============================================= *** 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 M A R C H 2 0 0 7 Editor: Emily M. Parris ================================================ http://www.rockymtnhigh.org * emily@parris.net ================================================ Table of Contents March 2007 * Issue #155 John Denver Events..........................2 "John Denver's Crash Site Could Get Memorial" - Monterey Herald...............5 "Rocky Mountain High" as State Song Denver Post...............................6 "I Am The Eagle" by Carole Romanowski.......7 "Christopher Westfall Returns to Aspen" by Judy Therrien.......................8 John Denver Notes...........................8 Poetry Corner "For John" by Will Schuck.................9 John Denver Want Ads.......................10 ======================================= J O H N D E N V E R E V E N T S ======================================= March 3, 2007 New York City - Carnegie Hall "Three Artists, Three Instruments, One Evening at Carnegie Hall" - $40 Pete Huttlinger, Chris Nole and Mollie Weaver 7:30pm Zankel Hall (212) 247-7800 * www.carnegiehall.org www.petehuttlinger.com / www.mollieweaver.com www.chrisnole.com March 3, 2007 - UK - Concert by Neil & Gill Sharman "10 Years On - Remembering John Denver" at Ossett Town Hall, Wakefield, West Yorkshire 7:30pm http://www.timberwolf-studios.com March 4, 2007 * Palm Desert, CA * Judy Lunn sings a Tribute to John Denver 2:00pm / 73-300 Fred Waring Drive / Admission is free but seating is limited. Call the Palm Desert Library 760-346-6552 x253 to reserve your seat. http://www.judylunn.com March 16, 2007 * Ijamsville, Maryland * The "Friends With You" Band (Mark Cormican, Chris Collins, Kevin Delmolino, Paul Swanton & Dave Howard) will perform a Tribute to John Denver. Info: Kevin Delmolino (301) 845-6120 March 17, 2007 * Buckeystown, Maryland * The "Friends With You" Band will perform a Tribute to John Denver. Info: Kevin Delmolino (301) 845-6120 March 31, 2007 * Roaring Springs, PA * Christopher Westfall in Concert - Roaring Springs Middle School 7:00pm Benefit for the Relay for Life: Breast Cancer Survivors. $12 (814) 224-5055 / Dawn cloverhill@peoplepc.com http://www.chriswestfall.com April 1, 2007 * Largo, Florida - "Rocky Mountain Memories" Concert, a Tribute to John Denver featuring Ron Rich and the Stone Tree band, shows at 2pm and 7pm at the Largo Cultural Center. Tickets $22 (727) 587-6793 www.largoarts.com April 14, 2007 * Houston, Texas * The "Friends With You" Band will perform a Tribute to John Denver. For more information contact Hollie Carter holliecwoodstock@aol.com April 28, 2007 - Altadena, CA - "The Earth Day Concert 2007" featuring Phil Christie, Mike Valentine, Ellen & Steve Stapenhorst 7:00pm - The Coffee Gallery Backstage, 2029 N. Lake / Altadena, CA $15 (626) 398-7917 www.philchristie.com * www.coffeegallery.com April 28, 2007 - Churchville, PA - "An Evening of John Denver and Chris Westfall Music" $10 requested donation Churchville Nature center / 501 Churchville Lane / Churchville, PA (215) 357-4005 http://www.churchvillenaturecenter.org April 28, 2007 * UK * In Concert: "Nickels & Dimes" from Holland at Walton Village Hall, Walton on the Hill, Stafford 7:30pm Tickets: L10 (including light refreshments) For tickets please send a sae and a cheque made payable to R. Gwilt to 29 Oldcroft Road, Walton on the Hill, Stafford ST17 OLS * < info@nickels-and-dimes.com > http://www.nickels-and-dimes.com May 4-5, 2007 * UK * Pete Huttlinger, Mack Bailey & Chris Nole in a 2-night special John Denver Tribute / Tickets: Check or cash to Jackie Freeman, Feet First, 53 High St., Stokesley, North Yorks, TS9 5AD include SAE Venue is Kirkby Church Hall, Kirkby in Cleveland, North Yorkshire (Near Stokesley) Info: 01642 713575 or 714061 May 12, 2007 - Atlanta, GA - The "Friends With You Band" has added a new concert to the tour. 7:30pm. Chris, Mark, Paul and Kevin will peform for the benefit of "Spirit of a Child Foundation." $20 UU Metro Atlanta North Church / 11420 Crabapple Road / Roswell, GA 30075 holliecwoodstock@aol.com or stephdubick@aol.com May 25, 2007 - Londonderry, NH - "Friends With You: A John Denver Tribute" 8:00pm Chris Collins, Mark Cormican, Kevin Delmolino and Paul Swanton