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 J U L Y 2 0 0 1 V E E R Emily Parris emily@sky.net http://www.sky.net/~emily R ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Table of Contents July 2001 * Issue #87 John Denver Events...................................2 DENVER GETS HIS DUE..................................3 Concert & Event Reviews: John Adams Concert in Dallas - June 23, 2001 Cam .............................4 Julie McClain .......4 "Spotlight on John Denver" - June 17, 2001 Susan Leaver.....................................4 World Environment Day at the Auckland Zoo 6/4/01 Susan Leaver.....................................5 John Denver Articles: Dear Abby - 6/24/01................................5 John Denver Notes....................................6 Poetry Corner: "To Fly On The Wings Of A Song" by Bryan Thomas Schmidt........................8 John Denver Want Ads.................................9 * * * "John was the pebble thrown in the middle of the pond... We are the ripples." Patricia Sweetland * * * ======================================== J O H N D E N V E R E V E N T S ======================================== July 15, 2001 Hawk Mountain Raptor Sanctuary, Kempton, PA A Tribute to John Denver--The Man and His Music, 2001 / Mack Bailey, Charlie Zahm, Tad Marks, Frank DeLaMarre and speaker, Max Langstaff. 9:00am-5:00pm $15 Mail to: JD Tribute Concert Donation; Judith Gabriel, 2271 Hampden Blvd, G5, Reading, PA 19604 http://people.ne.mediaone.net/tybrenn/iat/hawkmtn/ July 21, 2001 * Country Roads Folk Festival, Almost Heaven Ranch, West Virginia Info: http://www.mofolk.com July 28-29, 2001 Columbus, OH - Heart of Ohio Windstar Connection / Windstar One World / http://www.howc.org $79 / For more info: Mev Wilson August 18, 2001 * Saratoga Springs, NY - 2nd Annual JD Potluck Picnic Remembrance Day / Saratoga Spa State Park / 19 Roosevelt Court / 8am -6pm Sherianna@hotmail.com Sept 13-16, 2001 * Winfield, KS / Walnut Valley Festival David Mallett and other JD related artists will be there. 316-221-3250 http://www.wvfest.com Sept 29-30, 2001 - Germany - "Music and Communication's" annual Denver Weekend in Sinzig near Bonn. http://www.johndenverclub.de October 1-5, 2001 * Lyons, CO / Tom Crum's Aikiworks: "Journey to Center" www.aikiworks.com October 11, 2001 * Life Trip up the Mountain to the RMH Ski Run 8:30am - 4:00pm. $50 Info October 12, 2001 * Aspen, CO / Memorial Celebration for John 10:00am / Snowmass Chapel October 12, 2001 * Aspen, CO / 1:00-5:00pm Concert at the Mtn. Chalet - Benefit for JD Memorial Peace Cloth / Mack Bailey, Ron Rich & John Adams $15 October 12, 2001 - Flagstaff, Arizona * Starwood Ranch / John Denver Memorial Celebration 602-728-0710 Info: Emily Aspen Hutcheson October 12-14, 2001 * Pacific Grove, CA * 4th Annual JD Memorial Beach Cleanup and Tribute / Memorial Tribute 10/12, Concert 10/13, Beach Cleanup 10/14 October 12-14, 2001 * Aspen, CO / Fourth Annual Musical Tribute to JD * Wheeler Opera House October 13, 2001 * Aspen, CO / "Let This Be A Voice" / $15.00 JD Auction/Lunch/Concert * Mountain Chalet Ballroom / 11:00am-3:00pm * Checks to: Pam Beasley / 721 Ravencroft Drive / Garland, TX 75043 October 13, 2001 * Aspen, CO "Dancing with the Mountains" 9:00pm - 1:00am / Keith & Deb Perry October 13, 2001 * Aspen, CO "Dinner at the Tower Restaurant" 4:00pm $26 Payment + SASE to: Vicki Wells / 420 SW 38th St. / Cape Coral, FL 33914 October 13-14, 2001 - Salida, CO / 2001 JD Celebration $35 Now taking reservations. / Christine Smith, 0478 CR 46, Howard, CO 81233 http://john-denver.org/web/events/aspen2001/smith.html October 14, 2001 - Open House at the Windstar Foundation / Snowmass, CO * http://www.wstar.org October 15, 2001 - Aspen, CO - John Adams will perform at the Wheeler Opera House 7:00pm http://www.wheeleroperahouse.com $35 1-970-920-5770 October 15, 2001 * Aspen, CO "Tapestry in Aspen" 1-4pm in the ballroom / Mountain Chalet Hotel / 333 East Durant Street $12 / Reservations: Checks payable to: Columbine Trust Foundation / PO Box 11807 / Aspen, CO 81612 * http://www.geocities.com/astrild15/ October 19, 2001 - Austin, TX / "Musical Tribute to JD" - Pete Huttlinger, Chris Nole, Machito Sanchez, etc. Info: November 22, 2001 * Doylestown, PA / Third Annual Saturday After Thanksgiving Evening of Campfire Songs w/Charlie Zahm Info: March 21, 2002 - April 27, 2002 * Denver, CO * World Premiere of a new musical by Peter Glazer "Almost Heaven" / * * * DENVER GETS HIS DUE John Denver Catalogue Receives Upgrade "Greatest Hits" Now at Nine Million WASHINGTON, June 1, 2001 -- RCA Records