000 JD Gathering in Racine, WI - Holiday Inn Express 1:00 pm - Karen http://users.wi.net/~wifjd April 30, 2000 * Annapolis, MD - Earth Day Concert featuring the music of John Denver 11:00 am to 3:00 pm / Ram's Head Tavern / Buffet and music: Charlie Zahm, and the Hard Travelers with percussionist David J. Stemple $30.00 Send checks to: Ann Schnitz/601 Charleston Green/Malvern, PA 19355 Info: Ann Schnitz May 5-7, 2000 - "Wild Heart looking for Home" convention on Waiheke Island, Auckland, New Zealand May 25-28th - Windstar work weekend / Snowmass, CO - Windstar Land Conservancy. http://www.wstar.org June 16-18, 2000 2nd Annual WI Friends of JD Camping Trip Devils Lake State Park * Baraboo, WI * Karen June 18, 2000 - Dedication of JD Bench at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary / 1700 Hawk Mountain Road / Kempton, PA * Info: Judith Gabriel Oct 11, 2000 John Adams JD Tribute Concert * Aspen, Colorado Wheeler Opera House $15.00 * Tickets go on sale 3/1/2000 http://www.meandi.demon.nl/johnadams/adams.htm +_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+ "John Denver: Mother Nature's Son" by John Collis Reviewed by Emily M. Parris This book, first published in the U.K., takes an in depth look at John's life and career. Though not always favorable to John, it is nevertheless a very detailed account. He covers John's military childhood; his beginnings singing in clubs; his years with the Chad Mitchell Trio and later his solo career. Then follows more detailed commentary on John's albums and the songs; the causes he championed and the problems he had with RCA. Also included is an "In Memoriam" section which tells about the memorial services in 1997 and this section has quotes from John Denver fans. There is a discography at the end. He quotes a lot from "Melody Maker" which is the U.K. version of Billboard Magazine, as well as from other critical reviews over the years. John Collis is not always complimentary to John's songs. He calls "This Old Guitar"; "Thank God, I'm A Country Boy"; and "Grandma's Feather Bed" three slices of country ham, and later refers to "Thank God, I'm A Country Boy" as a "corny, cracker-barrel jig." Happily, he quotes another reviewer, Patty Dewing, as saying... "Middle America eats up John Denver like a fried chicken dinner topped off with a piece of home made apple pie." I'm from Middle America and I'll say Amen to that! As John Collis says in the introduction of his book.... "I have taken the opportunity to use the charted facts of Denver's life simply as the scaffolding of the present book." He does just that, taking off on semi-related topics at the slightest provocation. This may not be the "inside story" that John's fans would like to have written, but it is well researched and certainly worth reading for a die-hard John Denver fan. Published by: Mainstream Publishing Company (Edinburgh) Ltd. Distributed in the US by: Trafalgar Square / P. O. Box 257 / Howe Hill Road / North Pomfret, VT 05053 Email: (802) 457-1911 http://www.trafalgarsquarebooks.com Hardback / 190 Pages / ISBN# 1-84018-124-9 _________________________________________________________ My brother, Charles Bennett, has also written a longer review detailing his feelings about the book. For a copy of his review write to and ask for CB-JDMNS.txt Also write to me if you'd like a copy of the reviews that were posted on Amazon.com and ask for AMAZON.TXT * * * PLANT-IT 2000 Special Promotion From: Michael Thau Plant-It 2000 is having a special reforestation incentive during the month of February. For every dollar we receive through e-commerce up to $1,000, we will provide matching funds towards reforestation. This means that a $25 contribution plants 50 trees during the month of February and so forth. The contribution must be US $10 or greater via e-commerce through our website, and the offer is only good during February. For matching to occur, Plant-It 2000 needs to receive an email after electronic payment. During February John Denver Fans can more easily further John's vision of worldwide reforestation. http://www.tesser.com/plantit/conform.htm = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Sunny Water's New CD - "This Is Me" =================================== Sunny Waters has spent 10 years touring parts of the U.S. performing more than 2,500 shows in 12 states. He was voted "Entertainer of the Year" by Nebraska's own "People's Choice Awards." He opened a concert for Kris Kristofferson and was a featured performer at the "Nebraska Press Association" State Convention. "This Is Me" is Sunny's first album, and all the songs on it were written by him as well. Sunny Water's new cd "This Is Me" has the following tracks: (1) I Am (2) The Man I'm Made Of (3) I'm Comin' Home (4) Goodbye, (5) So Long (6) This Is Me (7) Don't Cry For Me You can find ordering information on Sunny's website http://members.aol.com/SunnyWeb01/Home/SunnyHome.htm Although the song, "Yellowstone, Coming Home" isn't included on his cd, Sunny's version of it is available as a promotional cd single. "YELLOWSTONE, COMING HOME" PROMOTIONAL CD If you would like a promotional copy of the song "Yellowstone, Coming Home" recorded in Nashville and featuring two of John Denver's band members for $3.00 see the ordering information on Sunny's website. ________________________________________________________ By mail: $8.99 + $2.99 s&h (cd) / $3.00 for the promo cd Sunny Waters / P. O. Box 3054 / Omaha, NE 68108 = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = "John Denver Park Going To The Dogs? by John Colson ASPEN TIMES January 19, 2000 It looks as though the John Denver Sanctuary may become Aspen's experimental dog park, if the late singer's family