============================================= *** 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 J U N E 2 0 0 6 Editor: Emily M. Parris ================================================ http://www.rockymtnhigh.org * emily@parris.net ================================================ Table of Contents June 2006 * Issue #146 John Denver Events..............................1 Book Review: "The Last Days of Dead Celebrities" by Mitchell Fink (2006) JD Portion Reviewed by Emily M. Parris....6 John Denver Notes...............................7 CD Review: "Songs That Speak To Me" - Judy Lunn Reviewed by Emily M. Parris.................7 Poetry Corner: "Revelation in Prose" by Carole Romanowski....8 John Denver Want Ads............................9 ======================================= J O H N D E N V E R E V E N T S ======================================= May 25 - June 11, 2006 * Kerrville, Texas - Kerrville Folk Festival / www.kerrville-music.com / The Limeliters will play on the Main Stage on June 10th along with Trout Fishing in America, Darden Smith and Gary Primich Band. (830) 257-3600 / info@kerrville-music.com http://www.limeliters.com / June 16, 2006 - Baltimore, MD - Pete Huttlinger is playing at the Kraushaar Auditorium on the campus of Goucher College 1021 Dulaney Valley Road 7:30pm http://www.bestofthebestconcerts.com 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 East Mount Vernon Place / Peabody Concert Hall 8:00pm / $40 Admission / (VIP Reception at 6:00pm $125) http://www.musicunites.com June 23-25, 2006 - Laytonville, California - Kate Wolf Memorial Music Festival * http://www.katewolf.com June 25, 2006 - Billings, Montana - Montana Tunesmith with the Billings Symphony / Pioneer Park - The Concert is free. Picnic concessions begin at 4:00pm and the Billings Symphony takes the stage at 7:00pm. Bring your lawn chair and picnic and enjoy this great evening of music. info: montanatunesmith@aol.com June 29, 3006 - Osceola, Wisconsin * The KC Band presents "Take Me Home", a tribute to the life and music of John Denver. Free outdoor concert at Oakey Park. Bring lawn chairs. Concessions will be available. Alternative rain location. Info: Kevin Carlson xram1958@yahoo.com July 1, 2006 - UK - Country Roads Walk - 6 mile walk in Haworth Yorkshire. 10:00am Meet at the car park at the Haworth Church and the Bronte Parsonage Museum. http://johndenverlookingforspace.com/welcome.htm rockymountain.high@ntlworld.com or 01485 570911 July 2-9, 2006 Cruise Alaska with Jim Curry / "Alaska & Me Cruise" - Jim Curry will perform John Denver's Alaska songs and hits in concert with a full band. 800-826-6732 http://www.cruisemust.com / http://www.jimcurrysmusic.com July 7-8, 2006 - Steamboat Springs, CO - Brad Fitch and the Yampa Valley Boys performing the songs of John Denver. (970) 846-0578 http://www.steamboattheater.com www.cowboybrad.com * www.yampavalleyboys.com July 14-15, 2006 - UK * John Denver Tribute nights featuring Mack Bailey, Pete Huttlinger and Chris Nole in Kirby, North Yorkshire 7:30pm / Kirkby Village Hall / Kirby-in-Cleveland, North Yorkshire, England http://www.fojd.org.uk / Look under Events Telephone: 01642 714061 or 01642 713575 July 15-22, 2006 Princess Cruise to Alaska with Christopher Westfall http://www.newbeginningtour.com It will feature a lot of sing-a-longs, including many favorites sung by John Denver. 732-282-3108 http://www.chriswestfall.com July 29, 2006 - Dousman, WI - Adopt-A-Highway Cleanup - Helpers needed and wanted! / Meet 10:30am at Kettle Moraine Golf Club / 4299 US Hwy 67 / Join the Wisconsin Friends of JD group afterwards for food, fellowship and fun. Carolyn Churchill: the_family_churchill@msn.com (847) 421-4609 July 29-30, 2006 Netherlands - Proposed Euro Denver Weekend in Holland. August 4, 2006 * Estes Park, CO * Brad and Kathy Fitch and their band will present a tribute to John Denver. Long's Peak Inn on Colorado Hwy 7, just south of Estes Park. Benefit for the Rocky Mountain Nature Association www.rmna.org * (970) 586-0108 http://www.cowboybrad.com August 12, 2006 - Hesston, PA - "Rocky Mountain High in the Alleghenies - 3rd Annual Tribute to John Denver" 6:00pm - 10:00pm 7 Points Amphitheater / Raystown Lake in Hesston. Performers will include Christopher Westfall, Tim Dabbs, Mark Cormican, Kevin Delmolino, and Paul Swanton. Free, donations accepted. / info: spiritwsconnections@yahoo.com http://www.geocities.com/spiritwsconnections/ August 18, 2006 - Schenectady, NY * Dinner at Darcey's House 209 Gifford Road 6:00pm * darceyfarrow@john-denver.org (518) 346-2510 August 19, 2006 - Saratoga Springs, NY - The 7th Annual John Denver Potluck Picnic Remembrance