John Denver: Folk Icon

Dave Nuttall

ENG 2710

Elisa Stone

August 6, 2013

John Denver: Folk Icon

To me, being born in the Bitterroot Valley of Western Montana in the 1970’s was far out!  I saw the area was a haven with crisp mountain air, warm summer breezes and wilderness that seemed to go on forever.  Although I did not fully realize it then, I had it all, right outside my own back door.  I loved the life I had there in the Bitterroot and easily understood how singer & songwriter, John Denver, had fallen in love with it too.  John had visited the Bitterroot Valley in the early 80’s and later wrote songs about it.  His song, “Wild Montana Skies” actually begins with the words, “He was born in the Bitterroot Valley in the early morning rain . . .” and I have always cherished that line because I know he was writing from his heart about a place that he loved as much as I do.  This was just the way that John Denver sang. 

Many people loved him and his heartfelt song-styles but there were also many others who did not.  In contrast to his epic stardom, he was often criticized by the music industry because his unique sound didn’t quite “fit” the mold.  In fact, when he was chosen as CMA’s “Entertainer of the Year” in 1975 and Charlie Rich pulled John’s name from the envelope to make the announcement, he tore it up and then lit it on fire with a lighter he pulled from his pocket.  Although some argued that this was not a personal attack on John Denver, many felt that it was at least targeting the selection by the CMA of an artist who did not accurately represent country music’s form.  John was even called “Mickey Mouse, Tom Sawyer and Mr. Clean” by his critics.  “The critics have never liked what I have done” John said (Flythe Jr.).

Beginning in the mid-1960’s, John found himself walking away from college life where he was studying architecture, in order to pursue his passion for music.  He joined the Chad Mitchell Trio and in 1967, wrote the song, “Leaving on a Jet Plane” which folk group, Peter, Paul and Mary then took all the way to No. 1.  His first million-seller was the hit “Take Me Home, Country Roads” which was released in 1969.  With it, he was suddenly on the fast-track for success.  His music was centered on simple things that he loved.  He wrote many more incredibly successful songs about the mountains and nature as well as a love ballad to Annie Martell, whom he had married in 1967.  Millions of people fell in love with “Annie’s Song” which became another of John’s most endearing hits (Castro & Bane).

Continuing into the 1970’s, John went on to record many other hit songs including “Thank God, I’m a Country Boy” and “Rocky Mountain High”.  It was during this same time that I first noticed music as a child and the mega-hit “Sunshine on My Shoulders” made an indelible impression on my 4 year-old ears.  Although I did not know anything about John Denver at that age, his music connected with me from that moment on.  I can still remember where I was and the how it made me feel.  The song is simple but maybe that is what worked for me.  He sings of the beauty of nature all around us.  Nature was a constant theme in most all of his music throughout his career and eventually lead to his organizing the Windstar Foundation which helped him to bring attention to wildlife conservation and world hunger issues.  When John released his Greatest Hits album in 1974, it sold over 10 million copies helping him to become the second highest selling solo artist for RCA Records after Elvis Presley (Nash & Hochman).

John’s passion for nature and his work with Windstar gave him a way to help the environment and opened doors to new opportunities.  One such opportunity saw John going to sea with famed Captain Jacques Cousteau and it was during these adventures that John wrote his song “Calypso” after Cousteau’s vessel.  His love for the sea and its creatures is apparent within the music.  John was also appointed by President Jimmy Carter to serve on the Commission on World and Domestic Hunger.  Although all of this kept him very busy when he was not touring, helping people through his humanitarian efforts was something John just did.

He also served with the National Space Institute and was credited with introducing the “citizens in space” program.  It was through this same program that schoolteacher, Christa McAuliffe, was chosen to become America’s first civilian astronaut for the fateful flight of the Space Shuttle Challenger in 1986.  John Denver dreamed of space travel and hoped to someday get the chance to fly into space as an astronaut.  Shortly after the Challenger explosion, he wrote the song, “Flying for Me”, a moving tribute to the lost space shuttle astronauts in memory of their efforts and their lives given in the name of science and exploration.

John’s father, Henry John (Dutch) Deutschendorf Sr., was an Air Force test pilot and he taught John to fly in 1976.  John was very passionate about flying and learned to fly all types of planes including his Lear Jet, gliders, bi-planes and various other craft.  He even flew an F-15 fighter jet once.  In September of 1997, John bought a new plane.  It was a beautiful and sleek experimental plane named the Long EZ.  It had a very unique wing design and a reputation for being fast and fun to fly.  When he purchased it, he had two mechanics check it out and after a thorough inspection and then a new paint job, she was ready for flight.  On the afternoon of October 12, 1997, John arrived at the airport near Monterrey Bay in California for a quick flight.  He had already flown the plane and performed several takeoffs and landings and he felt comfortable with it.  The plane was partially fueled and he chose not to top off the tanks due to the short flight he had planned.  Unfortunately, due to a very tricky fuel selector switch located behind the pilot seat, when John attempted to switch tanks in flight, the plane went into a nose dive from only 500 feet up and plunged into the ocean, killing him instantly.     

John Denver owned the 1970’s with over 33 million albums sold, 4 platinum and 12 gold albums and 12 No.1 hits.  During that time, he sold out performances around the country and even the world.  He had dozens of TV appearances and starred in several films including “Oh, God!” in which he starred with George Burns.  In 1996, he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.  In addition to his music which touched the hearts of millions worldwide, John will always be remembered for his conservation and humanitarian efforts as well.  This is the timeless legacy that always will be JOHN DENVER.