JD News
John's guitar from the early years is for sale.
http://www.greatdividemusic.com/johndenverguitar.html (December 19)
Video of "Let This Be A Voice" is now avalable from WNET Video.
To order call 800-336-1917 $24.90 Item #WX321
WNET Video / P.O. Box 2284
South Burlington, VT 05407
(December 19)
Mardy Murie continues to sleep most of the time. This past weekend, her annual "cookie swap" was held at her cabin with many attendees. She dozed from time to time. She loves company and it was wonderful that they held the "cookie swap" because it's a normal thing that she has done for many, many years and Mardy needs to feel that everything is "normal".
Seems she just can't regain her strength since the hospital stay. Heart and blood pressure are great, however. She DID see "Let This Be A Voice" and thoroughly enjoyed it, so her caretaker says, although she did weep several times during. BTW, in the scene with John and Pres. Carter, that's Mardy in the background to the right. (December 19)
Here is the official site for "Heavy Denver"!!!!! Bet you love it!!!!!! (November 22)
Here is PBS's web site for "Let This Be A Voice". A great tribute for JD, as well as the program itself. (November 22)
BMG Japan has released brandnew compilation CD called "The Best of John Denver"(BVCM-37015) on Nov. 21. Contains 20 of his greatest hits. (November 22)
To check out John Denver specials/movies/etc. on TV you can go to: http://www.tv-now.com/stars.denver.html (November 22)
There were lots of tribute events commemorating one year anniversary of JD's death. A concert called "A Musical Tribute to John Denver", which was produced by Kris O'connor and held at the Wheeler Opera House, Aspen, Colorado, was one of the highlights. Here are PHOTOS of the JD events in Pacific Grove.
Oct 2-4, 1998 - WA - Second Annual "Windsong" Gathering at Camp Sheppard info:
Granada Entertainment has purchased the rights to the life story of Denver, the 53-year old "Rocky Mountain High" pop icon killed last October in a plane crash near Monterey, California. And Granada says it is unlikely to cast a big-name actor to portray Denver in a TV-movie based on the singer's autobiography, "Take Me Home", and targeted for a spring or fall '99 airdate.
"Casting-wise, we'll probably go with an unknown," said Granada executive producer Robert Rovner. "We might do one of those national talent searches and then cast a known star as [Denver's first wife] Annie for the female lead. John was such a distinctive personality that to cast a well-known actor may not be the way to go.
"Granada, working with Annie Martell Denver, has snagged the rights to most of John Denver's music catalog -- meaning the actor required to portray Denver will not be required to sing, Rovner said. "With John's music and his voice, to make a movie and not to use that...would be a waste," Rovner said.
Co-executive producer Jon Cowan said the movie will focus on Denver's first marriage to Annie, for whom he wrote, "Annie's Song". "We see this as a love story about a man who defined a generation with his music and was able to touch the world with his songs," Cowan said. "This won't be about a man who dies tragically; by the end of his life, John had found himself and his career was beginning to surge again.
"Denver, married twice, rocketed to international stardom in the 70's with a string of best-selling hits ("Annie's Song", "Rocky Mountain High", "Sunshine On My Shoulders", "Thank God I'm A Country Boy"), made a hit movie ("Oh, God!" with George Burns) and hosted 20 TV specials. After the hits stopped, Denver battled a drinking problem and was arrested twice for drunk driving.
"We'll probably take a small portion of the movie somewhere to cover his alcohol problems, but that's only a small portion of the story," Rovner said. "We think we'll show snippets of his life as a youth but we'll focus primarily on John's rise to fame.
"One of the things that's so nice about this movie is that his music is, in essence, the story of his life. "Denver, born Henry John Deutschendorf, Jr., was flying an experimental plane last October when he lost control and plummeted to his death.
Note: To clear up some of the confusion, there are TWO movies about John underway. The one being produced by Granada is based on the book "Take Me Home" (John's autobiography) and is being put together by Milt Okun, Hal Thau, Annie and other family relations. The Second movie....called "Higher Ground" is still seeking funding and may star Richard Hatch. It is being written by J.P. McDaniel of Arvada, Colorado. (October 22)
On Oct.12, BMG Australia will release a JD album entitled "Songs From My Heart". This package is not a "Greatest Hits" style album. It contains songs of love and heartache.
