John Denver | Artist
Henry John Deutschendorf Jr. aka John Denver was an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, actor, activist, and humanitarian born 1943 in Roswell, New Mexico. Starting in the 1970s, he was one of the most popular acoustic artists of the decade and one of its most loved artists. By 1974, he was one of America's best-selling performers, having released approximately 300 songs, about 200 of which he composed. He had 33 albums and singles that were certified Gold and Platinum, with estimated sales of more than 33 million units in the US alone. After traveling and living in numerous locations while growing up in his military family, Denver began his music career with folk music groups during the late 1960s. Denver moved to Los Angeles in 1963 where he sang in folk clubs and in 1965 joined The Chad Mitchell Trio, replacing founder Chad Mitchell, the group which also spawned Roger McGuinn who would go on to form the Byrds. In 1969 Denver abandoned band life to pursue a solo career and released his first album for RCA Records Rhymes & Reasons, which was produced by Milt Okun, who also worked with Peter, Paul & Mary, who had a hit with the Denver penned song "Leaving on a Jet Plane". Denver's next album, Poems, Prayers & Promises (1971), was a breakthrough for him in the United States, thanks in part to the single "Take Me Home Country Roads". His signature songs, recorded simply with an acoustic guitar, including "Take Me Home Country Roads", Annie's Song", "Rocky Mountain High", and "Thank God I'm a Country Boy" were about his joy in nature, christian faith, disdain for city life, enthusiasm for music, and relationship trials. In his lifetime the artist released 30 albums, with standouts including Rocky Mountain High (1972), Back Home Again (1974), the 1995 live album The Wildlife Concert, and the hugely popular John Denver's Greatest Hits (1973) compilation. Denver appeared in several films and television specials during the 1970s and 1980s, including the 1977 hit Oh God! alongside George Burns. He continued to record into the 1990s, also focusing on environmental issues as well as lending vocal support to space exploration and testifying in front of Congress to protest censorship in music. He lived in Aspen for much of his life, and he was known for his love of Colorado. In 1974, Denver was named poet laureate of that state. An avid pilot, Denver died in 1997 at age 53 in a single-fatality crash while piloting a recently purchased light plane.
Artist Website: johndenver.com
Featured Albums: John Denver
Related Artists: Chad Mitchell Trio
Video Clips: Take Me Home Country Roads, Thank God I'm a Country Boy, Muppet Show
