John Denver
It seems like we all grow up with one or two favorite musicians. One of mine was John Denver, and his passing in the fall of 1997 leaves me with a sincere feeling of loss.
Born Henry John Deutschendorf in New Mexico, he rose to national prominence about the time I was off at college. His music became my companion not only at those very impressionable times, but actually throughout the past 25 years.
My college friend Brad was from Denver, and a good guitarist, so we naturally gravitated to Rocky Mountain High, I Guess He'd Rather Be in Colorado, Take Me Home Country Roads and so many more. We had fun with Season Suite, stayed up nights doing the sing-a-longs with our friends, and even sang on the walkways of our campus in Seward, Nebraska on our way to classes.
I remember making an eight track tape of John Denver songs for my girlfriend. It had to be just right, and I recall being so pleased that I could find an order for the songs that was similar to the progression of our relationship.
Moving to St. Louis, I went to two John Denver concerts during my years there. They were nothing short of spectacular, with all of the favorite tunes that we of course would sing as loud as our voices allowed. I recall that he sent the band away for a break midway through one concert and then he continued alone for 40 minutes of new songs as well as familiar ones.
In the 1980's John Denver evolved into a spokesman for organizations such as Save the Whales, and his music began to reflect those changes. Songs connected with Jacques Cousteau's Calypso were among his newest.
During this time he also struggled through failed marriages, drinking problems and being chased by Father Time. I would see him twice more in concert - in the early 1990's in Stuttgart, Germany, and then in 1995 in Sydney, Australia. The youthful boyishness was gone, replaced by complacency, and a voice that would not allow him to sing the four hour concerts of bygone years. But oh the songs which he did sing were like a magical potion which recreated the sing-a-longs of college days long past.
I was in Freiburg, Germany with our students on a field trip, when I picked up a USA Today, and learned about the plane crash. That was four days ago, and now am I beginning to feel a real sense of loss. Its funny how people react - in Freiburg one of the first things I did was buy a CD of Greatest Hits I which I still have on LP, but not with modern technology.
John Denver's passing will leave a void for those who loved his ballads. There will be no new tunes such as Wild Montana Skies, Eagles and Horses, and Postcard from Paris any more. But John Denver did leave us enough music to last half a lifetime and maybe more.
©1997 runkelf@yahoo.com