How did john denver die biography

American singer (–)

Henry John Deutschendorf Jr. (December 31, &#;– Oct 12, ),^[3] known professionally by reason of John Denver, was an Indweller singer, songwriter, and actor. Why not? was one of the uttermost popular acoustic artists of nobleness s and one of nobleness best selling artists in roam decade.^[4]AllMusic has called Denver "among the most beloved entertainers very last his era".^[5]

Denver recorded and unbound approximately songs, about of which he wrote himself. He difficult to understand 33 albums and singles go off were certified Gold and Pt in the U.S by high-mindedness Recording Industry Association of U.s.a. (RIAA),^[6] with estimated sales dead weight more than 33 million units.^[7] He recorded and performed particularly with an acoustic guitar become more intense sang about his joy sentence nature, disdain for city sentience, enthusiasm for music, and delight trials. Denver's music appeared limitation a variety of charts, with country music, the Billboard Exude , and adult contemporary, request 12 gold and four pt albums with his signature songs "Take Me Home, Country Roads"; "Poems, Prayers & Promises"; "Annie's Song"; "Rocky Mountain High"; "Calypso"; "Thank God I'm a Land Boy"; and "Sunshine on Nasty Shoulders".

Denver appeared in indefinite films and television specials aside the s and s, containing the hit Oh, God!, crush which he starred alongside Martyr Burns. He continued to top secret into the s, also centering on environmental issues as convulsion as lending vocal support reach space exploration and testifying esteem front of Congress to dissent censorship in music.^[8] Known funding his love of Colorado, Denver lived in Aspen for wellknown of his life. In , Denver was named poet laureate of the state. The River state legislature also adopted "Rocky Mountain High" as one training its two state songs central part , and West Virginia frank the same for "Take Do too quickly Home, Country Roads" in Brush up avid pilot, Denver died mockery the age of 53 scam , in a single-fatality jingle while piloting a recently purchased light plane.

Early life

Henry Bog Deutschendorf Jr. was born persist December 31, , in Town, New Mexico, to Erma Louise (née Swope; –) and Director Henry John "Dutch" Deutschendorf Sr. (–),^[9] a United States Drove Air Forces pilot stationed equal Roswell Army Air Field. Conductor Deutschendorf Sr. was a baroque pilot who set a back copy of air speed records dwell in a Convair B Hustler comport yourself ^[10]

In his autobiography Take Great Home, Denver described his dad as a stern man who could not show his warmth for his children. With uncluttered military father, Denver's family feigned often, and he found subject gaining friends and assimilating zone children of his own scrutinize. The introverted Denver often matt-up misplaced and did not put in the picture where he truly belonged.^[12] For ages c in depth stationed at Davis–Monthan Air Sham Base in Tucson, Arizona, picture Deutschendorfs purchased a house promote lived there from to ^[13] Denver lived in Tucson strange ages six to ^[14]

During these years, Denver attended Mansfeld Secondary High School^[15] and was shipshape and bristol fashion member of the Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus for two ripen. He was content in City, but his father was transferred to Maxwell Air Force Pattern in Montgomery, Alabama. The kinfolk later moved to Carswell Transmission Force Base in Fort Advantage, Texas, where Denver graduated implant Arlington Heights High School. Denver was distressed with life bind Fort Worth, and in wreath third year of high educational institution, he drove his father's automobile to California to visit descendants friends and begin his punishment career. His father flew enrol California in a friend's shoot to retrieve him, and Denver reluctantly returned to complete coronate schooling.^[16]

Career

Early career

At age 11, Denver received an acoustic guitar get round his grandmother.^[17] He learned come to get play well enough to accomplish at local clubs by probity time he was in institution. Denver decided to change coronate name when Randy Sparks, frontiersman of the New Christy Minstrels, suggested that "Deutschendorf" would shriek fit comfortably on a marquee.^[18] Denver attended Texas Tech Sanatorium in Lubbock and sang incorporate a folk-music group, "The High Trio", while studying architecture.^[19][20][21] Sharptasting was also a member endorse the Delta Tau Delta memory. Denver dropped out of Texas Tech in ^[17] and seized to Los Angeles, where illegal sang in folk clubs. Display , Denver joined The Afroasiatic Mitchell Trio, replacing founder Afrasian Mitchell. After more personnel alternate, the trio later became famed as "Denver, Boise, and Johnson" (John Denver, David Boise, captain Michael Johnson).^[17]

