John Denver | |
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 Denver in 1974 | |
| Born | Henry John Deutschendorf Jr. December 31, 1943 Roswell, New Mexico, U.S. |
| Died | October 12, 1997 (aged 53) Monterey Bay near Pacific Grove, California, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Blunt force trauma as a result of a plane crash |
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| Years active | 1962–1997 |
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| Children | 3[a] |
| Musical career | |
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| Formerly of |
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| Website | johndenver |
Henry John Deutschendorf Jr. (December 31, 1943 – October 12, 1997),[3] known professionally as John Denver, was an American singer and songwriter. He was one of the most popular acoustic artists of the 1970s and one of the best selling artists in that decade.[4] AllMusic has called Denver "among the most beloved entertainers of his era".[5]
Denver recorded and released approximately 300 songs, about 200 of which he wrote himself. He had 33 albums and singles that were certified Gold and Platinum in the U.S by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA),[6] with estimated sales of more than 33 million units.[7] He recorded and performed primarily with an acoustic guitar and sang about his joy in nature, disdain for city life, enthusiasm for music, and relationship trials. Denver's music appeared on a variety of charts, including country music, the Billboard Hot 100, and adult contemporary, earning 12 gold and four platinum 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 Country Boy"; and "Sunshine on My Shoulders".
Denver appeared in several films and television specials during the 1970s and 1980s, including the 1977 hit Oh, God!, in which he starred 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.[8] Known for his love of Colorado, Denver lived in Aspen for much of his life. In 1974, Denver was named poet laureate of the state. The Colorado state legislature also adopted "Rocky Mountain High" as one of its two state songs in 2007, and West Virginia did the same for "Take Me Home, Country Roads" in 2014. An avid pilot, Denver was killed at age 53 in a single-fatality crash while piloting a recently purchased light plane in 1997.
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- ^ Sterling, Christopher H.; O'Dell, Cary (April 12, 2010). The Concise Encyclopedia of American Radio. Routledge. ISBN 9781135176846 – via Google Books.
- ^ "The Music of John Denver". AllMusic.
- ^ Leigh, Spencer (October 14, 1997). "Obituary: John Denver". The Independent. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
- ^ Maphis, Susan. "10 Best Selling Artists of the 1970s". mademan.com. Archived from the original on May 21, 2012. Retrieved May 16, 2012.
- ^ Ankeny, Jason. "John Denver Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
- ^ "John Denver". Recording Industry Association of America.
- ^ "John Denver, A Rocky Mountain High Concert". The Florida Theatre. November 19, 2013. Archived from the original on June 19, 2018. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
- ^ Stunda, Hilary (October 7, 2011). "John Denver: An environmental legacy remembered". The Aspen Times. Retrieved January 30, 2023.