The name of the musician John Denver is forever inscribed in golden letters in the history of folk music. The bard, who prefers the lively and clean sound of the acoustic guitar, has always gone against the general trends in music and writing. At a time when the mainstream "screamed" about the problems and difficulties of life, this talented and outcast artist sang about the simple joys available to everyone.
Childhood and youth of John Denver
Henry John Deutschendorf was born in the small town of Roswell, New Mexico. The father of the future musician devoted his life to the US Air Force. The family often had to move, following the appointments of the head of the family. Such activity had a positive effect on the boy. He grew up inquisitive and active, but he did not have time to make real friendships with his peers.
John owes his musical talent primarily to his own grandmother, who paid considerable attention to the younger guy. On his 11th birthday, she gave him a new acoustic guitar, which determined the choice in the future work of the musician. Having brilliantly graduated from high school, the young man decided to continue his education and entered the Texas Tech University.
Over the years of study, John managed to get acquainted with many famous personalities, among whom Randy Sparks (the leader of The New Christy Minstrels) stood out. On the advice of a friend, the musician took a creative pseudonym, changing his last name, dissonant for the stage, to Denver, in memory of the capital of the state of Colorado that conquered his heart. Developing his musical talent, the guy joined The Alpine Trio, where he became a vocalist.
The beginning and rise of John Denver's career
In 1964, John decided to leave the walls of the educational institution and devote himself entirely to music. After moving to Los Angeles, the musician joined the losing popularity of The Chad Mitchell Trio. For 5 years, the team toured the country and performed at festival venues, but the group failed to achieve significant commercial success.
Having made a difficult decision for himself, John left the team. In 1969, he began working on a solo project. He recorded the first studio album Rhymes and Reasons (RCA Records). Thanks to the composition Leavingon A Jet Plane, the musician gained his first popularity as an author and performer of his songs. In 1970, the author released two more albums, Take Me to Tomorrow and Whose Garden Was This.
The popularity of the performer has increased even more every year. He soon became one of the most influential and sought-after musicians in the United States. Among all released albums, 14 received "gold" and 8 collections - "platinum" statuses. Realizing that his career had reached its peak, the bard lost interest in writing new compositions. Then he decided to change the field of activity.
Man of the World John Denver
Since 1980, John has devoted himself to social activities, almost abandoning the writing of new songs. Tours still continued, but almost all of them are devoted to the protection of nature and the environment. According to the artist, it is this theme that inspires him to further work.
After the fall of the Iron Curtain, John became one of the first popular Western singers to visit the territory of the USSR and China. In each performance, he promotes love for life, the world and nature. Calls on listeners to be active in protecting and restoring the natural resources of the planet.
The explosion at the nuclear power plant in Chernobyl did not leave the singer indifferent. In 1987, he came specially to Kyiv to give a concert in support of those who survived and took an active part in eliminating the consequences of the disaster. Many witnesses of those events spoke warmly about the singer's work, saying that his songs helped to gather strength and live on.
Meanwhile, the musical career of the performer did not develop. His previous compositions were still popular, but the lack of new tracks made fans pay attention to other artists. Nevertheless, the recognition of the artist remained at the same level. This was facilitated by active acting. John continued to act in feature films.
The year 1994 in the singer's career was marked by the release of his book Take Me Home. Three years later, he won a Grammy Award for a children's album called All Abroad!. Of course, this cannot be called the pinnacle of a musician's career, but fans love his work not for achievements and awards.
Sudden death of John Denver
On October 12, 1997, the music and world community was shocked by the news of the singer's death in a plane crash. The experimental aircraft, which was piloted by the performer, crashed. According to official information, the cause of the tragedy was the low level of fuel. Although an experienced pilot could not help worrying about such an important component of the flight.
A memorial stone is installed on the singer's grave, where the words from his composition Rocky Mountain High are engraved. Loving people call the performer a composer, musician, father, son, brother and friend.