agrees to the idea. And two of the town's most popular trails may also be "leash-free" zones, under a plan being considered by the Aspen City Council. Two members of the council came to the conclusion that the sanctuary space is an appropriate spot for the experiment because it is right off the popular Rio Grande Trail, next to Rio Grande Park. Its location next to the heavily used trail, reasoned council members Tony Hershey and Terry Paulson, might encourage dog owners to walk their pets there rather than drive them from other parts of town. The potential for a dog park has been studied by a group known as the Aspen Canine Friends since last September, said Aspen's chief environmental enforcement officer, Brian Flynn. The idea is to create a place where dogs and their owners can hang out without having to adhere to the city's strict leash law. It has been tried successfully in cities across the country, Flynn said. At a City Council work session on Tuesday, Flynn proposed three possible locations for an experimental "no-leash" park - the sanctuary, Molly Gibson Park on the north side of town, and the land known as the Marolt Open Space on the western edge of the city. Only council members Hershey, Paulson and Tom McCabe were present (McCabe left before the meeting ended.) McCabe suggested that the sanctuary might not be an appropriate place for such a use because of its "contemplative" nature. The sanctuary was dedicated in August 1998 as a gesture of respect for the late singer and Aspen resident, who died in a plane crash in California in 1997. It was intended to be a passive park. But in a debate on the other possible locations, council members raised a number of objections. For example, considering the relatively remote nature of the Marolt open space, it was felt that users would be too tempted to drive from their homes, and that the dogs might frighten a small group of deer that frequents the area. And the Molly Gibson Park is adjacent to the sole access road to the large Williams Ranch subdivision; residents there are worried that parking for users of the dog park might become a problem. According to Williams Ranch resident Sheldon Fingerman, the Ranch's homeowner's association voted against trying the experiment at Molly Gibson. Flynn noted that there are only four parking spaces at Molly Gibson park itself, but he said there is room for two more spaces right at the park, and for more spaces on land owned by Pitkin County at the base of Smuggler Mountain Road, just downhill from the park. But, after McCabe had left the meeting, Hershey and Paulson came to the conclusion that some location near the Rio Grande Trail might be best, especially since the City Council is considering making all or parts of both the Rio Grande Trail and the Shadow Mountain Trail on the southern edge of town "leash-free." Flynn was directed to continue working with the group, and to contact John Denver's family to see if they have any objections to such a use for the sanctuary. Comments about this article? Send them to mail@aspentimes.com = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = "Denver Doggie Park Idea Given The Boot" By John Colson * Aspen Times 1/21/2000 Aspen officials are poised to abandon the idea of using the John Denver sanctuary as the city's experimental "leash-free" zone and "doggy park." The idea of using the sanctuary, which is located along the Roaring Fork River across from the Aspen Art Museum, has prompted a flurry of opposition in letters to the editor. The Aspen Times received more than a dozen letters by email Thursday from Denver fans around the world. City environmental enforcement officer Brian Flynn said Thursday that, after hearing from three of the five members of the City Council, he has turned his sights to other locations. They realized that it is a special place, and probably not appropriate for a dog park, Flynn said, referring to council members Tom McCabe, Tony Hershey and Jim Markalunas. Flynn said he is awaiting formal direction from the council, but is planning on seeking another site. Markalunas, who missed a meeting about the dog park issue earlier in the week due to illness, said Thursday that he agrees with McCabe that it is inappropriate to put the John Denver sanctuary to such a use. We set it aside as a memorial to John Denver, said Markalunas. I don't support dumping on that area. The idea of using the sanctuary was tentatively endorsed Tuesday in a City Council work session. A citizens advisory group called Aspen Canine Friends, led by Flynn, has been searching for a place where dog owners can let their pets run free within the city limits. The sanctuary was one of three possible locations proposed at the work session. McCabe voiced his opposition to using the sanctuary at the work session, but then left before the meeting was over. Hershey and Councilman Terry Paulson, who were the only two council members left at the meeting, concluded that the sanctuary might make a good location because it is near the trail. They reasoned that dog owners might be encouraged to walk their pets to the dog park rather than put them in a car to drive them over. Flynn said his group, which has about seven members, will resume its search for an appropriate site. He said it is possible the group will want to reopen consideration of Molly Gibson Park, located at the base of Smuggler Mountain, and the Marolt Open Space, as well as seeking other possible sites near the Rio Grande Trail. * * * ======================================= J O H N D E N V E R N O T E S ======================================= Gary Davis I will be playing alongside a selected Pro at this year's AT&T Golf Tournament. I have elected my entry fee to be donated to the John Denver Memorial Fund at Pacific Grove, California. This tournament is from February 2 to 6, 2000. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Wendy On May 3, 1999 I had my seventh child and named him River John after John Denver. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Karen Seiser Wisconsin Friends of John Denver. Hi, I'm Karen Seiser, a co-founder of the "Wisconsin Friends of JD." We now have a website at http://users.wi.net/~wifjd - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Pete Baker <112002.3523@compuserve.com> If you have had problems with LowellNorman.com and are still waiting for something that you ordered, please send your name and location to Pete and Kim Baker at the above email address. Also see... http://home.earthlink.net/~briantaylor/lowellnorman.html - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Margie I received the tape of John St. Augustine's New Year's program with Hal Thau. I recommend it! Played it in my work van and it was a welcome warm breeze in my mind! Nice to hear John's songs played on the radio. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - George Dunigan I went to a Judy Collins concert Friday night (1/21/00) and she was wonderful. She was backed up by the Columbus Pops Orchestra which made the music fantastic and the evening special. She fondly mentioned her friendship with John Denver and how she knew him back when he was singing some of the Colorado clubs trying to break into the big time. She also sang a couple of his songs as a tribute. It brought tears to my eyes. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Judith Gabriel We finally have a firm date for our Dedication Ceremony for JD at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Kempton, PA. It will be held on June 18, 2000 at the amphitheater at the sanctuary from 10:00am - 4:00pm. The singers are Frank DeLaMarre, Charlie Zahm and Carol Sullivan. http://members.aol.com/tybrenn/hawkmtn/hawkmtn.html - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Linda (John's Adam's manager): John Adams will be doing a concert Oct 11, 2000 at the Wheeler Opera House. The tickets will cost $15.00 each. The reason for the low price is that John Adams has chosen to do a concert for the people. There are wonderful opportunities to do benefit concert for very good organizations but John chose to give the benefit to the fans. http://www.meandi.demon.nl/johnadams/adams.htm - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - THE INTERNATIONAL JOHN DENVER MEMORIAL FOUNDATION * New Zealand * Things are moving steadily along for us. Since the launch in November, the grants fund has grown very quickly. Events already planned for the first half of this year are - 1) March 2000 - launch meeting in Hamilton - videos and guest speakers. 2) 5-7 May 2000 - "Wild Heart looking for a Home" convention on Waiheke Island, Auckland. The Foundation is to be a lasting memorial to John as a singer, humanitarian, and environmentalist. Overseas visitors are welcome. .....Susan Leaver - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Charlene Finney I am trying to obtain a Lifetime Achievement Award for John for the Grammy Awards. Please send letters of support to me. I know the right people who will nominate him who are also Grammy Voting members. Send letters to: Myra Gainer Foundation / Charlene Finney / 417 W. 2nd Street / Salida, CO 81201 Phone: (719) 539-5457 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - From: Guan Xin 1/13/00 On Monday, 16 Jan 2000, I am going to host a special John Denver music program on Shanghai Broadcast. Editor's note: I provided background information for the program and Guan Xin reported that the program was a success. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Jan I was watching tv and saw John singing "Sunshine On My Shoulders" as part of an advertisement. This song and Annie's Song are part of a 2-cd set entitled "Singers and Songwriters of the 1970's. $12.99 +$3.99 s/h 800-979-8998 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - David Gorell I have just received my latest JD album called - "Christmas". If you do not have this album, do not try and get it, unless you are a JD completist. This is a boxed set from LaserLight of the "A Christmas Together", and "Christmas like A Lullaby" albums. The later is the LaserLight release, with the "Autobiography" photo atop a Christmassy scene. The two are enclosed within a box. The cover photo on the box is a close up of John from the Muppet album. There is nothing new on either. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - From: Wintonyk Subject: News Release regarding Entertainment Tonight's JD episode! Hi to all our JD friends: While driving our daughter to school the morning after ET aired, one of the Toronto radio stations did an "ET update" (a regular morning segment of Hollywood gossip) on last night's ET program with John. Apparently there has been such an uproar of complaints about the slant ET chose to put on the information, in particular the FBI file. They have now revealed that the reason the FBI report exists at all is due to a "death threat" against John many years ago. Using only key words, while blanking out the others made it appear far more ominous than it truly was.....Shame, shame on ET for one of the worst reporting jobs they have done......and by the number of complaints received and the statements issued it appears they realize their mistake. It certainly appears that John truly has a ton of fans still active and championing his cause. Isn't that great? ====================================== P O E T R Y C O R N E R ====================================== ASPEN