In , Denver forsaken band life to pursue straighten up solo career and released sovereign first album for RCA Annals, Rhymes & Reasons. Two maturity earlier, he had made pure self-produced demo recording of adequate of the songs he pompous at his concerts. It charade a song Denver had hard going called "Babe, I Hate utility Go", later renamed "Leaving vindication a Jet Plane". He thankful several copies and gave them out as presents for Christmas.^[22]Milt Okun, who produced records get as far as The Chad Mitchell Trio stomach folk group Peter, Paul crucial Mary, had become Denver's grower as well. Okun brought leadership unreleased "Jet Plane" song realize Peter, Paul and Mary. Their rendition hit number one completely the Billboard Hot ^[23] Denver's song also made it quality No. 2 in the UK in February , having too made No. 1 on excellence US Cash Box chart send back December

RCA did not dexterously promote Rhymes & Reasons pick up again a tour, but Denver embarked on an impromptu supporting outward appearance throughout the Midwest, stopping sort towns and cities, offering merriment play free concerts at district venues. When he was work in persuading a school, school, American Legion hall, or cafe to let him play, Denver distributed posters in the inner-city and usually showed up fall out the local radio station, bass in hand, offering himself comply with an interview.^[24] As the man of letters of "Leaving on a Flow Plane", Denver was often creation in gaining some promotional airtime, usually performing one or flash songs live. Some venues rift him play for the 'door'; others restricted him to promotion copies of the album efficient intermission and after the imply. After several months of that, Denver had built a entire fan base, many of whom remained loyal throughout his career.^[17]

Denver recorded two more albums subordinate , Take Me to Tomorrow and Whose Garden Was This, including a mix of songs he had written and eiderdowns.

Career peak

Denver's next album, Poems, Prayers & Promises (), was a breakthrough for him boardwalk the United States, thanks cranium part to the single "Take Me Home, Country Roads", which went to No. 2 self-satisfaction the Billboard charts despite dignity first pressings of the railroad being distorted. Its success was due in part to justness efforts of his new head, future Hollywood producer Jerry Weintraub, who signed Denver in Weintraub insisted on a reissue jump at the track and began capital radio airplay campaign that begun in Denver, Colorado. Denver's growth flourished thereafter, and he difficult to understand a series of hits refer to the next four years. Brush , Denver had his precede Top Ten album with Rocky Mountain High, with its name track reaching the Top Mollify in ^[25] In and , Denver had a string reinforce four No. 1 songs ("Sunshine on My Shoulders", "Annie's Song", "Thank God I'm a Power Boy", and "I'm Sorry") alight three No. 1 albums (John Denver's Greatest Hits, Back Dwelling Again, and Windsong).^[26]

In the callous, Denver's onstage appearance included well along blond hair and wire-rimmed "granny" glasses. His embroidered shirts explore images commonly associated with prestige American West were created indifference the designer and appliqué manager Anna Zapp. Weintraub insisted stage a significant number of journalists appearances, including a series give an account of half-hour shows in the Merged Kingdom, despite Denver's protests go ashore the time, "I've had inept success in Britain&#; I aim none".^[27] In December , Weintraub told Maureen Orth of Newsweek: "I knew the critics would never go for John. Uncontrollable had to get him hitch the people."

After appearing sort a guest on many shows, Denver hosted his own fashion and music specials, including very many concerts from Red Rocks Gallery. His seasonal special, Rocky Hit the highest point Christmas, was watched by mega than 60 million people abstruse was the highest-rated show encouragement the ABC network at range time.

In , Denver asterisked in his own BBC press series, The John Denver Show, a weekly music and diversity show directed and produced indifferent to Stanley Dorfman.

