============================================= *** 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 June 2005 Editor: Emily M. Parris ================================================ http://www.rockymtnhigh.org * emily@parris.net ================================================ Table of Contents June 2005 * Issue #134 John Denver Events...........................2 Aspen in October Events...................4 "Ballad of the Weary Traveler" The Wall Street Journal 5/5/05.............6 Dutch Play About John Denver Fans............7 John Denver Notes............................8 John Denver Want Ads / For Sale..............9 Letters to the Editor.......................10 Poetry Corner: "A Summer Sonnet" by Emily M. Parris.....10 ======================================= J O H N D E N V E R E V E N T S ======================================= June 11, 2005 - Vail, CO / JD Highway Cleanup and BBQ / John Adams will sing afterwards at the Antlers BBQ / Cleanup 10:00am at Milemarker 133 / BBQ at Noon Evelyn (970) 926-0918 Antlers 800-843-8245 June 24, 2005 - Aspen, CO - A special concert related to the Windstar Summer Retreat with music by John Adams and Chris Collins. Annabelle Inn. 6:00-8:00pm dreauxdog@comcast.net June 25-26, 2005 - Snowmass, CO - Summer Retreat at the Windstar Land Conservancy. Sponsored by the Windstar CO Connection. $35 All Windstar Members and prospective members are invited to attend. APokey1@aol.com http://www.windstarcoloradoconnection.org June 25, 2005 - New York City - House Concert to celebrate Christopher Westfall's new cd "I'm Coming Home." 7:00pm $10 RSVP Eve@JohnDenverpeacecloth.com http://www.chriswestfall.com July 4, 2005 - Dillon, CO - Lake Dillon Amphitheatre 6:30pm "Rocky Mountain High" - annual 4th of July concert. Bring a blanket. John Adams & Friends. Free admission. Fireworks at 9:00pm * http://www.townofdillon.com July 7, 2005 - Osceola, WI * The KC Band presents "Take Me Home", a tribute to the life and music of John Denver. Part of the "Music In The Park" summer concert series. Osceola is 40 minutes from the MN/St. Paul area. Admission is free 7:00pm Info: xram1667@yahoo.com July 15, 2005 - Carmel, CA - Phil Christie in concert. 7:30pm Universalist Church of the Monterey Peninsula / 490 Aguajito Road / $10 (831) 521-8864 silkentreasures2000@juno.com * www.philchristie.com July 21, 2005 - Estes Park, CO - Second John Denver Tribute Concert sponsored by the Estes Park Arts Council featuring "Cowboy Brad" Fitch. / Performance Park / 7:00pm Free / Bring lawn chairs or blanket. http://www.cowboybrad.com 1 970-586-9203 www.estesarts.com July 30, 2005 - Dousman, WI - Adopt-A-Highway Cleanup - Helpers needed & wanted! / Meet 10:30am at Kettle Moraine Golf Club / 4299 US Hwy 67 / Join the Wisconsin Friends of John Denver group afterwards for some food, fellowship and fun / Carolyn Churchill the_family_churchill@msn.com 847-356-0074 August 9-14, 2005 - Galveston, TX - "Almost Heaven, John Denver's America" / Moody Gardens Convention Center / One Hope Boulevard * http://www.galvestonmusicals.com (800) 54-Shows / (409) 737-1744 [This is a new title for "Almost Heaven: Songs and Stories of John Denver"] August 12-14, 2005 - Sherwood, WI - Campout at High Cliff State Park / Join the Wisconsin Friends of John Denver in some campfire songs while watching for a shower of Perseid meteors to rain fire in the sky. 847-356-0074 Carolyn Churchill the_family_churchill@msn.com August 13, 2005 - Hesston, PA - "Rocky Mountain High in the Alleghenies: A Tribute to John Denver" (2nd Annual) 3:00pm - 10:00pm Children's activities, JD Peace Cloth display and videos in the afternoon. Performers start at 6:00pm. Seven Points Amphitheatre at Raystown Lake Free/donations accepted. Performers will be Chris Westfall, Mark Cormican and Tim Dabbs. Sponsored by the Spirit Windstar Connection Group spiritwsconnections@yahoo.com August 20, 2005 - Alto, New Mexico - "Rocky Mountain High - A musical Tribute to John Denver" by the John Denver Band. 8:00pm $50 Spencer Theater for the Performing Arts / Box 140 / Alto, NM 88312 $50 (888) 818-7872 http://www.spencertheater.com August 20, 2005 - Peterborough, NH - Highway cleanup and annual barbecue. 