will perform many of Denver's tunes as well as their own compositions. $15 Tupelo Music Hall * http://www.tupelohall.com * 888-688-7356 Info: Richard info@nhfjd.org August 18, 2007 * Estes Park, CO * Fourth Annual Estes Park John Denver Tribute Concert / Estes Park Fair Grounds / Fiddlin' Foresters 5:30pm / Brad and Kathy Fitch and the TropiCowboy Band 7:00pm $15 in advance $20 at the door Children 10 and under free http://www.cowboybrad.com August 31, 2007 - Vancouver, WA * Jim Curry's "Alaska and Me Cruise - 2007" * Join Jim and his guests (original JD band members and tour managers) on Holland America Line's Volendam sailing August 31, 2007 from Vancouver north to Anchorage, Alaska. debbie@odonnelltravel.com (800) 274-2453 / http://www.odonnelltravel.com http://www.john-denver.org/default.asp?nc=35868&id=507 September 1, 2007 * Fort Collins, CO / Brad and Kathy Fitch and the TropiCowboy Band 7:00pm Fort Collins Senior Center, 1200 Raintree Drive near the intersection of Drake and Shields. $15 (970) 221-6645 http://www.cowboybrad.com September 22, 2007 - UK - Concert by Neil & Gill Sharman plus Special Guest "10 Years On - Remembering John Denver" at the Wheatsheaf Co-Operative Theatre, Wyken, Coventry http://www.timnberwolf-studios.com October 10, 2007 * Aspen, CO * "Friends With You" Concert * Aspen Community Church / 200 E. Bleeker St / Aspen, CO 81611 * 7:30pm Tickets: $10 Send a check & SASE to Sharon Carr / PO Box 912 / Yucaipa, CA 92399 Band members: Mark Cormican, Chris Collins, Kevin Delmolino, Paul Swanton & Dave Howard. Info: alaskanchild@msn.com October 11, 2007 * Aspen, CO * John Willcox will present his 1970's John Denver video "Alaska: America's Child" and share photos taken during the filming at a fund-raising luncheon Pine Creek Cookhouse www.pinecreekcookhouse.com / More info - Jennifer: windwalker@samsco.org Note: ** This event is SOLD OUT ** October 11-13, 2007 - Aspen, CO - 10th Annual "A Musical Tribute to John Denver" - Wheeler Opera House Thursday, Friday, Saturday October 13, 2007 * Aspen, CO * "Let This Be A Voice" Concert / Lunch / Auction 9:30am - 2:30pm at the Mt. Chalet $25 for the lunch/concert/auction or $15 for just the auction and concert. eagleshorses@yahoo.com Send a check/m.o. & SASE to Pam Beasley / 721 Ravencroft Dr / Garland, TX 75043 Pam's email: firendsky@mac.com October 14, 2007 * Aspen, CO * John Adams and Friends - "Rocky Mountain High" - Wheeler Opera House 7:00pm Tickets: $20.00 and $35.00 (on sale July 2, 2007) at the Wheeler Box Office (970) 920-5770 Band members include: Guido Bos, Tom Paxton, Diane Ireland, Rusty Speigle, Dave Harding, and Randy Utterback. www.wheeleroperahouse.com October 14, 2007 - Aspen, CO - Christopher Westfall presents "A John Denver Musical Retrospective" - Mt. Challet Ballroom 8:00pm For tickets send SASE to: Tickets, CRW Concert c/o Judy Therrien / 12 Dunecrest Avenue / Monterey, CA 93940 * jht@spamarrest.com * www.chriswestfall.com October 26, 2007 * Annapolis, MD - "John Denver Musical Tribute Show" to benefit Maryland Therapeutic Riding http://www.horsesthatheal.org * mtrinfo@mtrinc.org December 15, 2007 - UK - FOJD "Denver Day" at Pershore, between Worcester and Evesham. http://www.fojd.org.uk Branson, MO - Monday thru Saturday 10:00am * NEW * "Rocky Mountain High: A Tribute to John Denver" James Garrett sings John Denver's best-loved hits. IMAX Little Opry Theatre / 3562 Shepherd of the Hills Expressway / Branson, MO 65616 (800) 419-4832 <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> "John Denver's Crash Site Could Get Memorial" Pacific Grove: Family, fans push city for plaque Monterey Herald By DANIA AKKAD Herald Staff Writer A permanent tribute to musician John Denver may soon be built on the shoreline near where his plane plummeted into Monterey Bay nearly 10 years ago. The Pacific Grove City Council has been asked by the California Friends of John Denver and Denver's family to place a memorial rock between Acropolis Street and Asilomar Avenue near Point Pinos. The request for a memorial has come before the city twice before. Soon after Denver's plane crashed Oct. 12, 1997, the City Council rejected a proposal. Some members said they didn't want Denver's death to attract tourists to the town. In 1999, the council changed