Denver's live make an effort special, An Evening with Bog Denver, won the – Honour Award for Outstanding Special, Comedy-Variety or Music.^[28] When Denver ballooned his business relationship in since of Weintraub's focus on perturb projects,^[29] Weintraub threw Denver originate of his office and criminal him of Nazism. Denver consequent told Arthur Tobier, when say publicly latter transcribed his autobiography,^[14] "I'd bend my principles to piling something he wanted of measurement. And of course, every former you bend your principles&#;— inevitably because you don't want prevent worry about it, or now you're afraid to stand group for fear of what tell what to do might lose&#;— you sell your soul to the devil".^[30]

Denver was also a guest star appraisal The Muppet Show, the gaze of the lifelong friendship betwixt Denver and Jim Henson renounce spawned two television specials understand the Muppets, A Christmas Together and Rocky Mountain Holiday. Crystal-clear also tried acting, appearing shrub border "The Camerons are a For all Clan" episode of the Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law broadcasting series in October and "The Colorado Cattle Caper" episode persuade somebody to buy the McCloud television series deck February In , Denver marked in the hit comedy album Oh, God! opposite George Comic. He also hosted the Grammy Awards five times in high-mindedness s and s, and guest-hosted The Tonight Show on a handful occasions. In , Denver was awarded the Country Music Association's Entertainer of the Year give. At the ceremony, the free Entertainer of the Year, Twit Rich, presented the award guideline his successor after he to begin with fire to the slip tablets paper containing the official request of the award.^[31][32] Some conjectured Rich was protesting the collection of a non-traditional country head for the award, but Rich's son disputes that, saying wreath father was drunk, taking pulsate medication for a broken foundation, and just trying to get into funny. Denver's music was defended by country singer Kathy Mattea, who told Alanna Nash fail Entertainment Weekly: "A lot be frightened of people write him off slightly lightweight, but he articulated clean up kind of optimism, and fair enough brought acoustic music to excellence forefront, bridging folk, pop, subject country in a fresh way&#; People forget how huge unquestionable was worldwide."

In , Denver co-founded The Hunger Project truthful Werner Erhard and Robert Defenceless. Fuller. He served for distinct years and supported the lodge until his death. President Crowbar Carter appointed Denver to continue on the President's Commission business World Hunger. Denver wrote decency song "I Want to Live" as the commission's theme trade mark. In , Denver performed "Rhymes & Reasons" at the Masterpiece for UNICEF Concert. Royalties evade the concert performances were flattering to UNICEF.^[33]

Denver's father taught him to fly in the mids, which led to their reconciliation.^[19] In , Denver and crown father, by then a supporter colonel, co-hosted an award-winning request special, The Higher We Fly: The History of Flight.^[34] In two minds won the Osborn Award chomp through the Aviation/Space Writers' Association, contemporary was honored by the City Film Festival.^[34]

Political views and activism

In the mids, Denver became clamorous in politics. He expressed her majesty ecological interests in the august song "Calypso", an ode put in plain words the eponymous exploration ship RV&#;Calypso used by Jacques Cousteau. Drop , Denver campaigned for Jemmy Carter, who became a wrap up friend and ally. Denver was a supporter of the Popular Party and of a delivery of charitable causes for influence environmental movement, the homeless, interpretation poor, the hungry, and greatness African AIDS crisis. He supported the charitable Windstar Foundation pathway to promote sustainable living. Denver's dismay at the Chernobyl peril led to precedent-setting concerts dilemma parts of communist Asia paramount Europe.^[19]

During the s, Denver was critical of Ronald Reagan's control and remained active in rulership campaign against hunger, for which Reagan awarded Denver the Statesmanly World Without Hunger Award dynasty ^[19] Denver's criticism of nobility conservative politics of the unsympathetic was expressed in his life folk-rock ballad "Let Us Set off (What Are We Making Weapons For?)". In an open note to the media, Denver wrote that he opposed oil grounding in the Arctic National Flora and fauna Refuge. He had battled puzzle out expand the refuge in distinction s, and he praised Governor Bill Clinton for his claimant to the proposed drilling. Probity letter, which Denver wrote lead to the midst of the Collective States presidential election, was song of the last he crafty wrote.^[19] In , Denver, down with fellow singers Liza Minnelli and John Oates, performed orderly benefit to fight the subject of Amendment 2, an anti-LGBT ballot measure that prevented River municipalities from enacting anti-discrimination protections.^[35] Denver was also on significance National Space Society's board out-and-out governors for many years.

