John Denve

r1943 - 1997

Early History

• Henry John Deutschendorf Jr.

• Born December 31, 1943 in Roswell, New Mexico

• Father was test pilot for USAF

• Moved around a lot

Musician in the Making

• Grandmothers 1910 Gibson guitar

• Greatly influenced by Elvis Presley

• Left college / joined Mitchell Trio

• Wrote “Leaving, On a Jet Plane” for Peter, Paul and Mary

• “Jet Plane” went all the way to No. 1

• Left the Mitchell Trio for solo effort

• Arranger, Milt Okun, also arranged for Paul Robeson

Finding His Voice

• Rhythm and Blues

• Political/Protest

• Folk

• Pop

• Country Western

• Adult Contemporary

Solo Career

• Contract with RCA Records in 1969

• Released several hit songs in 1974/1975• Take Me Home, Country Roads

(Billboard No. 2)

• Rocky Mountain High (First Top 10 Album)

• Sunshine On My Shoulders (No. 1)

• Annie’s Song (No. 1)

• Thank God, I’m a Country Boy (No. 1)

• I’m Sorry (No. 1)

Career Highlights

• Academy of Country Music - 1974 Album of the Year

• Country Music Association - 1975 Entertainer of the Year

• American Music Awards – 1975 Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist

• American Music Awards – 1976 Favorite Country Album

• American Music Awards – 1976 Favorite Country Male Artist

• Inducted into Songwriters Hall of Fame - 1996

Career Highlights (cont.)

• Over 33 Million Albums Sold

• 4 Platinum Albums

• 12 Gold Albums

• 12 No. 1 Hits

• Sold Out Performances Worldwide

• Dozens of TV and Film Projects

John’s Other Interests

• Flying• Bi-planes, Gliders, Jets, Experimental

• Space Travel• Avid Space Shuttle enthusiast

• Nature Conservancy & the Environment• Windstar Foundation

• Humanitarian Projects• World Hunger

Song Links

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1jo2vL1uS8

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4DBpW-hSns

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZonmQZG0GQ

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4lhzYPu02o

• Listen for soaring crescendos, yodel in Calypso

• Acoustic guitar, band and orchestra accompaniment, choir accompaniment

• Earnest, sincere lyrics, sometimes pleading messages

Citations

• Castro, Peter & Bane, Vickie “Peaks and Valleys” People. October 27, 1997, Vol. 48 Issue 17, EBSCO Host. Web. 21 July 2013

• Flythe Jr., Starkey. “John Denver: Mr. Clean with Hair and Guitar” Saturday Evening Post. Jan/Feb 1974, Vol. 246 Issue 1, p56-85 EBSCO Host. Web. 21 July 2013

• Nash, Alanna & Hochman, David. “Take Me Home” Entertainment Weekly. October 24 1997, Issue 402, p18 EBSCO Host. Web. 21 July 2013