ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH for COLORADO STATE SONG!
Press Release 2/1/98
Denver Musicians Association:
Denver Musicians Association president, Pete Vriesenga, announced that DMA will support the adoption of of John Denver's "Rocky Mountain High" as Official Colorado State Song. The current state song is "Where The Columbines Grow" written by A. J. Flynn and adopted by the Colorado Legislature in 1915. A movement to adopt 'Rocky Mountain High' began with Kari Neuman, a fourth grade student in Fort Collins. She was
researching the state song for a school class about the time John Denver died in an airplane crash October 12, 1997. Ms. Neuman became acquainted with 'Rocky Mountain High' from the radio airplay John Denver's songs received following the accident. She became convinced that 'Rocky Mountain High' would be a more appropriate state song than the current song, and began a letter writing campaign to convince legislators.
Denver Musicians Association website editor, Ken Davies, heard about Kari Neuman's campaign from TV news broadcasts. Considering it to be an important musical issue for Colorado, he began putting pertinent information on the DMA website at www.dmamusic.org. DMA's board of directors were in unanimous support of the issue. The website has devoted several pages carrying information on the state song issue as well as public forum pages to post email received from both Coloradans and non-Coloradans expressing their views, whether for or against, on the state song issue. Email should be directed to Ken Davies and writers should include their names along with city and state.(Feb. 19)
Billboard charts (Jan. 31 issue)(Feb. 2)
BMG/RCA is planning a release of a new compilation CD titled "Geatest Country Hits" on March 24. (Feb. 2)
The release of "The Wildlife Concert" DVD has been postponed, no exact date specified but hopefully in March. (Feb. 2)
PBS will postpone the airing of the TV special "Let This Be A Voice", which was originally planned to be aired on March 8. The shooting of the special was not finished when John passed away, and the producers are working hard now to complete it in desirable way.(Feb. 2)
Billboard charts (Jan. 10 issue)(Feb. 2)
WFMA will tape their tribute concert for John, Jan. 16, for future release. (Jan. 16)
Sony Music Video will release DVD version of "The Wildlife Concert" on Feb. 3. (Jan. 16)
LaserLight Digital will release "Montana Christmas Skies" on DVD format in near future. (Jan. 16)
On January 9, 1998 on Entertainment Tonight at 6:30 p.m. Mountain Standard Time. They are going to do an interview with Cassie and Annie. They are fighting over who gets JD's money. They said John did not have a will. This means it will probably be awhile before any videos or new recordings come out - this could be in the courts for who knows how long.
(Jan. 10)
On the Diane Rhemes show on NPR, Jan. 8, Placido Domingo said some very nice things about JD, commenting that he didn't feel people realised what a great talent was lost. He also mentioned a producer friend of his who was producing a tribute to John. The transcript of this interview will probably be available on the NPR web site.
(Jan. 10)
"All Aboard!" has been nominated for the Grammy Awards' "Best Musical Album For Children"!! (Jan. 9)
PBS is planning to air the TV special featuring John, titled "Let This Be A Voice", on March 8. The special is about the reintroduction of the wolves to the Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. John's last composition "Yellowstone/Coming Home" was written for the special. (Jan. 7)
JD speaks out about himself!
Playboy Interview Dec. 1977 (Jan. 7)
Michael Johnson of Denver, Boyce & Johnson, the last evolution of The Mitchell Trio, comments about John when they performed together in the late 60s, in his official web site. (Jan. 7)
A&E Network chose Princess Diana after all for their 3rd annual "Biography Of The Year" on Dec. 29 airing, though JD did very well on their internet poll, gaining 60% of all the votes.
(Jan. 2)
The end result of People's "The 97 Most Intrigued People Of 97" poll is:
1. Hanson 4276 votes
2. Renee O'connor 2773 votes
3. Roy Dupuisb 2307 votes
26. John Denver 395 votes
(Jan. 2)
Billboard charts (Dec. 27 issue)
(Jan. 2)
There's a nice article on "Aspen Times" (Dec. 26/27 issue). (Jan. 2)
John's last flight may not have been illegal at all. An article from Flyer. (Jan. 2)
Billboard charts (Dec. 20 issue)
(Jan. 2)
Update for the WFMA Tribute to John on Friday, January
16th, at the Bichmere in Alexandria, Virginia.