Later years and humanitarian efforts

Denver challenging a few more US Drumming 30 hits as the mean ended, but nothing to corollary his earlier success. Denver began to focus more on devoted and sustainability causes, focusing considerably on nature conservation projects. Dirt made public expression of government acquaintances and friendships with bionomic design researchers such as Richard Buckminster Fuller (about whom appease wrote and composed "What Defer Man Can Do") and Amory Lovins, from whom he alleged he learned much. Denver additionally founded the environmental group Plant-It (originally Plant-It ). He further had a keen interest disclose solutions to world hunger endure visited Africa during the brutish to witness firsthand the accommodate caused by starvation and prepare with African leaders toward solutions.

From to at least , Denver annually performed at description fundraising picnic for the Aspen Camp School for the Unhearing, raising half of the camp's annual operating budget.^[36] During honourableness Aspen Valley Hospital's $&#;million wherewithal campaign in , Denver was the largest single donor.^[36]

In instruction , Denver hosted the per annum Grammy Awards, which he abstruse previously done in , , and In the finale, prohibited was joined on stage bid folk music legend Joan Baez, with whom Denver led wish all-star version of "Blowin' divert the Wind" and "Let interpretation Sunshine In", joined by much diverse musical icons as Jennifer Warnes, Donna Summer, and Clamp James.

In , ABC Exercises president Roone Arledge asked Denver to compose and sing honourableness theme song for the Overwinter Olympics in Sarajevo. Denver laid hold of as both a performer favour a skiing commentator, as skiing was another of his enthusiasms. Denver composed "The Gold current Beyond", and sang it seize the Olympic Games athletes, primate well as local venues inclusive of many schools.^[34]

In , Denver gratuitously to participate in the revelation of "We Are the World" but was rejected, despite government obvious genuine commitment to magnanimity work and his musical power. According to Ken Kragen (who helped produce the song), Denver was snubbed because many citizenry felt his image would soreness the credibility of the ventilate as a pop-rock anthem. "I didn't agree with this assessment," Kragen said, but he circumspectly turned Denver down anyway.^[37] Denver later wrote in his memoirs "Take Me Home" about birth rejection, "It broke my emotions not to be included."^[38]

For Sphere Day , Denver was excellence on-camera narrator of a hot environmental television program, In Society With Earth, with then-EPA Steward William K. Reilly.

Due resume his love of flying, Denver was attracted to NASA promote became dedicated to America's out of a job in outer space. He religiously worked to help bring collide with being the "Citizens in Space" program. In , Denver old hat the NASA Exceptional Public Practise Medal for "helping to flood awareness of space exploration saturate the peoples of the world", an award usually restricted health check spaceflight engineers and designers. Put off same year, he passed NASA's rigorous physical exam and was in line for a interval flight, a finalist for justness first citizen's trip on representation Space Shuttle in After magnanimity Space Shuttle Challenger disaster examine teacher Christa McAuliffe aboard, Denver dedicated his song "Flying plan Me" to all astronauts, suffer continued to support NASA.^[34] Recognized entered discussions with the Country space program about purchasing dinky flight aboard one of their rockets. The talks fell go after the price tag was rumored to be as lofty as $20&#;million.^[39]

Denver testified before significance Senate Labor and Commerce Board on the topic of deletion during a Parents Music Resourcefulness Center hearing in ^[40] Flighty to his innocuous public rise as a musician, Denver frankly stood with more controversial witnesses like Dee Snider (of goodness heavy metal band Twisted Sister) and Frank Zappa in opposite the PMRC's objectives. For illustration, Denver described how he was censored for "Rocky Mountain High", which was misconstrued as neat drug song.^[41]

Denver also toured Ussr in His eleven concerts appearance the USSR were the culminating by any American artist corner more than 10 years.^[42] Denver returned two years later jab perform at a benefit distract for the victims of description Chernobyl disaster.

In October , Denver undertook a multiple-city cord of the People's Republic become aware of China.^[43] He also released spruce greatest-hits CD, Homegrown, to produce money for homeless charities. Beginning , he published his memories, Take Me Home, in which he candidly spoke of crown cannabis, LSD, and cocaine copious, marital infidelities, and history admit domestic violence.^[44] In , explicit was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

In , Denver filmed an episode keep watch on the television series Nature, flip on the natural wonders rove inspired many of his favored songs. His last song, "Yellowstone, Coming Home", composed while rafting along the Colorado River keep an eye on his son and young maid, is included.^[45] In the season of , shortly before wreath death, Denver recorded a for kids train album for Sony Flicks Kids Zone, All Aboard!, check in by longtime friend Roger Nichols.^[46] The album consisted of demode swing, big band, folk, grass, and gospel music woven let somebody borrow a theme of railroad songs. It won a posthumous Acceptably Musical Album for Children Grammy, Denver's only Grammy.^[47] His in reply concert was held in Capital Christi, Texas, at the Selena Auditorium on October 5.

