============================================= *** 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 May 2005 Editor: Emily M. Parris ================================================ http://www.rockymtnhigh.org * emily@parris.net ================================================ Table of Contents May 2005 * Issue #133 John Denver Events.......................1 Aspen in October Events................4 "'Almost Heaven' Is Almost Heavenly" The Birmingham News 4/29/05.........5 What I Do In Honor of John Denver........6 John Denver Notes........................7 John Denver Poetry: "Tune of Time" by Cynthia Gullage......9 Want Ads / For Sale.....................10 <<<<< * >>>>> ======================================= J O H N D E N V E R E V E N T S ======================================= May 1 & 3-8, 2005 - Birmingham, Alabama - "Almost Heaven" - Summerfest Cabaret Theatre / 301 19th St. North. / A musical tribute to the life and music of John Denver. (205) 324-2424 7:30pm http://summerfest.org info@summerfest.org May 3-7 - 7:30pm / May 1 & May 8 - 2:00pm May 6, 2005 - Kent, OH - Pete Huttlinger in concert with Brian Henke and Michael Kelsey / The Kent Stage / 175 East Main Street / Kent, OH 44240 * $15 http://www.kentstage.org (330) 677-5005 May 7, 2005 - Natick, MA - Pete Huttlinger in concert $18 Center for Arts in Natick / 14 Summer Street / Natick, MA 01760 http://www.natickarts.org (508) 647-0097 May 14, 2005 - Los Angeles, CA - John Prine in Concert / Wilshire Theatre * http://www.ticketmaster.com May 19, 2005 - Columbia, MD "The Hard Travelers 20th Anniversary Reunion Benefit for the M.U.S.E. Foundation" Howard County Community College - Smith Theatre 7:30pm 410-825-7331 $40 (VIP $100) donnamyoung@comcast.net Guests John Sommers, Chris Nole and Pete Huttlinger http://www.musicunites.com * 1-888-384-5054 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. 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 Info: silkentreasures2000@juno.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 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 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 barbeque. 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 October 7, 2005 - Carbondale, CO - Mark Robinson Concert - Steve's Guitars $10 8:30pm www.markrobinsonmusic.com <+> <+> <+> <+> <+> <+> <+> ================ ASPEN IN OCTOBER ================ October 6, 2005 - Aspen, CO - Work detail at the John Denver Sanctuary 8:30am - Noon / 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 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 9:00am - 4:00pm * Campfire 6:00pm / < Apokey1@aol.com > 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 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 > * * * * * "'Almost Heaven' Is Almost Heavenly" April 29, 2005 * The Birmingham News by Alec Harvey "Almost Heaven" is an odd little musical. "Subtitled "The Songs and Stories of John Denver," the Summerfest Cabaret Theatre production scores big in the songs department, but the stories surrounding them fall just about as flat as they possibly can. Like so many other musical revues, "Almost Heaven" takes some wonderful songs - Denver wrote and recorded some of the most memorable music of the 1970s - but doesn't really know what to do between them. So what we get is a loose, stilted narrative of Denver's journey from part of a folk trio to his death in 1997 in a plane crash. Along the way, six wonderful singers tackle Denver's earnest, often lulling, songs. Broadway veteran Jim Newman is kind of, sort of John Denver, as are Jonathan Shade and Michael Stephens. They're joined by Kristi Tingle Higginbotham, Lani Meek and Lexie Dorsett, a Mountain Brook High School junior who stepped into the cast at the last minute but more than holds her own with her more seasoned cohorts. What should work here, does work here: Newman's rollicking "Thank God, I'm A Country Boy," Higginbotham's "Take Me Home, Country Roads" and "Sunshine On My Shoulders," and Shade's soaring "Calypso" are all highlights, as are Stephens' fresh take on "Rocky Mountain High," Meek's crystal clear "Poems, Prayers and Promises" and Dorsett's assured "Leaving on a Jet Plane." They are all backed up by a talented quintet of musicians led by Derek Jackson. Were the night just filled with song, "Almost Heaven" would be almost perfect. Instead, it's strung together by some inane dialogue that tries to patch it all together. Only Meek, who plays a woman who writes fan letters to Denver at different stages in her life, is given dialogue that really connects with the audience, and she makes the most of it. Thankfully, though, Denver's songs win out, and that's really what folks are coming to hear. "Almost Heaven" would work better if it didn't try to be anything more than a talented group singing John Denver's songs. ========================== WHAT I DO IN HONOR OF JOHN ========================== David Puckett - Ellijay, GA One of the ways I remember John's legacy is by putting some