3:00pm MacDowell Lake at the Big Shelter overlooking the lake. Burgers and Hot dogs will be provided but bring a cooler with anything else you might want. Paul Swanton and Friends will perform. The Highway cleanup will be at 1:00pm in Dublin. dnilsson@tellink.net http://www.nhfjd.org September 8 - October 8, 2005 * Walnut Creek, CA "Almost Heaven: Songs and Stories of John Denver" - Center Repertory Company / Jennifer Orr 925-295-1413 < marketing@dlrca.org > 925-943-SHOW September 9-11, 2005 - South Lake Tahoe - 2nd Annual "Dancing With the Mountains" - celebrating the music of John Denver. Tahoe Valley Campground / (530) 541-2222 ext 1 Ask for the "Dancing with the Mountains" weekend special. Tahoe_aerie@yahoo.com Camping info: www.rvonthego.com September 30 - October 1, 2005 - Snowmass, CO * "New Choices For Your Future" Symposium / Guest Speakers: Dr. Jane Goodall, Tom Crum, Rodger Schlickeisen, George Sterzinger, Michael Reynolds and Melissa Poe. www.wstar.org October 7, 2005 - Carbondale, CO - Mark Robinson Concert - Steve's Guitars $10 8:30pm www.markrobinsonmusic.com October 27, 2005 - Reading, PA * John Denver Music Extravaganza III / 5:00 - 10:00pm at Casa Grande / Sponsored by the "Earth Song Environmental Foundation / earthsongfdn@comcast.org * http://www.earthsongfdn.org October 29, 2005 - Annapolis, MD - 5th Annual "Music From the Mountains" - The Hard Travelers and Friends - Chris Nole, Bill Danoff, Mollie Weaver, John Sommers http://www.musicunites.com/Schedule.htm 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 <+> <+> <+> <+> <+> <+> <+> ================ ASPEN IN OCTOBER ================ October 6, 2005 - Aspen, CO - Work detail at the John Denver Sanctuary 8:30am - Noon / Curtis < Curtis.Griffy@guidant.com > October 6, 2005 - Aspen, CO "Meet and Greet" at the John Denver Sanctuary 3:00pm / Worship on the Mountain 3:30pm Paster Keith Perry / Deb Perry < aspeninoctober@wowway.com > October 6, 2005 - Aspen, CO - "Friends With You" featuring Mark Cormican and Chris Collins and the Boulder Canyon Band - Aspen Community Church 7:00pm $10 APokey1@aol.com October 7, 2005 - Aspen, CO - Singalong at the Pitkin County Assisted Living Center - World Family of JD Singers / Rehearsal at Wagner Park at 9:00am < apokey1@aol.com > October 7, 2005 - Aspen, CO - Mt. Chalet Ballroom - Peace Cloth Event 1:00pm Chris Collins and the Boulder Canyon Band, Mark Cormican, Ken Dravis and Tim Durnan. Presentation of The Vision Award / Tickets $20 eve@johndenverpeacecloth.com October 7-8, 2005 - Aspen, CO - Wheeler Opera House / 8th Annual John Denver Tribute Concert / Concert benefits Challenge Aspen. Tickets go on sale July 1st. 7:00pm Special Guest: Mike Taylor, one of JD's first original band members and co-author of "Rocky Mountain High." www.wheeleroperahouse.com * info@wheeleroperahouse.com October 8, 2005 - Aspen, CO - Mt. Chalet Ballroom - "Let This Be A Voice" Auction/lunch/concert 10:30am - 3:30pm with registration beginning at 10:00am. Mark Cormican, Keeper Koplinger, Kevin Demolino, Roy Rivers and Jim Salestrom. Christopher Canyon will showcase the new book "Take Me Home, Country Roads." $25 or $15 for just the concert/auction. Check/M.O. payable to Pamela Beasley / 721 Ravencroft Dr. / Garland, TX 75043 (SASE) pamela.beasley@airmail.net or eagleshorses@yahoo.com October 8, 2005 - Snowmass, CO - Third Annual Windstar Connections Conference. 