(October 22)
http://www.aspentimes.com/denver/john.htm(October 22)
A local woman wants the city, or somebody, to create a museum in Aspen to honor the late John Denver. "It would be the ideal place" for such a facility, said Judy Lynn, noting that the late singer's home in the exclusive Starwood subdivision has yet to be sold and contains a number of articles she feels would be well-suited to a museum. Saying that she was a friend of Denver's before he died in a plane crash off the coast of California last October, Lynn said she has been to his house recently and was struck by the presence of so much memorabilia. She said the items that might be appropriate for a John Denver museum might include clothing, statuary, awards and records, as well as memorabilia from concerts. "I think so many people would love to see these things," she told the City Council at the group's regular "brown bag lunch" meeting on Monday. She said she is afraid that the house may sell soon, and that the contents would be auctioned off or otherwise put "up for grabs for everybody."
Although the council members did not seem disposed toward direct involvement in creating such a museum, they offered their encouragement. "There has been a lot of talk, I've heard a lot of talk about a museum," noted Mayor John Bennett. But, he added, normally the city relies on citizen activists to actually be the creative forces in such matters, and the city's involvement is usually indirect. Lynn said at least one of Denver's relatives has expressed interest in her idea, and eagerly accepted the suggestion that she talk to the Aspen Historical Society and Denver's longtime friend, Tom Crum. "I think it would just be a tragedy for these things to go by the wayside," she concluded, and indicated she would continue to explore the idea and get back to the city. The late singer's home in Starwood has yet to be sold and contains a number of articles Lynn feels would be well-suited to museum. (September 22)
The Chad Mitchell Trio Reunion video (from which the 2 reunion CD's were taken) is finally being released commercially. It is the show that was shown on some PBS stations with interviews with the Trio members and others, and is not the complete concert. However, it will be longer than the PBS video as some additional footage of John Denver and his performance will be added. An October release is planned to coincide with the first anniversary of John Denver's' death. Some footage from the video is being included in a JD Commemorative Show which will be shown on VH-1." For a REDISCOVER MUSIC catalog: 1-800-232-7328 (September 22)
PBS finally set a date to air John's final work on television, "John Denver: Let This Be a Voice", on December 2. The special was to be aired on last March, but postponed due to his untimely death.
"Yellowstone/Coming Home", known as John's last composition, was written for this special. (September 22)
MSNBC's "Time & Again" will reair some of John's old TV specials this October. (September 22)
Naturemusic.com has cover photo of RCA's upcoming release "Forver John", as well as press release from RCA. (September 22)
Granada Entertainment has optioned the rights to "The John Denver Story," a two-hour made-for-television film on the late country singer. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the project is based on Denver's 1994 autobiography, "Take Me Home" (Harmony Books), and will include information from Denver's first wife, Annie Martell
Denver, his children, and his business associates Milt Okun and Hal Thau. Thau will serve as a co-producer on the project, working with Granada executive producers Jon Cowan and Robert Rovner, as well as Granada Entertainment president Scott Siegler.
Denver, who died in a plane crash last year, was the author of such hits as "Thank God I'm A Country Boy," "Take Me Home, Country Roads" and "I'm Sorry." (September 22)
Windstar is currently in a two-year period of reflection, to try and come to an understanding of what the organization should be, if anything, in the post-JD world. The lands have been, for several years, jointly protected by the Windstar Foundation and the Rocky Mountain Institute. At the last board meeting of the Windstar Land Conservancy (the joint W*-RMI board that manages the lands), the Windstar leadership decided the financial burdens of trying to continue a Colorado presence was too expensive given low income.
The result is that Windstar has elected to move its minimal "office" to Santa Fe, where Dr Cheryl Charles (Prez of the Board) works and lives. The building is being run and maintained by RMI, as are the lands. RMI does great work for the environment.
What will happen in the coming years? There are no sure things. My own guess is that it will not be a member organization again. And I agree with that, personally. With John gone, much of the energy of the organization was gone. Having worked closely with Windstar for many years, as a Choices speaker, and a friend of JD, I confess to very mixed feelings. But I do believe that Windstar continues to exist in the most important ways. John once told me that if we (Windstar) were doing our jobs, people would be
motivated to take action in their own communities and their own lives. That, I think, is the real legacy he wanted.