of my favorite lyrics on bumper stickers. I thought of this idea after a trip to Colorado and seeing a sticker that said Rocky Mountain High. I found a WEB site that will let you print a sticker with anything you choose and the cost is reasonable. I have two stickers on my Pathfinder. One says "I had rather live on the side of a mountain, than wander through canyons of concrete and steel." The other says "They try to tear the mountains down, to bring in a couple more, more people, more scars upon the land." I have had several comments on these stickers, some who just agree with the stickers, and others who know they are John's lyrics. The web site is: http://www.makestickers.com - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Jean Kendle - Mishakawa, IN I wanted to share with you a few of the things I have been doing since October 1997 to introduce John's music to others. I send videos and cds to my local schools so that young people will have a chance to enjoy John's music. When April and Earth Day comes up, I send out the "Let This Be A Voice" video and a cd with "Amazon" and "Earth Day" on it. I have covered about 15 of our local grade schools. I send these packets to the Principal, and ask him to decide which teacher would be the most appropriate to give them to for the Earth Day activities. I feel if we could just expose the children to his music we have a chance of his music and messages living on. I have also supplied all the different videos available ("Oh God", "Foxfire", "Let This Be A Voice", "Wildlife Concert", "JD - A Portrait" and "Montana Christmas Skies") to every public library within a 20 mile radius of my home. That way people can go in and check them out. Many people don't know so many videos are available. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ======================================= J O H N D E N V E R N O T E S ======================================= See the World Family of John Denver page for Aspen in October Events. http://www.john-denver.org - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - On April 30, 2005 Tom Boyd sang a Tribute to John Denver at the Paradise Performing Arts Center in Paradise, California. http://www.paradisedirect.com/ppac Under the "Events" schedule they still have information listed about the concert. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The coach at Ohio University reports that her Lacrossee team has an obsession with John Denver. In an interview she said..."When I walk into the locker room, the team is dancing to John Denver, God help them. I'd like to think they have better tastes than that, but that's what I walk into every game day." The Post Online: http://thepost.baker.ohiou.edu - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Jean Kendle < jbk944@yahoo.com > 4-23-05 On a radio talk show hosted by Laura Ingraham, she started a segment with JD singing "Leaving On A Jet Plane." Last night on NBC Dateline, a segment about West Virginia started with John singing, of course, "Take Me Home, Country Roads." - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - In Minnesota the employees of Touchstone Energy Cooperative are volunteering to spruce up MN State Parks. On May 7th, with rakes, clippers, trash bags and paint brushes in hand they will pick up litter, brush trails, plant trees and paint facilities in 18 state parks. This is their sixth year. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Gregory Wilson has a Live Journal with poetry and comments on John. It has poetry by Cynthia Gullage, Carole Romanowski, Elisabeth Straus, and Emily Parris. http://www.livejournal.com/users/wilsons101/ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Christopher Canyon presented a slide show and spoke to students at East Knox Elementary School in Mt. Vernon, Ohio. He spoke on the process of designing and illustrating a book, and he and the students sang "Sunshine On My Shoulders" at the end of the presentation. He also spoke at Fredericktown Primary School. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - On 5-8-05 The Denver Post reported that... " 'Almost Heaven: Songs and Stories of John Denver' completed its first production outside of Denver on Saturday. It was performed by the Summerfest Musical Theatre in Birmingham, Alabama, and starred Denver's Denver - Jim Newman, also an alum of that company." Editor's Note: That wasn't actually true because "Almost Heaven" was produced in Missouri at the Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre in 2004. It was nice to have the play mentioned, though. Here is the url to the theatre in Missouri: http://www.lyceumtheatre.org They don't seem to have a list of their past productions online, but their lobby is filled with the playbills for productions that span decades. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Members of the North Carolina Friends of John Denver had a great time at their Annual Spring Camp-out (April 22nd-24th) and their Earth Day Celebration at the North Carolina Zoo (April 16, 2005). To read about it and see pictures go to http://www.ncfriendsofjd.com/2005-May-Newsletter.html - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Jean Kendle < jbk944@yahoo.com > Reader's Digest has another 75 song collection called "Country Roads, America in Story and Song" and John's song is the first one and his picture (when he was very young) is in the advertising. What's amazing is that it's all "country" songs, and they could have picked any one of the other 74 songs for the title, but they chose his! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - There is a newly formed group for the Western Slope of Colorado. It is called "Peaceful Spirit Windstar Connection". For more information contact Georgiann McDaniel at RockyMtnHaven1@msn.com or go their website at www.geocities.com/johnshelper/PeacefulSpirit.index.html - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - I just received a Vacation Planner for Spring, Summer and Fall for 2005 from Aspen/Snowmass. It is nice to see they are recognizing the week of 10/6 - 10/10 as John Denver Week. I can hardly believe this year will be the 8th year of the tributes in Aspen and the 9th year since John's untimely death. I still miss him. Barbara < wanderingsoul@warpdriveonline.com > - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Billy Dean's cover of John Denver's "Thank God I'm A Country Boy" climbed the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart and peaked at No. 27. http://www.billydean.com - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ======================================= J O H N D E N V E R P O E T R Y ======================================= Tune of Time by Cynthia Helen Gullage Moonlight on my window pane, Reflections of the man, Who took us on A Rocky Mountain High. Star-shine mirrored on a lake Draws forth a memory. I never got the chance To say "Good-bye". Rainbows in a waterfall, The mist upon the moors, The wheel keeps turning To the tune of time. Aspens swaying in the breeze, Footprints in the sand, I cannot find The reason in the rhyme. Snow-caps tow'ring high above A field of columbines, The echo of a song Heard long ago Fishes, silvered, in a stream O'ershadowed by the pines. I cannot help but say "I miss him so". Moonlight on my window pane, Reflections of the man, Who wanted everyone To be a friend. I know he's found a place of peace, A realm beyond compare. Sometimes a new beginning's In the end _______________________________________ Copyright 2005 by Cynthia Helen Gullage ================================================= JOHN DENVER W A N T A D S / F O R S A L E ================================================= Phil Christie's cd "Summerstown" is available for digital download at iTunes. The entire album can be downloaded for $9.99. http://www.apple.com/itunes - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Mary Ledford reports that you can get a nice green / mountains with white lettering of a bumper sticker, "Rocky Mountain High" from: All American Goods 214 Ten Mile Circle, Unit A Copper Mountain, CO 80443 1-970-968-2211 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Nina's Discount Oldies has 7-inch vinyl recordings of John Denver Songs. P.O. Box 77 / Narberth, PA 19072 / Call 1-800-336-4627 for a catalog. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Please email any news, poetry, articles or information for the RMH Newsletter to emily@parris.net - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The Mitchell Trio "Alive" CD is available from Collector's Choice Music. $12.95 Catalog # WWCCM0547x http://www.ccmusic.com * 1-800-993-6344 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Mary Ledford I still have 14 programs left from the show this past December 31, 2004 in Scottsdale, AZ. This is a fund raiser for Expect A Miracle Now Foundation. $5 check payable to the Foundation and one payable to me for postage $1.00/program; $.50 each additional. Mary Ledford 139 Watkins Mill Road - Apt. F Gaithersburg, MD 20879 We've raised $107.50 so far. Many thanks! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - John Denver Art www.jimmybell.net/bellringer/art/johndenver.html EcoFlight www.ecoflight.info/whatsup.html John Denver Photos by Chris Walter http://www.photofeatures.com/johndenver/ M.U.S.E. Foundation http://www.musicunites.com In Loving Memory of John Denver http://www.kerstinsiewek.de/ To unsubscribe from RMH send an email (from the account you want to unsubscribe) to rockymountainhigh-unsubscribe@emissives.com To subscribe to RMH send an email (from the account you want to subscribe) to rockymountainhigh-subscribe@emissives.com If you have any problems with the above write to me at emily@parris.net ************************************************************* Rocky Mountain High: The John Denver Internet Fan Club emily@parris.net http://www.rockymtnhigh.org May 2005 * Issue #133 * Editor: Emily M. Parris *************************************************************