9:00am to 5:00pm on the Windstar Land. Featured speaker/entertainer Kyle Vincent. Also Cottonwood Stone, Michael Snovak and Barbara Davis. Continental breakfast and lunch will be provided. $100 for Windstar Members. ($135 for non members) http://www.wstar.org October 9, 2005 - Aspen, CO - Wheeler Opera House / 8th Annual John Denver Tribute Concert / Concert benefits Challenge Aspen. Tickets go on sale July 1st. 7:00pm Special Guests: Chad Mitchell Trio in honor of the 40th Anniversary of John joining the trio. www.wheeleroperahouse.com * info@wheeleroperahouse.com October 9, 2005 - Snowmass, CO - A Windstar Celebration! Windstar Foundation - All Windstar members, old and new, are invited to a special day celebrating and thanking you for all you do to support The Windstar Foundation Musical performances by Mark Cormican, John Adams, Paul Swanton & Diane Ireland, Chris Collins and the Boulder Canyon Band. Light refreshments served. < Windstar Membership $35 > http://www.wstar.org 9:00am - 4:00pm * Campfire 6:00pm / < Apokey1@aol.com > October 10, 2005 - Aspen, CO - "Colors of the Rainbow" presented by Georgiann McDaniel / Mountain Chalet Roof-top Conference Room 9:00am - Noon $20 / SASE to Georgiann McDaniel / 48 E. Tamarack Circle / Battlement Mesa / Parachute, CO 81635 * Info: RockyMtnHaven1@msn.com October 10, 2005 - Aspen, CO - Mt. Chalet Ballroom / Mack Bailey in Concert $20 includes Lunch at noon & the concert at 1:00pm http://www.mackbailey.com October 10, 2005 - Aspen, CO - "It's Goodbye Again" 5:00pm Wagner Park on Durant Avenue. < aspeninoctober@wowway.com > October 10, 2005 - Aspen, CO - Mt. Chalet 7:30pm - downstairs concert - "New Friends To Find" Steve Brook, Rene Wingelaar and Tim Durnan / John Denver Trivia Contest $12 < jht@spamarrest.com > <+> <+> <+> <+> <+> <+> <+> BALLAD OF THE WEARY TRAVELER Ease the Frustrations of Modern Travel by Penning Your Own "Jet Plane" Lyrics. Wall Street Journal 5/5/05 by Scott McCartney I opened up the Middle Seat Mailbox this week and found a nugget of gold, which turned into inspiration for a contest. Randy Babbitt, president of Eclat Consulting, played a very clever rewrite of "Leaving on a Jet Plane" at a conference he helped organize last week, and sent me a copy. It's by a group of Austin, Texas lawyers called the Bar & Grill Singers, who rewrote the lyrics written by John Denver and recorded by Peter, Paul and Marry to sum up many of the frustrations of today's travel experience. So frisk me to check for clues. Tell me to take off my shoes. Touch me, ask me what you need to know 'Cuz I'm leaving on a jet plane... "Jet Plane" is from the Bar & Grill Singers' 2004 album "A Time To Grill" and it's so funny that I've used today's Mailbox to simply share the lyrics with you, along with the song itself and a link to the group's Web site. < www.barandgrillsingers.com > After passing the song around, my editors and I suggested a contest. Write your own lyrics. Pen a stanza or two and send it to < middleseat@wsj.com >. We'll award a bag of stale peanuts to the first-place winner, and an autographed "TSA has searched your luggage" flyer for the runner-up. To prime the pump, here are a few we came up with: 'Cuz I'm leaving on a jet plane Poor dude beside me's from Bahrain I doubt he'll get to go... 'Cuz I'm leaving on a jet plane I'll forget all my knee pain When the seatback's in my throat... And here's the real thing: "Jet Plane" (The Bar & Grill Singers) All my bags are packed, I have my ID A printed i-tin-erary A boarding pass and major credit card And I'll show you that my computer works I'll shake my head at all the jerks Whose crankiness is making this so hard So frisk me to check for clues Tell me to take off my shoes Touch me, ask me what you need to know 'Cuz I'm leaving on a jet plane Just stand in line and don't complain And soon they'll let me go It's embarrassing each time I hear Detectors beep on my brassiere It's under-wire so watch your hands, you punk There's no hurry now my flight's delayed It's all because somebody made A joke and asked, So is our pilot drunk? So frisk me to check for clues Tell me to take off my shoes Touch me, and ask me what you need to know 'Cuz I'm leaving on a jet plane Just stand in line and don't complain And soon we'll get to go Now it's time unless they're lyin' One more line and I'll be flyin' A random search and I'll be on my way At the gate what's this I see My airline declared bankruptcy They canceled every flight they had today I'm pissed and I want some booze Tell me where they took my shoes Hold me back 'cuz there's one thing I know I'm not leaving, there's no jet plane Just 18 hours down the drain Someday, we'll get to go <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> Netty Verburg sent news about a Dutch theater play about John Denver fans: "Why Did You Leave Us On Your Jetplane?" Four women who once fainted meeting John Denver decide to found a group of people with the name "John's Apostles," a fan club or working group who is committed to doing something good for the world and for people in need. In the play they are having a mission, they have John and with the help of John and for John they will save the world or go down with that world. They are also singing some songs of John Denver. This is the first time in this country that something like this is happening. One of our club board members has already attended the play and it seems very good and friendly for John. She even gave them John Denver t-shirts to wear during the performance. :-) The theater play will be in theater Bellevue, Amsterdam. We are going to attend the play with a group of people in our Dutch club "The World of John Denver" on May the 29th! www.theaterbellevue.nl ======================================= J O H N D E N V E R N O T E S ======================================= Correction: The correct email address for Curtis Griffy (Regarding the work detail at the John Denver Sanctuary in Aspen on Oct 6, 2005) is... Curtis.Griffy@guidant.com - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Fabio Zucca's John Denver song lyrics and guitar chords site: http://zuccafabio.interfree.it/songs/gestsong.html - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - From Rolling Stone: Sony/BMG will release a DVD documenting John Denver's life, entitled "A Song's Best Friend" on June 7, 2005. The release includes live performances and interviews with the folk singer-songwriter. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Rocky Mountain News: June 4, 2005 "'Almost Heaven, New York City: The John Denver musical "Almost Heaven'", which premiered at Denver Center Theatre Company in 2004, is headed to New York. After playing Walnut Creek, California in December, the production will head Off Broadway, to a theater to be determined." - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - An Ebay photo collage recently had more detailed information on John and Annie's wedding. They were married at First Lutheran Church in St. Peter, Minnesota on Friday, June 9, 1967 at 1:30pm. After the wedding, a reception followed at Holiday House, also in St. Peter, followed by a honeymoon trip to Los Angeles. The ebay auction (#3876400325) which ended on 2-28-05 shows pictures of the wedding of Ann Martell and H. John Deutschendorf. You can still look at the details even though the auction has ended. http://www.ebay.com The winning bid was $83.35 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The Connection Newspapers - June 1, 2005 Arlington, VA "On May 23, 2005 the fourth-graders at Glebe Elementary School presented "Great Virginia", a tribute to the song "Country Roads" made famous by the late John Denver. Glebe students were the special guests at the Starland Cafe, 5126 MacArthur Blvd, Washington DC where they performed from 10:45 - 11:30am. "Great Virginia" is based on "Country Roads" with revised lyrics that describe the five geographic regions of Virginia. Two-time Grammy-winner Bill Danoff, who wrote "Country Roads," was the VIP guest for the morning performance at the cafe and again for an afternoon and evening performance at Glebe Elementary School. This is the third year Glebe fourth-graders have given the performance." - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Broadway.com 1.800.Broadway "Almost Heaven, a bio-musical utilizing the songs and stories of the late John Denver, is scheduled to arrive off-Broadway in October following a run at the Center Repertory Company in Walnut Creek, California. Featuring direction by Randall Myler and a book by Myler and Peter Glazer, the show first played at the Denver Center Theater Company in both 2002 (prior to Myler's involvement) and 2003. Although Myler has received good notices for his past work on similar off-Broadway musicals using the catalogs of Janis Joplin (Love, Janis), Hank Williams (Hank Williams: Lost Highway) and The Mamas and the Papas (Dream A Little Dream), none of those shows managed to turn a profit. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Press Release http://www.gibson.com Gibson Guitars Singer, songwriter and actress Cassandra Delaney Denver, widow of John Denver, recently visited the Gibson/Baldwin Entertainment Showroom in Beverly Hills to try out the Gibson Acoustic guitars for her new tour and the taping of her TV pilot "Malibu's Most Wanted Mom." - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Longmont, Colorado John's memory was present at the Lyons Middle/Senior High School Graduation... "The high school choir sang John Denver's classic 'Leaving On A Jet Plane' in four-part harmony." - - - - - - - - - - Also in PIERRE, SD at Riggs High School they remembered John. During their graduation ceremony the 2005 senior vocal group performed "Leaving on a Jet Plane" by John Denver. Jacob Shoup, senior class president, led the Pledge of Allegiance, and the Riggs High Band performed instrumental music. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================= JOHN DENVER W A N T A D S / F O R S A L E ================================================= PrintsCharmed@aol.com For sale: John Denver "Italian" charms for the popular charm bracelets. Lots of different John Denver photos are available, as well as images that will have special meaning for John Denver fans. Many of the photos have been provided to us by special permission of the John Denver Peace Cloth organization, and a portion of the proceeds from those charms will be donated to the Peace cloth. We can also make custom charms from your photos! Great gift for JD fans, or put together a JD memory bracelet for yourself! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - From Pete Huttlinger> I'm doing a new DVD of my own tunes and arrangements soon and want to take a quick survey to see if you all have any particular tunes or arrangements of mine that you would like to learn. Please send requests to me at Lessons@petehuttlinger.com Thanks... Pete - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - New CD from Christopher Westfall - "I'm Coming Home". $15 + $2 s/h Christopher Westfall / PO Box 345 / Berlin, NJ 08009 http://www.chriswestfall.com - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Jean Kendle < jbk944@yahoo.com > I just wanted to comment on the review you printed about the "Almost Heaven" play. The seems to be of the same mind as the guy from the Denver paper, and I don't agree with them at all. I have seen the place twice. The original, and then a revised version in Denver, and I was very disappointed that they took out the "story" part. While I know that John's songs do tell the story of his life, I still thought the speaking parts brought about a continuity between the songs, and I was disappointed that Hal Thau let someone talk him into the changes. That's just one humble person's opinion. I am thrilled to see the play is traveling to other places in the country, and will keep hoping that it will come to another place closer to us here in Indiana. ======================================= J O H N D E N V E R P O E T R Y ======================================= A Summer Sonnet by Emily M. Parris A summer day is like a rolling hill With grasses blowing in a steady wind Bright sunshine, yellow buttercups to fill The senses with a happy state of mind Butterflies lead on in dances skyward The bees hum along with their own sweet tune All nature seems to claim a pure reward In the perfection of a day in June The air itself seems to fill with stillness With the sky a perfect, pure azure blue So deep it almost melts away all stress All in a beautiful, radiant hue Alas, the fragrance on the wind is nice The day, the heat, melts into paradise _________________________________ Copyright 2005 by Emily M. Parris 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 June 2005 * Issue #134 * Editor: Emily M. Parris *************************************************************