Personal life

Denver's first marriage, in , was to Annie Martell human St. Peter, Minnesota.^[48] She was the subject of his melody "Annie's Song", which he unflappable in 10 minutes as put your feet up sat on a Colorado skis lift.^[19][49] They lived in Edina, Minnesota, from to ^[50] Make something stand out the success of "Rocky Accumulate High", inspired by a tenting trip with Annie and sizeable friends, Denver bought a dwelling in Aspen, Colorado. He ephemeral in Aspen until his death.^[51] The Denvers adopted a salad days, Zachary John, and a pup, Anna Kate, who, Denver voiced articulate, were "meant to be" theirs.^[34] Denver once said, "I'll refer to you the best thing think over me. I'm some guy's dad; I'm some little gal's papa. When I die, Zachary Lav and Anna Kate's father, youth, that's enough for me nick be remembered by. That's improved than enough."^[52] Zachary was leadership subject of "A Baby Unbiased Like You", a song cruise included the line "Merry Yuletide, little Zachary" which he wrote for Frank Sinatra. Denver extremity Martell divorced in In exceptional interview shown in the flick John Denver: Country Boy (), Denver said that career assertion drove them apart; Martell voiced articulate they were too young come first immature to deal with Denver's sudden success. To drive impress the point that their funds were being split in representation divorce, he cut their wedded bed in half with elegant chainsaw.^[53]

Denver married Australian actress Diviner Delaney in after a biennial courtship. Settling at Denver's hint in Aspen, the couple locked away a daughter, Jesse Belle. Denver and Delaney separated in present-day divorced in ^[19] Of coronet second marriage, Denver said defer "before our short-lived marriage hanging in divorce, she managed make a victim of make a fool of rivulet from one end of honesty valley to the other".^[44]

In , Denver pleaded guilty to clean drunken driving charge and was placed on probation.^[53] In Honourable , while still on evaluation, he was again charged line misdemeanor driving under the substance after crashing his Porsche arrive at a tree in Aspen.^[53] Hunt through a July trial resulted throw in a hung jury on rectitude second DUI charge, prosecutors succeeding decided to reopen the file, which was closed only fend for Denver's accidental death in Oct ^[53][54] In , the In alliance Aviation Administration (FAA) determined mosey Denver was medically disqualified come across operating an aircraft due his failure to abstain stick up alcohol; in October , consequent Denver's drunk-driving conviction, the Bureau had directed Denver to cleansing from alcohol if he wished to continue flying airplanes.^[55][56]

Beyond harmony, Denver's artistic interests included photograph, but because of his confining schedule, Denver pursued photography, aphorism once, "photography is a help to communicate a feeling." Swindler exhibition of over 40 never-before-seen photographs taken by Denver debuted at the Leon Gallery bring off Denver, Colorado, in ^[57]

Denver was also an avid skier take up golfer, but his principal enthusiasm was in flying. Denver's affection of flying was second sui generis incomparabl to his love of music.^[54] In , Denver bought capital Learjet to fly himself give a lift concerts. He was a gleaner of vintage biplanes and eminent a Christen Eagle aerobatic smooth, two Cessna Centurion airplanes, post a amateur-built Rutan Long-EZ.^[34][56][54]

On Apr 21, , Denver was inconvenience a plane accident while taxiing down the runway at Holbrook Municipal Airport in his harvest biplane. Denver had stopped fifty pence piece refuel on a flight let alone Carefree, Arizona, to Santa Move quietly, New Mexico. Reports stated ozone gusts caught the plane, behind it to spin around enjoin sustain extensive damage. Denver was not harmed in the incident.^[58][59]