added a whopping 19 million units to the catalogue of the late John Denver during a complete audit of his catalogue. Leading the pack was "John Denver's Greatest Hits" which had been previously certified gold in 1973 and now jumps to an astonishing nine times platinum according to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). "Not really country, and not quite rock and roll, John Denver was one of the first crossover artists and a true pop superstar," said RIAA President and CEO Hilary Rosen. "John was one of America's greatest songwriters and we're glad to see that he is getting some long overdue recognition." Other titles that were included in the upgrade were "An Evening With John Denver," "Back Home Again," "Rocky Mountain Christmas," "Rocky Mountain High" and "Windsong" which after previously being certified gold were all certified both platinum and double platinum. "Greatest hits, Vol. 2" was certified double platinum (up from platinum status) and two titles received their first RIAA certifications as "Rocky Mountain Collection" reached both gold and platinum status and "Greatest Hits, Vol. 3" was certified gold. In total, Denver's cumulative U.S. sales have reached 32.5 million. ______________________________________________________________ Received from... John Henkel / Director / Gold and Platinum Awards Program Recording Industry Association of America 1330 Connecticut Ave, NW, #300 Washington, DC 20036 ========================================= JOHN ADAM'S CONCERT - Dallas, TX 6/23/01 ========================================= Cam John Adams just did an incredible concert here in Dallas at Rory's last night. Steve Weisberg and John were so good together. This is the first time they had played together for a concert...talk about meshing. Steve's guitar playing was just a natural accompaniment to John and they had so much fun on stage. John's voice was beautiful. It is so amazing how much he sounds like JD and he can really get those high notes like JD used to. I think the showstopper was "Yellowstone, Coming Home". Steve is going to play with John in Aspen in October and if last night was any indication, lookout! It is going to be one concert you won't want to miss. Donna Lipman sang "Annie's Song" and "Perhaps Love" - what a beautiful voice she has. She said that she and her husband just celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary and she wanted to thank JD for being responsible for getting them together. She said that she will be doing her musical tribute to John in Aspen this year. - - - - - - - - - - - Julie McClain What a great night it was. John Adams and his wife brought the cool Colorado air with them! John was in great voice as was Donna Lipman. John played my guitar for awhile in the wee hours of the morning and I sang some harmony with him, then I sang some of my songs for him and his wife. Wow! The beautiful weather, the beautiful music, the wonderful food, the pool, the hot tub, the horses, the stray dalmation who adopted us, Pam's beautiful cross-stitch banner of John, the raffle and door prizes, Rory's new house in the country and the gathering of some of JD's World Family made for a fantastic evening. I will long remember that night and hope we get to do it again next year. ========================================================= "Spotlight on John Denver" - New Zealand - 17 June 2001 ========================================================= Susan Leaver Manawatu is an area in the heart of the rural area of the North Island of New Zealand. According to D.J. Will McGregor this also meant it was John Denver country. I was to discover this was so when the Sounds of Manawatu, Will's radio station began promoting a one-hour "Spotlight on John Denver" for early June. As it came closer to broadcast time many people phoned in to check the time it was on. Using a variety of John's songs and comment from published autobiography and a phone interview from myself, Will painted a picture of the life of John in a very positive and real way. A lot of the interviews with myself was to do with John's life after the hig parade years - that was a special thrill to explain that aspect of his life on air - that his life went way beyond "Annie's Song" and "Take Me Home, Country Roads." Will kindly played my favourite song which is "Whispering Jesse" and finished the programme on a soaring note with "Flying For Me." Susan Leaver International John Denver Memorial Foundation * * * * * * * World Environment Day at the Auckland Zoo - New Zealand June 4, 2001 The International John Denver Memorial Foundation celebrated