course and approved the plaque, but plans were put on hold at the request of the singer's family, according to city officials. On Friday, Denver's older brother Ron Deutschendorf said he is "totally supportive" of the plaque and appreciates fans who gather each October at the spot in Pacific Grove. The group often walks along the coastline and performs beach cleanups. "I think it's a wonderful thing," Deutschendorf said. "It certainly honors John and what he believed in and talked so much about." Deutschendorf, who is the president and chairman of the board of Windstar Foundation, an environmental education organization Denver started, said he worked with an artist to create a likeness of his brother for the plaque. Deutschendorf said he hopes lyrics from Denver's "Windsong" will be on the plaque. "The Wind is the whisper of our mother the Earth. The Wind is the hand of our father of the sky. The wind watches over our struggles and pleasures," Deuschendorf sang over the phone. "It's a really pretty song. It has some beautiful lyrics that seemed appropriate." Deutschendorf stressed that the plaque is really the work of Denver's friends. "Everybody else is responsible for putting this together," he said. "I've just done my part to do it correctly." The California Friends of John Denver would pay for the plaque's installation and upkeep, according to a council report. When the council votes on the plaque, it will also decide whether to hold a plaque commemoration Sept. 23, 2007. City recreation director John Miller said Friday that the family requested that the plaque be unveiled before the anniversary of Denver's crash so that the focus is on his life, not on his death. Denver had lived in Carmel Highlands for about a year before his crash. Moe Ammar, executive director of the Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce, said at least two people a week call or come by his office searching for the site of the crash. Some want to say prayers. "We've had people from Australia, New Zealand and England," Ammar said. Ammar acknowledged that there's a certain sentiment that people don't want to commercialize the oceanfront, "but in this case, it's such a good cause. He's such a good person." "I just think that it's a good thing for the city," Miller said. "It's a good thing for the family to put closure on that and something also to remember John by. It was a very sad day in Pacific Grove when that happened." -------------------------------------------------------------- "'Rocky Mountain High' As State Song?" Denver Post 3/6/07 Aspen - A lawmaker wants to make John Denver's "Rocky Mountain High" Colorado's second state song, saying the official song just isn't as memorable. "You hear a few bars of John Denver and you recognize it" Democratic state Sen. Bob Hagedorn told the Aspen Daily News in today's editions. The current state song is a turn-of-the-century waltz, "Where the Columbines Grow" by A.J. Flynn. "That's not a song that a lot of Coloradans know or can hum the lyrics to said Hagedorn, who represents the Denver suburb of Aurora. Hagedorn wants to introduce legislation this month that would make "Rocky Mountain High" an official state song without displacing "Where The Columbines Grow". He said most of the copyright arrangements have been made and now he is trying to line up support in the state Senate and House. Denver, who lived in Aspen, died in a plane crash near Monterey, Calif., on October 12, 1997. His brother, Ron Deutschendorf, supports Hagedorn's idea, saying Denver would have been "proud and honored." "It's been discussed for a period of time, and this year is the 10 year anniversary of his accdient," Deutschendorf said. This is not the first attempt to supplement or change the state song. In November 1997, just one month after Denver's death, then fourth-grader Kari Neuman enlisted her classmates at Johnson Elementary School in Fort Collins in a letter-writing campaign to change the official state song to Denver's "Rocky Mountain High." The kids thought it reflected the state's heritage more than the official song. In February 1998, students from Kruse Elementary School in Fort Collins also weighed in, trying to change the song to "The Colorado Song", written in 1966 by the musical troupe "Up With