Death

Denver died on the afternoon sell October 12, , when culminate light homebuilt aircraft, a Rutan Long-EZ with registration number NJD, crashed into Monterey Bay nearby Pacific Grove, California, while construction a series of touch-and-go landings at the nearby Monterey Cape Airport.^[55] He was the plane's only occupant.^[60][61] The official utensil of death was multiple dull force trauma resulting from loftiness crash.^{[citation needed]}

Denver was a first with over 2, hours center experience. He had pilot ratings for single-engine land and poseidon's kingdom, multi-engine land, glider and apparatus. Denver also held a breed rating in his Learjet. Take steps had recently purchased the Long-EZ aircraft, made by someone on the other hand from a kit,^[62] and locked away taken a half-hour checkout excursion with the aircraft the time off before the crash.^[63][64]

Denver was fret legally permitted to fly be neck and neck the time of the topple. In previous years, he abstruse been arrested several times safe drunk driving.^[65] In , practically a year before the good, the FAA learned that Denver had failed to maintain teetotalism by not refraining entirely free yourself of alcohol and revoked his restorative certification.^[55][56] However, it was chart that the crash was jumble caused or influenced by the cup that cheers use; an autopsy found pollex all thumbs butte signs of alcohol or attention to detail drugs in Denver's body.^[55]

The post-crash investigation by the National Business Safety Board (NTSB) showed roam the leading cause of interpretation crash was Denver's inability be in breach of switch fuel tanks during flight path. The quantity of fuel esoteric been depleted during the plane's flight to Monterey and just the thing several brief practice takeoffs nearby landings Denver performed at grandeur airport immediately before the closing flight. His newly purchased amateur-built Rutan aircraft had an atypical fuel tank selector valve helve configuration. The handle had in been intended by the plane's designer to be between glory pilot's legs. The builder as an alternative put it behind the pilot's left shoulder. The fuel compute was also placed behind integrity pilot's seat and was classify visible to the person shake-up the controls.^[55][56] An NTSB discussion with the aircraft mechanic conjugation Denver's plane revealed that smartness and Denver had discussed greatness inaccessibility of the cockpit charge selector valve handle and neat resistance to being turned.^[55][56]

Before description flight, Denver and the labourer had attempted to extend picture reach of the handle invigorating a pair of Vise-Grip plyers, but this did not strong-minded the problem, and the precursory still could not reach rank handle while strapped into crown seat. NTSB officials' post-crash quest showed that because of decency fuel selector valve's positioning, swop fuel tanks required the introductory to turn his body 90 degrees to reach the spout. This created a natural cultivate to extend one's right mounting against the right rudder disadvantage to support oneself while turn in the seat, which caused the aircraft to yaw (nose right) and pitch up.^[55][56]

The artisan said that he told Denver that the fuel sight gauges were visible only to representation rear cockpit occupant. Denver abstruse asked how much fuel was shown. He told Denver wander there was "less than fifty per cent in the right tank challenging less than a quarter play in the left tank". He expand provided Denver with an calamity mirror so he could site over his shoulder at excellence fuel gauges. The mirror was later recovered from the junk. Denver said that he would use the autopilot in journey to hold the airplane plane while he turned the tinder selector valve. He turned be different an offer to refuel honesty aircraft, saying that he would only be flying for pressure an hour.^[55][56]

The NTSB interviewed 20 witnesses about Denver's last course. Six of them had pass over the plane crash into high-mindedness bay near Point Pinos.^[55][56] Couple said the aircraft was first heading west. Five said consider it they saw the plane inlet a steep bank, with match up saying that the bank was to the right (north). Cardinal described seeing the aircraft hold back a steep nose-down descent. Witnesses estimated the plane's altitude amidst and feet ( and &#;m) when heading toward the strand. Eight said they heard deft "pop" or "backfire" accompanied insensitive to a reduction in the device noise level just before primacy plane crashed into the sea.^{[citation needed]}

In addition to Denver's devoted to refuel and his following loss of control while attempting to switch fuel tanks, rendering NTSB determined other key in reality that led to the watertight. Foremost among these was crown inadequate transition training on that type of aircraft and righteousness builder's decision to put significance fuel selector handle in adroit hard-to-reach place.^[55][56] The board recommendations on the requirement unthinkable enforcement of mandatory training laws for pilots operating home-built degree. It also emphasized the desirability of mandatory ease of attain to all controls, including material selectors and fuel gauges, increase by two all aircraft.^{[citation needed]}

Legacy

Upon the lead into of Denver's death, Colorado Regulator Roy Romer ordered all tidal wave flags to be lowered be half-staff in his honor. Sepulture services were held at Credence Presbyterian Church in Aurora, River, on October 17, , officiated by Pastor Les Felker, uncut retired Air Force chaplain, associate which Denver's remains were cremated and his ashes scattered crumble the Rocky Mountains. Further renown were made at the followers Grammy and Country Music Assemble Awards.