Day Weekend - Saratoga Spa State Park / 19 Roosevelt Drive / Family Picnic area near bridge 10:00am - 6:00pm $6 Park Fee www.geocities.com/darceyfarrow/JohnDenverPicnic.html darceyfarrow@hotmail.com August 20, 2006 - Peterborough, NH - New Hampshire Friends of John Denver Annual BBQ - MacDowell Lake - Highway Cleanup @ 1:00pm / BBQ @ 3:00pm http://www.nhfjd.org / info@nhfjd.org August 23, 2006 - Liverpool, NY - John Denver Memorial Concert and food Drive 7:00pm - 9:00pm Johnson Park in the center of the Liverpool Village. Alan Taylor will present an evening of John's best loved songs performed live. Free admission - please bring non perishable food donations to benefit the Liverpool Food Pantry guitarman1946@aol.com (315) 299-5512 August 26, 2006 - Blakely Island, WA - John Denver Tribute featuring Mack Bailey, Mollie Weaver, Chris Nole, Pete Huttlinger, John Sommers, Kenn Roberts and Chris Engleman http://www.mackbailey.com/schedule.htm#aspen August 26, 2006 - Lake Tahoe, CA - "Dancing with the Mountains" Celebrating the music of John Denver 8:00am - 10:00pm $15 / Activities/ Concerts / Movies / Camping / Food & Fun. Tahoe Valley Campground / 1175 Melba Drive / South Lake Tahoe (530) 541-2222 * Laurie Kern (916) 416-3547 September 3, 2006 - Fort Collins, CO - Brad and Kathy Fitch and their TropiCowboy Band - Concert of John Denver's music 6:00pm Fort Collins Senior Center, 1200 Raintree Drive / Fort Collins, CO 80526 * (970) 221-6644 www.cowboybrad.com September 16, 2006 - UK - John Denver Music by Neil and Gill Sharman / Arden Hall, Castle Bromwich, Birmingham, West Midlands, England / http://www.timberwolf-studios.com Info: neilandgill@timberwolf-studios.com October 28, 2006 / Annapolis, MD - 6th Annual "Music From the Mountains" - a tribute to John Denver / The Hard Travelers and friends / Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts 8:00pm Tickets not yet on sale / www.mdhallarts.org http://www.musicunites.com October 28, 2006 - UK - John Denver Tribute Charity Concert by Neil & Gill Sharman / The Gladstone Theatre, Port Sunlight, near Birkenhead, Merseyside, England http://www.timberwolf-studios.com / neilandgill@timberwolf-studios.com November 11, 2006 - Vero Beach, FL - "Music From the Mountains" - A Tribute to John Denver / Benefit Concert for Indian River Memorial Hospital / The Wax Lax Center at St. Edwards School / 1895 St. Edward's Drive http://www.musicunites.com/Schedule.htm November 11, 2006 UK "Denver Day" - Coventry / Performances by Brad & Kathy Fitch / Info: president@fojd.org.uk http://www.fojd.org.uk December 3-10, 2006 - Richard Hatch's Jammin' Jamaican Adventure Cruise / From Miami, FL to the Cayman Islands, Jamaica and back. * http://www.richardhatch.com December 9, 2006 - UK - Neil & Gill Sharman's annual songs for Christmas Show. The Scout Hall, Chapeltown, Sheffield, South Yorkshire. http://www.timberwolf-studios.com 3:00pm neilandgill@timberwolf-studios.com ===================================== JOHN DENVER EVENTS in ASPEN, COLORADO ===================================== October 11, 2006 - Aspen, CO - "Friends With You" Concert at the Aspen Community Church - Mark Cormican, Chris Collins and the Boulder Canyon Band 7:00pm * apokey1@aol.com October 12, 2006 - Aspen, CO - Meet and Greet - John Denver Sanctuary 3:00pm * aspeninoctober@wowway.com October 12, 2006 - Aspen, CO - "Worship on the Mountain" John Denver Sanctuary 3:30pm Christian non-denominational service officiated by Pastor Keith Perry * aspeninoctober@wowway.com October 12, 2006 - Aspen, CO - 9th Annual John Denver Campfire at Maroon Bells East Portal 6:00pm * skyking@cell1net.net October 13, 2006 - Aspen, Co - Assisted Living Center Sing-along. Meet in Wagner Park at 9:00am / Singalong at noon * Shari Sullivan: apokey1@aol.com October 13, 2006 - Aspen, CO - Peace Cloth Event 1:00pm Mountain Chalet * eve@johndenverpeacecloth.com October 13-14, 2006 - Aspen, CO - 9th Annual "A Musical Tribute to John Denver" - Wheeler Opera House 7:00pm 320 E. Hyman Avenue / Mack Bailey, Kenn Roberts, Chris Nole, Jim Salestrom, Bill Danoff, Mollie Weaver, John Sommers, Pete Huttlinger and Jim Horn The M.U.S.E. Foundation * http://www.musicunites.com * (970) 920-5770 October 14, 2006 - Aspen, CO - "Let This Be A Voice" / Mt. Chalet 10:30am - 3:30pm $25 for concert/lunch/auction; $15 for auction/concert. Send check/m.o. to Pam along with a SASE Pam Beasley / 721 Ravencroft Drive / Garland, TX 75043 * Pam's NEW email: firendsky@mac.com October 15, 2006 - Snowmass, CO - Snowmass Chapel Service in Snowmass Village. Reception in the garden following the service. 