People." No bills were introduced to change the song. <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> "I Am the Eagle.." by Carole Romanowski - whispjesse@aol.com Recently the Teatown Lake Reservation in Ossining, NY and 12 other organizations sponsored the NY State Hudson River Eaglefest which I had been to a few years ago and wanted to visit again! Nearly 400 bald eagles, mostly from Canada, winter there in the Lower Hudson Valley. My interest in this event developed from John Denver's autobiography, "Take Me Home", when John had his first experience holding an eagle. The eagle stared at him for 20 seconds - John felt the power in that look - as if the connection was "seeing into each other's spirit." When the eagle then closed his eyes - dismissing John! - John was humbled and learned to be "grounded by nature" from the experience. He subsequently wrote his song, "Eagle and the Hawk", and another eagle fan - me! - was born. From my visit, I learned the American bald eagle has recovered greatly since the '70's - statewide, 442 individual bald eagles were recorded and last year 112 breeding pairs - a record year for these creatures - and the eagle is likely to be removed from the federal Endangered Species List by June 29th of this year. A large part of this is due to the banning of DDT in 1972, a pesticide used by farmers and others which weakened eagle eggs to crack, lowering the number of the species being born. I also learned the proximity of humans and their activities near the species is at the center of a controversy over eagles' removal from the endangered list. The US Fish and Wildlife Service, which oversees most of the endangered species, is developing guidelines to allow people to properly use land where an eagle roosts, hunts or nests. This affects what developers can do in or near bald eagle habitats to prevent habitat loss. Eagles and their eggs, nests and feathers are fully protected, and taking, killing or possessing eagles is illegal. A representative from a nearby Raptor Center held a beautiful bald eagle for all of us to get a closer look - what a magnificent creature with it's white head, golden beak, and dark torso! Eagle fans also went outdoors with binoculars to spot perching eagles who, when seen, flew away - obviously not people fans! Thanks, John, for my interest in our nation's symbol. One of my dreams is to obtain a raptor glove and sport a bald eagle on my arm - and one day I will! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Emily's Eagle Page http://www.rockymtnhigh.org/eagle.html Eagle Cam at the Norfolk Botanical Gardens http://www.wvec.com/cams/eagle.html Protect Bald Eagles http://online.nwf.org/protectbaldeagles <+> <+> <+> <+> <+> <+> <+> "Christopher Westfall Returns to Aspen" by Judy Therrien The last time Christopher Westfall sang in Aspen was for the 5th John Denver tribute weekend 5 years ago. This year he will be there again singing at the "John Denver Musical Retrospective" on October 14, 2007 at the Mountain Chalet Ballroom. Chris has been performing since he was 15 years old for fans of John Denver and has moved so many with that fire behind his strong pure unique voice. Chris has wowed and mesmerized audiences from both sides of the country. He is an accomplished pianist as well as a skilled guitar player. This past summer, Chris cruised to Alaska and presented several concerts on the Sapphire Princess Cruise Line on their inner passage cruise. Each year, legions of loyal fans flock to First Night Haddonfield, NJ for his three concerts there. Recently, Christopher presented a huge concert to benefit Urban Promise, a ministry to help inner city children. Christopher's CD with Chris Nole, Pete Huttlinger and Jim Horn was released last year to rave reviews and is getting airplay across the country. http://www.chriswestfall.com ======================================= J O H N D E N V E R N O T E S ======================================= Grammy Award video clips include John at the 1978 Grammy Awards http://music.yahoo.com/promo-25023071-147-20051221- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The State of Colorado is considering making "Rocky Mountain High" its official state song. Colorado Governor, Bill Ritter, has a website: http://www.colorado.gov/governor/ Bill Ritter, Governor 136 State Capitol Denver, CO 80203 Email: Governor.ritter@state.co.us * 800-283-7215 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Jan Carter < jank56@yahoo.com > I read John's autobiography, "Take Me Home" quite a few years ago when it was first published and enjoyed it a lot. One day in a record store I happened to see "Take Me Home" as a recorded book read by John himself. I picked it up but didn't get around to listening to it 'til much later (on a road trip). It was amazing to hear John's own voice reading those words, with his inflection, and to hear his wonderful laugh. I was just delightful. It felt like he was right there. I highly recommend it if you can find the recording. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Helen Stanford < helen.stanford@gmail.com > With input from another JD fan, I've created a new forum/board called "Starwood," The Spirit of John Denver. http://starwood.proboards78.com/index.cgi It's a different type of venue, well-moderated and for all fans of John Denver. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - You can cast a vote for "Rocky Mountain High" to be the state song through the Denver Post: http://www.denverpost.com/ci_5360319?source=poll - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Christine Moon < fojdclub@fojd.org.uk > Those of you who attended our last Denver Day in November (2006) will know that it was decided to hold this year's autumn event a little later, both to avoid following too closely after people's return from Aspen, and to enable us to have something a little different - a themed Christmas event. So our Christmas Denver Day will be held on 15 December 2007. The day will be concluded with a special evening Christmas concert by our own Mark Robinson, featuring seasonal favourites that were included in John's Christmas concerts as well as some of Mark's own songs. http://www.fojd.org.uk - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For information on how to order the "Alaska: American Child" DVD please contact Jennifer Moore at windwalker@samsco.org Order forms will be available at the Aspen-in-October events at the Mountain Chalet. Note: Christine Moon of the Friends of JD in the UK provided the information, but she isn't the one handling the sale of the DVD's. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ======================================= J O H N D E N V E R P O E T R Y ======================================= For John by Will Schuck I'm going to a secret place That I've always known Where I see myself face to face And escape the self outgrown There, the sparrow sings of yesterday As the trees reach for tomorrow's sun, And neither lacks faith Nor say their day has come. There, John sees truth in eagle and star He sees forever from the mountaintops He knows the sun's twinkling rays Upon the water on a summer's day His voice is one crying in the wilderness Declaring the allness and beauty of One, While trying to understand what it means to love. John renewed me and now I long To understand that the soft raiment of serenity Is natural to man _____________________________ Copyright 1998 by Will Schuck ================================================= JOHN DENVER W A N T A D S / F O R S A L E ================================================= John Denver Band and the Columbia Orchestra - CD from the 2005 John Denver Tribute concert recorded at Maryland Hall in Annapolis, MD $20 (plus $2.50 s/h) "Flying Again" 827 Coachway Annapolis, MD 21401 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The cd "The Essential John Denver" was released on February 27, 2007. $19.97 at http://www.amazon.com - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Steve Kern http://JohnDenverTribute.com Murphy's Law in Action (mentions John's accident) www.americanscientist.org/template/AssetDetail/assetid/54759 "The Gift You Are" on Youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfAlp8rrfdY From "John Denver and the Ladies" http://www.higherground.nl/JohnDenver/JD-Ladies.wmv A Night of Stars http://home.wanadoo.nl/mtenbrug/denver/ 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 March 2007 * Issue #155 * Editor: Emily M. Parris *************************************************************