World Environment Day on June 4 at Auckland Zoo, and what a lovely venue it was too - right in the middle of western Springs Park - so ablaze with golden leaves amongst all the winter greenery. No animals were to be seen when the gang arrived as we were too early for them. Samuel, Vicky, Gloria, Enid, Mary and myself worked as a team to bring the legacy of and the memory of John Denver to a crowd that had either forgotten about him, didn't realise what his legacy was, or did not know anything about him at all, as well as pleasing the fans who were happy to see us. Throughout the day on video we played "Let This Be A Voice" and the "Wildlife Concert." At the end of the day my heart was so full it wanted to burst with joy - at the time of the accident it had been so hard to gain recognition for John - and now here had been the opportunity to present all he was about to the "next generation" - hundreds and hundreds learned about him. Susan Leaver Int'l John Denver Memorial Foundation <<< ooo >>> "DEAR ABBY: Funerals are about good feelings, not good clothes" 6/24/01 Dear Abby: Bravo for your response to Marie regarding "proper and acceptable" funeral behavior. When we buried my Herb, I violated the "hug and acknowledgment" rule she listed. As relatives, friends and acquaintances (well over 200) filed by his American flag-draped coffin, I hugged each and every one - a spontaneous reaction. There should be no hard-and-fast "rules." Herb would have deplored a regimented service. The entire group even join in singing John Denver's "Take Me Home, Country Roads" during the service. More than a year later I still receive compliments about his wonderful send-off. Hugging Sue Dear Hugging Sue: Your husband's funeral was a "love-in" at the time you needed it most. ======================================= J O H N D E N V E R N O T E S ======================================= MORE INFO on EVENTS in Aspen: ============================ * Judith Hawk Mountain 7/15/01 Entertainers will be Charlie Zahm, Mack Bailey, Tad Marks, Frank DeLaMarre and Christopher Westfall. Max Langstaff is speaking. Videos will be shown in the morning along with a raptor education program, a walk through the native plant garden and a walk up to South Lookout to see John's bench. * * * * Vickie Dinner at the Tower Restaurant 10/13/01 The Tower Restaurant is in Snowmass Village and was owned by John. The restaurant is normally closed in October, but they open it for us one night each year for us to meet there. There are photographs of John throughout the restaurant as well as much of his own photography. The menu is usually as follows: BBQ Chicken, BBQ Ribs, Corn, Cole Slaw, Baked Beans, Cornbread, Watermelon, Cookies. The dinner is served by a buffet line outside the restaurant. Time: 4:00pm $26 * * * * Larry Lift Trip - October 11, 2001 A lift trip up the mountain is scheduled for 10/11/01 8:30am to 4:00pm. This will start with a Jeep ride from the Aspen Ski Company in Snowmass, to the Big Bern ski lift. The lift will take the walkers to 11,700 feet. There is a 3/4 mile walk from the end of the lift to the JD plaque that is located on the Rocky Mountain High ski run. The elevation of the plaque is 12,500 feet. The incline to the plaque is around 28%. The air is thin, the wind could be blowing and it could be snowing at the top. After walking down from the plaque, we will ride the ski lift back to the base of Big Bern where the Jeeps will take the hikers back to the parking lot. We need 50 people in order to make this happen. The cost is $50 each. * * * Debra Chilton Oct 12, 2001 * The Peace Cloth auction/concert will be held at the Mountain Chalet from 1:00-5:00pm. The cost is $15 and seating is limited. We have John Adams, Mack Bailey, and Ron Rich playing as well as Kenny Frost, a Ute Native American, who will be blessing the Cloth. For more information please contact Eve at EEEEEKL@aol.com * * * * Site that gives the events in Aspen for October, 2001 http://www.john-denver.org/events/aspen2001/index2.html - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Janice Last summer, my husband and toddler daughter were at the State Fair. We decided to let her go on her first kid's ride. It was a "jungle themed" train ride. Next to the ride there was a large trailer that was advertising a new sound system. The moment the ride began the sound system next to us started blaring out the song "Dreamland Express"! John's voice rang out loud and clear above the crowd as the little train ride went around the tracks. It was a beautiful moment for us! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Emily Parris Jim and I were at his company's annual picnic when, much to my delight, the DJ played John's "Thank God, I'm A Country Boy." - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - David Stemple June has been very good to John Denver's music. Deb Ackley, one of the best midi sequencers on the net recorded a midi version of "The Eagle and the Hawk", the first and only one anyone can find on the internet. She also recorded "Calypso". www.midihaven.com Also in June Dave Snouffer set up a new JD site: http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/JohnDenverMidiMusic. Check out the jazz version of "Country Roads" - it kicks. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Poetry Submissions can be sent in for the Tapestry in Aspen poetry book until July 15, 2001. Email the book editor at - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Julie McClain I was coming home from work Tuesday night and listening to a local radio station that plays mainly Texas artists; country, bluegrass and such. I haven't heard them play a JD song in a long time. When I first turned it on Alan Peck was playing the Kingston Trio which surprised and delighted me, then went right in to "Thank God, I'm A Country Boy!" After the song he went on to talk about the Mitchell Trio and how JD got his start there and how great they sounded and said he just might have to bring in some of his old records to play. Sure made the long ride home feel better! I guess I need to email him and let him know how much I appreciated him playing JD and by all means, do bring in the Mitchell Trio records and play them and play JD a little more often!! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - George Zinn Emily, I want to thank you for your help in encouraging the committee of the Olympic Winter Games to remember John Denver. I have received letters and emails from as far as England and Australia in this project, and I want everyone to know that each and ever letter was forwarded to the Olympic committee in hard copy form! I hope all these heartfelt letters will do some good. Some letters I got were very impressive. There are still very tried & true JD people out there who really love & miss John, as do I. I would love to hear his song, and honor him during the Games, and hope our united efforts will result in positive and successful results. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - If you'd like more information on the Windstar Foundation go to http://www.wstar.org For questions on products email windstar@rof.net or for other questions email jrworx@aol.com Windstar Foundation / PO Box 656 / Snowmass, CO 81654 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - There is a new John Denver Midi Music group. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/JohnDenverMidiMusic Info: Dave Snouffer - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Sherril Steele-Carlin We all miss John and his magical voice. Let his words, songs, and thoughts inspire you every day with this list! You'll get quotes from John, and others who make a difference in this daily (except weekends) email from JOHN DENVER QUOTE-A-DAY. To subscribe, send an email to... johndenverquote-subscribe@topica.com - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The July 2001 issue of OUTSIDE magazine has a mention of John. It is on page 26 and reads..."July 7 Nine hikers will depart Colorado to summit the world's northernmost mountain and, they hope, name it after an American legend. At press time, Greenland had yet to ok "John Denver Peak." submitted by Karen Threlkeld / Las Vegas, NV - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Ron Bonine In volunteering my time and energy to help the Int'l Center for Tropical Ecology we auctioned tapes of John giving his speech when he accepted the first "World Ecology Medal". We received donations for these tapes to benefit the scholarship. However, we have found that in the last month at least 3 bootleg copies of this video have been auctioned on eBay. I would like to urge anyone who may be interested in obtaining an original copy to please contact Dr. Osborne at 314-516-5219 or by email posborne@jinx.umsl.edu http://ecology.umsl.edu/~biology/icte/ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ====================================== P O E T R Y C O R N E R ====================================== TO FLY ON THE WINGS OF A SONG by Bryan Thomas Schmidt You sang songs of the water and the oceans and the world You sang for all the flowers and the forest and the earth. You sang about how eagles soar and horses race the land. And I listened... You sang of Rocky Mountains high and searching for a reason. You sang of loves gone wrong and right and the changing of the seasons. You sang of all that's good in life and gave it all new meaning. And I listened... And the song goes on. And the song lives on. 