Nothing has been abandoned, work is still being done to protect the lands. Time means change, and change can mean pain. But it also means movement and growth, if we approach it correctly.
Hal Bidlack
(note: this is *not* an offical Windstar statement, just my effort to keep all you nice and caring folks in the loop a bit.) (September 22)
There were lots of tribute events thoughout the US in August, with many fans attended.
Aug 14-16, 1998, Snowmass Village, CO "A Rocky Mtn High Celebration of Life" - Speaker: Tom Crum
1. On the wings of an eagle 5:34 (unknown, 6/21/79)
*The CD will be released on September 29 in the US. (September 5)
The Eagle and The Hawk
*The CD will be available in mid-September. You can order it from Jim Horn's web site. (September 5)
"John Denver's home in Aspen, Colo. is for sale at $3,995.000. The 6,800 sq. ft house sits on a seven-and-a-half acre lot about 10 miles from downtown Aspen, in the gated
community of Starwood. Fans may recall Mr. Denver's early-1970's song "Starwood in Aspen", a paean to "my home"...my sweet Rocky Mountain paradise. The five-bedroom, fivebathroom house, which was built for Mr. Denver, has an all-redwood exterior and a cedar-shingled roof, and is surrounded by decks. The property was listed for sale by Mr.
Denver's estate this week, nearly nine months after the singer's death in a plane crash at age 53. It also has a 2,000 sq. ft. guest cottage, and a swimming pool, hot tub and
in-ground trampoline. There is a waterfall and a stream on the property. Real-estate broker Sandye Whitaker, of Allen, Sharkey, Braden & Whitaker Fine Properties in Aspen, said the property was Mr. Denver's principal residence. Ms. Whitaker shares the listing with her partner Ralph Braden." (September 5)
The re-release of "Rocky Mountain Christmas" will have 5 bonus tracks: "Jingle Bells" from "Whose Garden", "White Christmas" from 1975 (previously unreleased!!!!!), "Perhaps Love" (solo), "The Music Is You", and "Dreamland Express" as bonus tracks. "JD" will have side 1 of "Whose Garden", and "Spirit" will have side 2 of "Whose Garden" as bonus tracks, excluding "Jingle Bells", which was put on the Christmas CD.
And September 29 is slated to bring "Forever John," consisting of 12 unreleased performances, 10 of them never-before-heard Denver songs. (August 1)
Jim Horn, JD's Sax/Flute player from late 70s to early 90s, has finished the recording session for his new John Denver tribute called "FAR OUT" in Nashville, this July. Jim is joined by featured artists such as Pete Huttlinger, Chris Nole and Rich Garcia in this beautiful instrumental arrangement of Johns songs. This tribute will be released sometime in October. (August 1)
The former JD band men, James Burton, Glen D. Hardin & Jerry Scheff are touring throughout the US this summer, participating a tribute concert event called "Elvis- the Concert". Veterans of Elvis band plays with Elvis filmed live performances screened behind the stage. There may be a world tour next year. (August 1)
In the movie "Armageddon" there's a scene astronauts get on board of spaceship to destroy the meteor. Before they go into the spaceship, an actor Ben Aflick begins singing "Leaving On A Jet Plane" to Liv Tyler, and then everybody else joins the song. (August 1)
New paint or a distractingly difficult-to- operate fuel switch are likely factors in the crash of John's tiny airplane into Monterey Bay last year, according to a Los Angeles-area lawayer. (See Denver Post's web page.) (July 12)
DENVER, May 10 (Reuters) -
A mask painted by singer John Denver weeks before he died in a plane crash was dropped and broke shortly after it was sold at a charity auction, a newspaper reported Sunday. The plaster mask was sold Saturday night to Bill and Rita Bass Coors of
the Coors brewery family for $7,000 -- the highest bid at a charity auction to raise money for a local hospice. Shortly afterward, it was dropped and broke into several pieces, the Rocky Mountain News reported. Denver, known for his songs about the Rocky Mountains, died in October when the small experimental plane he was piloting crashed off the California coast. He painted the mask, of a face with a tree depicting the eyebrows, and sent it to the Mask Project charity several weeks before he died. It was among about 40 masks painted by artists and celebrities auctioned for the charity on Saturday. The newspaper quoted benefit organizers as saying they hoped the mask could be repaired, but it would be up to the buyers if they wanted to accept it. (June 15)
A standing room only crowd turned out for this four hour event. Attendees included Windstar representatives, Lou & Sue Smith, and several of John's close friends, including Milt Okun, and special surprise guests were John's almost nine year old daughter, Jesse Belle, and her mother, Cassie and grandmother, Lorraine Delaney.