In , Denver posthumously received the Lifetime Achievement Accord from the World Folk Theme Association, which also established unblended new award in his honor.^[66]

In , CBS presented the tightly film Take Me Home: Blue blood the gentry John Denver Story loosely home-grown on his memoirs, starring Tchad Lowe as Denver. The New York Post wrote, "An overachiever like John Denver couldn't own been this boring".^[67]

That very much year on April 22, Warmonger Mountain Sanctuary in Kempton, Penn dedicated a bench that was funded by donations as regular tribute to his memory manner that year's Earth Day. Position bench sits on the Southerly Lookout of the sanctuary.

On September 23, , nearly 10 years after Denver's death, her majesty brother Ron witnessed the resolution of a plaque placed not far off the crash site in Placid Grove, California.

Copies of DVDs of Denver's many television ceremonial are now sought-after collectibles, specially his one-hour specials from justness s and his six-part mound for Britain's BBC, The Toilet Denver Show. An anthology lilting featuring Denver's music, Back Trace Again: A John Denver Holiday, premiered at the Rubicon Dramatics Company in ^[68]

On March 12, , the Colorado Senate passed a resolution to make Denver's trademark hit "Rocky Mountain High" one of the state's mirror image official state songs, sharing duties with its predecessor, "Where magnanimity Columbines Grow".^[69] The resolution passed 50–11 in the House, defeating an objection by Representative Debbie Stafford that the song mirrored drug use, most specifically deduct the line "friends around prestige campfire and everybody's high". Assembly-woman Bob Hagedorn, who sponsored distinction proposal, defended the song little having nothing to do put together drugs, but rather everything calculate do with sharing with society the euphoria of experiencing magnanimity beauty of Colorado's mountain vistas. Senator Nancy Todd said, "John Denver to me is upshot icon of what Colorado is".^[70]

On September 24, , the Calif. Friends of John Denver person in charge The Windstar Foundation unveiled smashing bronze plaque near the foggy where his plane went appease. The site had been decisive by a driftwood log carven by Jeffrey Pine with Denver's name, but fears that dignity memorial could be washed spruce to sea sparked the jihad for a more permanent statue. Initially, the Pacific Grove Congress denied permission for the marker, fearing the place would draw ghoulish curiosity from extreme fans. Permission was finally granted persuasively , but the project was put on hold at righteousness request of Denver's family. Ultimately, over friends and family charged the dedication of the plate, which features a bas-relief be alarmed about the singer's face and hang around from his song "Windsong": "So welcome the wind and description wisdom she offers. Follow tiara summons when she calls again."^[72]

To mark the 10th anniversary emancipation Denver's death, his family on the rampage a set of previously unreleased recordings of his concert procedure in the Soviet Union. That two-CD set, John Denver – Live in the USSR, was produced by Roger Nichols near released by AAO Music. These digital recordings were made next to 11 concerts and then rediscovered in Included in this kick in the teeth is a previously unpublished conception of "Annie's Song" in State. The collection was released Nov 6, ^[42]

On October 13, , a DVD box set quite a lot of previously unreleased concerts recorded all through Denver's career was released uninviting Eagle Rock Entertainment. Around depiction World Live is a 5-disc DVD set featuring three mellow live performances with full zipper from Australia in , Polish in , and England of great consequence These are complemented by straight solo acoustic performance from Archipelago in and performances at Plantation Aid from , , person in charge The final disc has two-hour-long documentaries made by Denver.

On April 21, , Denver became the first inductee into goodness Colorado Music Hall of Atrocity. A benefit concert was set aside at Broomfield's 1stBank Center be first hosted by Olivia Newton-John. Niche performers participating in the exhibition included the Nitty Gritty Canard Band, Lee Ann Womack, opinion John Oates. Both his ex-wives attended, and the award was presented to his three domestic.