BREEZE by Kelly Robison While the warm Autumn wind dances gently through the trees I stop to listen for him singing softly in the breeze I walk alone beside a creek through fallen Aspen leaves Below majestic mountains so high you can't believe And though we've listened carefully to his songs and what they meant To hear them in the Rockies makes his music Heaven sent So, I wonder now how we'll get by and survive another year? It's hard and not so easy facing he's no longer here But, there's one thing I know for sure and I will never doubt He used his gift to help the world I'm glad he chose that route ____________________________________________ Written by Kelly Robison of Portland, Oregon PEACE by Emily M. Parris Peace is the password Love is the key To bring us all Into harmony Together as one We can learn to see All the beauty We were meant to be Together and sharing We can find love And all the gifts Poured from above _________________________________ Copyright 1982 by Emily M. Parris =================================================== JOHN DENVER W A N T A D S / F O R S A L E =================================================== "PACIFIC GROVE...ONE YEAR AFTER": Dave I made a video of the events at Pacific Grove one year after John's death. It is 28 minutes long and has parts of many of John's songs as well as Ellen Stapenhorst singing "All My Skies" and Frank DeLaMarre singing "Take Him Home." - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Sean Loftus I am wishing to get into contact with JD fans in and around the Ottawa, Canada area for get-togethers, chat or playing John's songs. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Judy If you have a copy of "Alfie, the Christmas Tree" and would like to sell it, please let me know. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Jesse Did anyone happen to watch the TV show "Entertainment Tonight" on 1/13/00. John was mentioned in the show but I missed most of it. Please email me with information - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Paul Russell Does anyone have a program from the JD concert at Royal Albert Hall in London in 1994? It was John's 25th Anniversary as a solo performer. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - I'm in need of the following cd's to complete my JD collection: "Rhymes & Reasons", "Whose Garden Was This?", "Aerie", "Autograph" and "Rocky Mountain Holiday". - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Patti I'm looking for a copy of the album "Aerie". Does anyone know where I can get a copy? - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Mumze Wouldn't it be fun if we all could get license plates with "Farout" on them? We could call it the JD Faarout Fan Club. Let me know what you think. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Michael Corte I would like to get in touch with any guitarists who are interested in John Denver. I have found playing John Denver's songs not only to be challenging, but also to be rewarding. His music is some of the downright best every written. It truly conveys the spirit of nature. In a world where guitar playing is dominated by heavy metal musicians, I think it is only right that we should keep alive the music of players like John Denver. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Leslie I have created a web site to promote Body Mind Spirit Earth and hopefully support John's causes...Plant It 2000, Windstar, and The Hunger Project. http://www.healthwebpicks.com - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Pauline I'm looking for a video of the Christmas special "The Sound of Christmas" which aired on tv in the U.S. on 12/16/87. It starred John and Julie Andrews. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Jackie Donatuccio I'm looking for any video tapes of John's early tv shows especially the Christmas show with Zach as a baby. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Peggy Doering I'm an avid JD collector and over the last couple of years I've obtained some duplicate LPs and CDs which I'd like to sell in order to further fund my collecting pursuits. Some of them include "Lee Holdridge Conducts the Music of JD", "The Holiday Radio Show", an unusual version of "Aerie" and several import cd's. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - WWW Pages to look at: ===================== * Aspen Memories - 1999 http://john-denver.org/web/events/aspen99/deborah.html * Review of Tribute Concert by UCLA Newspaper www.dailybruin.ucla.edu/db/issues/99/11.22/ae.denver.html * Original Aspentimes Article on dog park http://aspentimes.com/dynews99/011900xzb.htm * The Scotsman http://home.hawaii.rr.com/paully/music.htm * JD Guitar for sale on Ebay //cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=244169828 also item 246099932 WI Friends of John Denver http://users.wi.net/~wifjd Hawk Mountain Sanctuary - JD Bench http://members.aol.com/tybrenn/hawkmtn/hawkmtn.html Race for the Rainforest http://rainforest.care2.com/gen-frame.html?xp=948272750 Plant-It 2000 http://www.tesser.com/plantit/ Tribute to John on the Windstar WWW Page: http://www.wstar.org/john.htm Road House Records (Chris Nole & Pete Huttlinger) http://www.roadhouserecords.com The Murie Center: http://www.muriecenter.org (Mardy Murie) = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Emily I found the lyrics to "The Scotsman". So if you needed those, please email me and I'll send them. ************************************************************* Rocky Mountain High: The John Denver Internet Fan Club emily@sky.net http://www.sky.net/~emily February 2000 * Issue #70 * Editor: Emily M. Parris *************************************************************