Very few musicians have the ability to create a lasting impact on millions of people in a short amount of time, but John Denver has done just that. The American singer/songwriter was one of the most beloved storytellers of the ‘70s before his untimely death at age 53.
John Denver Death
Denver died on October 12, 1997, after the handcrafted plane he was controlling crashed into the Pacific Ocean off the California coast. A shock to the music world, indeed, but some might agree that his passing was eerily ironic. As the son of a decorated Air Force pilot, Denver’s father trained him to fly his own planes, and the singer had logged over 2,700 piloting hours at the time of his death.
Before his life was cut short, Denver achieved superstar status as a folk music legend known for incorporating a love of nature into his lyrics. With songs like “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” “Rocky Mountain High,” and “Sunshine on My Shoulders,” he has forever cemented a legacy that will continue to shine for years to come.
Born in Roswell, New Mexico, on December 31, 1943, Denver, whose real name was Henry John Deutschendorf Jr., spent years jumping from one band to the next before venturing into a career as a solo artist. His grandmother has been credited with giving him his first guitar — a Gibson — and from then on, he was hooked.
About John Denver And His Country Music Career
After high school, Denver studied architecture at Texas Tech University, where he performed as part of the musical group The Alpine Trio. It wasn’t until later, though, that he would go by his moniker, taking the name from his love of Colorado and its capital city. The idea to go by John Denver arose from a meeting with a friend, Randy Sparks, who suggested a name change. After dropping out of college, Denver moved to Los Angeles and continued to hone his skills performing folk-styled pop songs in local clubs as the lead singer of the Chad Mitchell Trio, which later changed its name to Denver, Boise, and Johnson.
Not lasting long in a group setting, Denver decided to fly solo, signing on with RCA Records. Ironically, his first No. 1 hit as a songwriter was titled “Leaving on a Jet Plane.” The talented artist first named the tune, “Babe I Hate to Go,” and recorded the song as part of his demo entitled John Denver Sings. Peter, Paul, and Mary made the song famous, leading Denver to re-record the song for his debut studio album, Rhymes & Reasons.
From there, Denver self-penned countless songs, and his first Top 10 hit came with the iconic “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” which also landed at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Denver co-wrote the tune with Bill Danoff and Taffy Nivert for his fourth album, Poems, Prayers and Promises. “Take Me Home, Country Roads” has had a remarkable shelf-life, as it has been re-recorded numerous times throughout history by artists ranging from Olivia Newton-John to Lana Del Rey.
In addition, the album offered Denver breakthrough success, producing other fan favorites like “My Sweet Lady,” “I Guess He’d Rather Be in Colorado,” and “Sunshine on My Shoulders.”
One Of The Best-Selling Artists Of His Decade
Throughout the years, Denver added to his catalog, with well-known songs like “Rocky Mountain High,” “Annie’s Song,” “Back Home Again,” and “I’m Sorry” and No. 1 hits “Thank God I’m a Country Boy” and “Calypso.” He became one of the best-selling artists of his decade, earning 14 gold and eight platinum albums, respectively.
Along with his string of chart-topping hits, Denver earned several awards and accolades, including a CMA Entertainer of the Year award in 1975, an induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame two years later, and a posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award from the World Folk Musical Association in 1998.
Among other successes, he has been credited as the writer behind two state songs. “Rocky Mountain High” serves as Colorado’s second official state song behind “Where the Columbines Grow” while “Country Roads, Take Me Home” has been West Virginia’s official state song since 2014.
Recognition Outside Of Music
John Denver, a longtime host of the Grammys, earned recognition for his interests in areas beyond music. In 1985, he received the NASA Exceptional Public Service Medal. Five years prior, he was presented with the Freedoms Foundation Award. Following his death in 2014, he earned his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles. Denver also got his feet wet in television, taking on various roles in films from Oh, God! to Walking Thunder.
More importantly, though, he was known for his humanitarian efforts. Looking for solutions to fight world hunger, he co-founded the Hunger Project in 1977 alongside Werner Erhard and Robert W. Fuller. He also was a deeply passionate environmentalist and founded the environmental group, Plant-It 2000, which changed to Plant-It 2020.
In the week following his death, a memorial service was held at Faith Presbyterian Church in Aurora, Colorado. Denver’s ashes were scattered in the Rocky Mountains. His final album, All Aboard! Won him his first posthumous GRAMMY Award for Best Musical Album for Children.
Despite his passing, Denver remains a large icon in the world with an ever-growing fan base.