The line up for Friday night is:
Jon Carroll
Bill Danoff
Fat City (Bill & Taffy)
Hard Travelers
Pete Huttinger
Dick Kniss
Kennedys
Margo Kunkel
Donal Leace
Taffy Nivert
Chris Nole
Tom Paxton
John Sommers
Side by Side
Starland Vocal Band
Mike Taylor
Reserved seating tickets for the Friday night show are SOLD OUT.
Check out the WFMA web site
for further information. (Dec. 23)
Madacy Records (USA) will release a new CD titled "Best Of John Denver" Dec. 23. It is on the advanced order list of CDnow. (Dec. 21)
"A Celebration Of Life" CD entered the Top 200 albums of the Billboard chart (Dec. 13 issue). (Dec. 21)
There was a rerun of the "McLoud" episode of the "Colorado Cattle Caper" Dec. 16 on A&E Network, while "Oh, God!" is scheduled to air on Dec. 27th on ABC and WTNH. (Dec. 21)
Wolves in Trouble!! It seems some of John's beloved wolves in Yellowstone are in danger of being removed. This is from the Yellowstone Wolf Page at ---"Wolf Bulletin Dec. 12. 1997 U.S. District Judge William Downes (Wyoming) ruled that the wolves in Yellowstone and central Idaho have been illegally introduced and have to be removed. We need any and all help we can possibly generate to see that Judge Downes ruling is overturned." If you scroll down the page it gives email address to write including President Clinton., V.P. Gore, the Govenors of Wyoming and Idaho, etc. Appeals are being supported by the Defenders of Wildlife and the National Wildlife Federation. There is also an article on the CNN site. It states the original program was to reintroduce the animals to an area where they had been wiped out in the 1930's, and explains both sides of the controversy. (Dec. 21)
No one has heard back from CO congressman Joel Hefley after bombarding his office with letters. (Dec. 21)
Newsletter from the Rocky Mountain Institute (Dec. 21)
"PEOPLE-LYCOS WEB WATCH - GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN"
(from People magazine, Dec.15 issue)
Long a favorite forum to mourn and memorize, the Web brims with tributes to the recently and not-so-recently departed. Below: the most searched-for legends on the Web search site Lycos:
1. Princess Diana (1961-1997)
2. Elvis Presley (1935-1977)
3. Tupac Shakur (1971-1996)
4. Marilyn Monroe (1926-1962)
5. Bob Marley (1945-1981)
6. John Denver (1943-1997)
7. Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962)
8. Jimi Hendrix (1942-1970)
9. Bruce Lee (1940-1973)
10. Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
(Dec.17)
Toshiba EMI will release "Love Again/Unplugged Collection" album, under misleading title of "Country Roads - His Latest Greatest Hits Live '96", Dec. 17. (Dec.10)
On January 16-17, l998, the World Folk Music Association is dedicating their 13th Annual Benefit Weekend Festival to John Denver! "John Denver Remembered by the old Cellar Door Gang". "John's firstappearance with The Mitchell Trio in 1966 was at the Cellar Door inWashington" (D.C.). "The entire weekend will be dedicated to John Denver
and his music with a special tribute on Friday January 16. The 1997 WFMA Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented posthumously." For more info. or to check it out yourself, the website is:
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/Chuck_Morse/wfma.htm
Bill Danoff and the Hard Travelers are putting this together. (Dec.10)
A new CD "A Celebration of Life - The Last Recordings" was released on Nov. 18 in the U.S. and entered Billboard's Top Country Album Chart (Dec. 6 issue). (Dec.10)
According to Nov. 25 issue of "Billboard" magazine, the RIAA certified "The Wildlife Concert" gold (500,000 copies sold) on Nov. 12. (Ironically, it was just 1 month after his death.) It was his 17th gold and the first one since "Seasons of the Heart" 15 years ago! (Nov. 27)
"Australian Woman's Day" interviwed Cassy just after the death of John. And...what she says is totally contrary to the previous one!! (Nov. 27)
John Denver: The WILDLife Concert In stores February '98 SMV/Legacy LVD
49710 Celebrate John Denver's greatest hits with The WILDLife Concert, a
magical and intimate performance featuring the songs that have made him
an American treasure. With flawless digital video and crystal clear
surround sound, you'll feel like you were right there sharing this
once-in-a-lifetime event with John. Also included are candid interviews,
special wildlife footage and some very special surprise selections.