'Cause you taught me how to stop and smell the roses. You taught me how to stand and be a voice. You taught me to find joy even in my troubled times, And to fly on the wings of a song. You told stories of the wheat fields and the men who work the land. You sang of all the soldiers who have died taking a stand. And you sang about the things you love and things that make you sad. And I listened... And the song goes on. And the song lives on. 'Cause you taught me how to stop and smell the roses. You taught me how to stand and be a voice. You taught me to find joy even in my troubled times, And to fly on the wings of a song. You sang about the questions to which answers can't be found? And you sang about the choices we must make to be a man. And rejoiced at what one man can do to help us understand. And I listened... And the song goes on. And the song lives on. 'Cause you taught me how to stop and smell the roses. You taught me how to stand and be a voice. You taught me to find joy even in my troubled times, And to fly on the wings of a song. _________________________________________________________ c 2000 Anchored Music/ASCAP http://www.anchoredmusic.com ================================================= JOHN DENVER W A N T A D S / F O R S A L E ================================================= Merikay Franklin Wanting to connect with JD fans in Peachtree City, GA. We know you are there some- where - you have a Clean the Highway sign on Hwy 54 between Peachtree City and Newman! Merikay or Doug - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Cyndy I'm looking for the cd "The Flower That Shattered The Stone." Cyndy - Arvada, CO - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Mary Ledford A video from the April 21, 2001 show at the Ram's head is now available. Please email me for details. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Kathleen Gallagher I am moving to ND and would like to make connections with the local John Denver fans. Please respond to me at above email. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - David Stemple Would anyone going to Aspen this October who owns a digital camera be willing to share the photos you take with a fan who can't make it to the tribute events. I'd like to see Aspen, the band members and the JD e-group family. Will cover expenses (CD/Postage). - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Bill Young I have a new CD out called "It's You." The song was written for my wife Cheryl. There are 11 songs on the cd. The cost is $10 + $5 s/h. Bill Young / PO Box 471 / Mountain View, CA 94042 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Robin Witherspoon I am offering part of my large JD collection for sale as a package. Email me for a copy of the list. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Paul Church My wife has always been a great fan of John's and amongst her collection of albums etc. was the video "Sunshine." This was damaged and we have been looking for a replacement. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Suzy Roth Does anyone have a copy of the "Alfie" book. My sister is looking for one for her son because he loved the story so much on the Muppet CD I sent them. - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - David Stemple Giovanni's latest album contains 3 JD songs: "I'm Sorry", "Leaving on a Jet Plane", "Country Roads". Item #008-018 $36-3cd set 800-284-3100 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - AhmBros We're selling the following South African item: "Goodbye Again" 7inch vinyl single ($24) $3s/h http://user.auctions.yahoo.com/uk/user/ahmbros - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - John Denver on TV: E! Channel - "True Hollywood Story: John Denver" July 11 9:00pm and July 12 10:00am Check your local listings. Rory Young's World Family Web Site (**New Url) http://www2.john-denver.org/worldfamily.asp It's About Time Home Page http://people.ne.mediaone.net/tybrenn/iat/index.html John Denver, Starwood in Aspen http://www.geocities.com/aspenkate4 ************************************************************* Rocky Mountain High: The John Denver Internet Fan Club emily@sky.net http://www.sky.net/~emily July 2001 * Issue #87 * Editor: Emily M. Parris *************************************************************