9:00am October 15, 2006 - Snowmass, CO - Windstar Celebration at the Windstar Land Conservancy 10:00am - 4:00pm $35 (Windstar Membership) * apokey1@aol.com October 15, 2006 - Aspen, CO - A Special Concert with Mack Bailey, Chris Nole, and Pete Huttlinger / Mountain Chalet Ballroom / 333 East Durant Ave. 5:30pm (reception) 6:30pm Concert / Reception includes a wrap and drink. Tickets $25 * Send check to "Spa Creek Music / PO Box 201435 / Denver, CO 80220 * karen@mackbailey.com http://www.mackbailey.com/schedule.htm#aspen October 15, 2006 - Aspen, CO - John Adams Concert at the Wheeler Opera House 7:00pm with Guido Bos, Dave Harding, Diane Ireland, Tom Paxton, Rusty Speigle and Randy Utterback. (970) 920-5770 www.wheeleroperahouse.com $35 / Children & seniors $20 October 16, 2006 - Aspen, CO - John Denver Sanctuary Picnic and Jam/Sing-along. Bring your own picnic lunch. 11:00am / Jam at noon / Please bring your own instruments. Event will end in time for "It's Goodbye Again" / (Mt. Chalet in case of rain) / Dale: renegadetroutfitter@networld.com October 16, 2006 - Aspen, CO - "It's Goodbye Again" 5:00pm Wagner Park on Durant Ave. (Ball field across from Mountain Chalet). Don't just leave! Come and bid farewell, reflect on the past few days, and look to the future. Bring kleenexes and cameras. Deb: aspeninoctober@wowway.com <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> "The Last Days of Dead Celebrities" by Mitchell Fink 2006 NY: Hyperion/Miramax Books The book "Last Days of Dead Celebrities" by Mitchell Fink covers little-known information on the last days of some famous people. It covers fifteen famous people giving detailed information on how they spent their last few days, and John Denver is one of the celebrities covered. John Lennon, Ted Williams, Lucille Ball, John Ritter and Warren Zevon are a few of the other celebrities included in the book. The portion of the book that talks about John Denver is from pages 166 to 186. It is very interesting since the author did a lot of research talking to people close to John, specifically those people who were with him in the last few days of his life. On September 6, 1997 John sent Annie some flowers for her 51st birthday. He always did this and 1997 was no exception. In September he also had concerts in San Antonio, Fort Worth, Houston, Austin and Corpus Christi where some lucky fans got to see him in concert for the last time. Interesting to note is the fact that John spent October 6th with his son, Zachary, who flew in from Durango, Colorado. They attended a Denver Broncos football game together and met the players during half time. Then on October 7th John had his daughter, Anna Kate, over for dinner at his house. On October 10th John talked in detail to Milt Okun about a record deal that was of interest and he had an appointment to meet executives of the record company on the 13th of October. So his career was on the upswing again. Several pages are devoted to John's last day where he lunched with friends and played golf. He had a lemonade/iced tea at lunch and apparently he had not been drinking for some time. When John died the media talked a lot about his DUI's as though there was some relationship between his former drinking problems and his untimely accident. But this was not the truth. The final report from the NTSB showed that there was no alcohol in his system at the time of his death. Mitchell Fink is an internationally recognized journalist and has had columns in the Los Angeles Herald Examiner, People Magazine and the New York Daily News. He has appeared regularly on Fox News, CNN and CBS. The book has 288 pages and is a hardback. The ISBN is 1401351980 and it is published by Miramax (May 17, 2006). _______________________________________________ John Denver portion reviewed by Emily M. Parris < emily@parris.net > ======================================= J O H N D E N V E R N O T E S ======================================= Branson, MO * "John Denver Lives" show on hold for 2006 pending theatre opening in old downtown Branson, near the new Branson Landing shopping center. www.johndenverlives.com * More info: rodphil549@aol.com - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - David Mallett is releasing a new cd called "Midnight On The Water" on June 10, 2006 by North Road Records. It is a live recording from 2005 and features 17 of the most memorable songs from Mallett's 30 year career. http://www.northernlightmgt.com / thomas.u.gordon@verizon.net - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - You can vote for John as someone who deserves recognition for their part in helping to save the planet. Go to http://www.itv.com/news * Go to: "three degrees from disaster" then to "nominate your eco hero" - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The UK Friends of John Denver website is transferred and ready to use: http://www.fojd.org.uk * president@fojd.org.uk - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Canadian Idol Contestant: "Goderich, Ontario's Kati Durst, who gained across-the-table approval for her full-voiced take on John Denver's "Leaving On A Jet Plane", showed definite potential. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The Travel Channel has a show called "Flight Attendant School" and they start the show with a segment of "Leaving On A Jet Plane." Not John signing, unfortunately, but still way cool! Pat - North Carolina Friends of John Denver - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ============ CD REVIEWS ============ Judy Lunn's cd - "Songs That Speak To Me" Judy Lunn has a beautiful cd called "Songs That Speak To Me." It is a tribute to John. One of my favorite pieces on the album is "Windsong." Judy's soulful rendition brings character and depth to the song. It is slower than John's version. "Shanghai Breezes" is always one of my favorites. All the songs are also easy to sing along with since Judy's voice range is similar to my own. The "Lover's Medley" on this cd is a really beautiful combination of "My Sweet Lady", "Annie's Song" and "For You." It was arranged by Judy Lunn, Chris Nole and Pete Huttlinger weaving together 3 of John's most beautiful love songs. "Colors of the Wind" is a beautiful song. The music is by Alan Menken and the words are by Stephen Schwartz. It was written in 1996. Judy's version of "Calypso" is slower than John's with fewer musical crescendos, but it has a nice relaxing quality. I think John's fans will be happy with this musical tribute to John and his music. http://www.judylunn.com * * * ======================================= J O H N D E N V E R P O E T R Y ======================================= "Revelation in Prose" by Carole Romanowski < whispjesse@aol.com > I love the sound of rain on a tin roof. I used to cover my ears to the raindrops' staccato monotony. But now I hear them as the rhythmic beats of marching drummers in nature's parade. I love to "see the trees rush by" when near a greenbelt. I always had tunnel vision before. But the highway is now only a concrete ribbon Lacing through forests of majestic sentinels - silent spectators dressed in green. I love to watch the leaves fall in Autumn. They used to represent endless hours of a raker's chore. But they've transcended into the red and gold miracles symbolizing continuity... the season's change. "It amazes me" how John, through his music, "Opened up (my) eyes to the wonders that (I) see", creating within me a revelation of nature so enduring "time can't erase." ================================================= JOHN DENVER W A N T A D S / F O R S A L E ================================================= Peter Salzer and Steve Kern do a Tribute to George Burns and John Denver in a show called "Oh, God! They're Back!" For booking information call 610-666-5755 or 610-329-8306 or email Peter at peter@peter-salzer.com http://www.peter-salzer.com / http://www.JohnDenverTribute.com - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Kimberly Bonine < ixchelyamanek@yahoo.com > Just before my husband, Ron, died, he received a guitar that he had custom made through the Guild Guitar Company. It took them almost three years to build it. The guitar was as close to JD's double sided pick guard guitar that he played in the mid 70's as Guild could get it. Ron didn't have long to play it and my daughter and I have decided to put it up for sale. http://www.musicfolk.com/ (Listing under Used Instruments) Guild Custom Shop F-50R "John Denver" copy Excellent Condition Hard Case $2800 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - "Poems, Prayers and Promises: The Art and Soul of John Denver" (Paperback) Piano-Vocal-Guitar Sheet Music Book $12.97 http://www.amazon.com - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Ebay: "Take Me Home, Country Roads" 24K gold-plated record, framed - Item #4893667030 - Ends 6-15-06 Kevin de la Paz < kevindelapaz@yahoo.ca > - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Events in Aspen - October 2006 http://www.john-denver.org/default.asp?nc=823&id=6 Starwood in Aspen - Linda E. http://www.freewebs.com/sweetdreamsplace/starwoodinaspen.html North Carolina Friends of John Denver http://www.ncfriendsofjd.com John Nielsen http://www.myspace.com/johnnielsen 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 2006 * Issue #146 * Editor: Emily M. Parris *************************************************************