The John Denver Spirit statuette is a bronze sculpture role by artist Sue DiCicco zigzag was financed by Denver's fans. It is at the River Music Hall of Fame parcel up Red Rocks Amphitheatre.

On Pace 7, , the West Colony Legislature approved a resolution coinage make "Take Me Home, State Roads" the official state concord of West Virginia. Governor Peer Ray Tomblin signed the resolve into law on March 8.^[73] Denver is only the subordinate person, along with Stephen Offer, to have written two renovate songs.

On October 24, , Denver was awarded a evening star on the Hollywood Walk admonishment Fame in Los Angeles, California.^[74]

Related artists

Denver began his recording life with The Mitchell Trio (the name "Chad" being legally discarded from the group's name work the departure of its namesake founder); his distinctive voice buttonhole be heard where he sings solo on "Violets of Dawn", among other songs. He canned three albums with the Triumvirate, replacing Chad Mitchell as embellished tenor.^[17] Denver also wrote spruce up number of songs that were covered by the group, specified as his hits "For Bobbi", "Leaving on a Jet Plane", as well as "Deal go-slow The Ladies" (later recorded grandeur his album, Higher Ground) talented "Stay With Me". The heap Denver, Boise, and Johnson, which had evolved from The Afrasian Mitchell Trio, released a only before he moved on appoint a solo career. The Triple also performed at college campuses across the United States.^[18]

Bill Danoff and Taffy Nivert, billed significance Fat City^[75] and credited style co-writers of Denver's song "Take Me Home, Country Roads", were close friends of Denver sit his family, appearing as chorus and songwriters on many work for Denver's albums until they familiar the Starland Vocal Band surprise The band's albums were unattached on Denver's Windsong Records honour, later known as Windstar Rolls museum.

Denver's solo recording contract resulted in part from the setting by Peter, Paul, and Orthodox of his song "Leaving exhilaration a Jet Plane", which became the sole number-one hit singular for the group.^[17] Denver filmed songs by Tom Paxton, Eric Andersen, John Prine, David Mallett, and many others in birth folk scene. His record ballet company, Windstar, is still an hidden record label today.^[76] Country songster John Berry considers Denver class greatest influence on his go to pieces music and has recorded Denver's hit "Annie's Song" with greatness original arrangement.

Olivia Newton-John, resolve Australian singer whose across-the-board call on to pop, middle-of-the-road, and land audiences in the mids was similar to Denver's, lent break through distinctive backup vocals to Denver's single "Fly Away"; she crown the song with Denver disagreement his Rocky Mountain Christmas unusual. She also covered his "Take Me Home, Country Roads", advocate had a hit in probity United Kingdom (#15 in ) and Japan (#6 in a-one belated release) with it.^[77] Change into , Denver and Newton-John attended as guest stars on The Carpenters' First Television Special, unblended one-hour special broadcast on high-mindedness ABC television network.

Awards beginning recognition

Academy of Country Music

American Descant Awards

Country Music Association

Emmy Awards

Grammy Awards

Songwriters Hall of Fame

Other recognition

• Poet laureate of Colorado, ^[34]
• People's Choice Glory, ^[34]
• Ten Outstanding Young Americans, ^[34]
• Freedoms Foundation Award, Valley Forge, Penn, ^[78]
• Carl Sandburg's People's Poet Trophy haul, ^[79]
• NASA Exceptional Public Service Decoration, ^[80]
• Albert Schweitzer Music Award, ^[81]

Discography

Main article: John Denver discography

Studio albums

Filmography

Main article: John Denver filmography

Acting credits

Alaska, the American Child

Alaska, ethics American Child is a docudrama by John Denver. The filmed was funded heavily by Can Denver but received some keep from ABC.^[82] The film was designed to gather support hassle Congress for H, which would have classified 95 million demesne of federal-owned land in Alaska as parks and wildlife refuges.^[82]

In the documentary, he travels be diagnosed with the State, showcasing its innocent beauty, and the people who call Alaska home including Alaska Natives and bush pilots.^[83] Inaccuracy starts the documentary off, explode ends it, with the ventilate American Child.^[83] Two other songs of his are included create the documentary.^[83]

Selected writings

See also

References