Special DVD features include:
In-depth biography
Lyrics
Special photos from the performance
Bonus footage
Interactive menus
Dolby digital 5.1 surround sound
Dolby stereo
Instant chapter access to songs
(Nov. 23)
An Australian Magazine called "The Australian Women's Weekly" interviwed Cassandra Delaney in1996 and... lots of nasty comments on JD from Cassy!
There's a following up about the crash cause on Yahoo! News (Nov. 23)
A new CD called "A Celebration of Life" released on Nov. 18. It is a shortened version of "Love Again - Greatest & Latest", released in Australia and Holland almost a year ago. You can order it from CDnow. (Nov. 23)
Tracks:
Whispering Jesse
Dreamland Express
Rocky Mountain High
Take Me Home, Country Roads
Christmas for Cowboys
Love Again
Sunshine on My Shoulder
Perhaps Love
Leaving on a Jetplane
Windsong
I'm Sorry
Back Home Again
USA Today has nice articles on JD (Nov. 23)
GA News & Flyer's article about the cause of the plane crash. (Nov. 23)
It is reported that the Colorado congress has proposed naming a scenic overlook in Rocky Mountain National Park after John, in recognition of his environmental achievements and also to note his love for this great state. Joel Hefley, a Republican representative from Colorado, however, is opposed to this action because of John's past - problems with alcohol. Quite a few JD fans in the United States are rising in revolt trying to urge him to change his mind.
Currently, Hefley does not have e-mail, nor do any other Congresspeople from Colorado. His snail mail address is: The Honorable Joel Hefley 2230 Rayburn Washington, DC 20515, tel(202)225-4422 (Nov. 23)
River North/Nashville Records will release John's "A Celebration Of Life" Nov. 18. The album, a collection of remakes, was cut in Nashville in September 1996, and already released in Australia and Europe early this year. "Christmas For Cowboys" from the album will be released as a single Nov. 18. "This was John's last recording here," River North/Nashville VP/GM Eddie Mascolo tells Nashville Scene. "We were on the verge of signing him to an artist contract when he died. We were just a little late..." (from Billboard, Nov.8 issue)(Nov.13)
Lots of regional memorial services are planned to be held in the U.S. on one month anniversary of his passing. (Nov.11)
There's a two-page article about John's memorial services in Aspen and Aurora. (Nov.11)
Singer-song writer, Jimmy Webb has a nice tribute for John on his own web site. He is a good friend of John and wrote a song "Wish You Were Here ( Postcard From Paris)" for John in 1989. (Nov. 8)
"Love Again" has just released in the UK under the title of "The Unplugged Collection - Greatest Hits". You can find a copy in the large import CD shops in Japan. (Nov. 5)
According to Billboard Magazine (Oct. 25 issue), John's mentor, producer, and publisher, Milt Okun of Cherry Lane Music, says he and John had planned to meet Oct. 14 to discuss further album projects, including a symphonic work. They were planning to talk about two projects in particular: recording a collection of songs he wished he had written and an album with a symphonic orchestra. "He was all excited about those," Okun says.
Toxicology results on Denver's body released after the crash showed no
evidence of alcohol or drugs in his system. However, full report on the accident would not be released until early next year. See ABC News' www page. (Oct. 28)
After his passing, John's CDs are selling like crazy. See charts on Nov. 1 issue of Billboard Magazine.
John makes a cover story of Oct. 27 issue of People Magazine, titled "The Life & Death of a Country Boy - John Denver." Go to People's web site.
Please e-mail me!
nisenora@ari.bekkoame.or.jp
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