Cassie performed a song she had written in John's memory and "Yellowstone Coming Home." Jesse Belle let us know that singing and stage presencewere in her blood when she sang acapella a song written by her godmother. The applause was deadening! Frank DelaMarre came all the way from Michigan to sing his tribute "Take Him Home," a beautiful song worth hearing and singing many times.
Other outstanding performers were Phil Christie and Mike Valentine, Kyle Vincent and his band, Rocky Gaines and the Mountain Folk Singers who sang several of their compositions and several John Denver songs, including a lovely rendition of "Follow Me" that began with a very effective flute solo. (May 10)
On March 22, in a tribute to the late John Denver, Aspen Skiing Company dedicated the nation's highest lift-served ski run - renamed Rocky Mountain High - to him, and announced that the ski lift serving the run will be powered solely by clean, renewable wind power. The lift - called the Cirque lift - will be the first in the country to run solely on wind power.
In a ceremony held at Snowmass ski resort, Denver's family and friends gathered 12,510 feet above sea level on the recently renamed Rocky Mountain High ski run. Aspen Skiing Company officials renamed the run after Denver's famous song because of the area's natural beauty. Located entirely above timberline on alpine tundra, Rocky Mountain High is the highest lift-served ski run in the United States, and forms the upper part of the longest lift-served vertical descent in the country.
The area is home to wildlife including elk, bighorn sheep, mountain goats and ptarmigan. The decision to name the run Rocky Mountain High was announced at Denver's memorial service last October. Rocky Mountain High opened earlier this winter, along with the Cirque lift. The lift was built in an ecologically sound fashion to protect the animals and their habitat. (May 10)
An event called "Westfest", which is sponsored by Michael Martin Murphy, will be held near Winter Park, Colorado on July 3-5. As a part of the event there is a concert every year and this year's concert, hosted by Michael Martin Murphey, will include a tribute to the life and music of John. For further information, click here. (April 9)
John received his Ph.D degree posthumously from The Daystar Commission. This degree was originally to be presented to John in the Summer of 1997, but, due to unavoidable delays, that was not possible. This degree in the Humanities is for John's significant, original, personally designed and carried-out musical, literary, environmental, and humanitarian work. Copies of the degree were recently acccepted by some of John's closest friends and members of the Denver family. This is not an honorary degree; rather, it is an academic degree and a leadership degree, part of our effort to produce a shift at the doctoral-level in the field of the humanities so that it fosters more appropriate academic excellence and better serves the needs of humankind and the needs of the earth. (April 9)
Singer John Denver has his fans, but none of them is as devout as the Reverend Mark Boyer. Editor of The Mirror, a Catholic newspaper in Springfield, Missouri, Boyer has written a 132-page book, Seeking Grace With Every Step: The Spirituality of John Denver, that analyzes the religious themes in the lyrics of every album by the Aspen resident since 1969. (March 15)
Please e-mail me!
nisenora@ari.bekkoame.ne.jp
Cheryl Fritz
Oct 10, 1998 - CA Friends of JD Meeting
Oct 10, 1998 - Mariposa, CA - JD Celebration 5:00 - 10:00 pm
Free - Info:
Oct 10, 1998 - Little River Canyon Nat'l Park - Alabama
Second Annual JD Memorial & Tree Planting Ceremony 2:00 PM
For more info
Oct 10, 1998 - 8:30 am Aspen, CO - Photowalk at Maroon Bells
Dreux DeMack
Oct 10-11, 1998 - Aspen, CO "A Musical Tribute to John Denver" - Wheeler Opera House (970) 923-1931 $30.00
Oct 11, 1998 - 8:30 am Sunday Worship at Maroon Bells
Bernie Duchesne
Oct 11, 1998 - Aspen, CO - Singalong Event at the Inn at Aspen
10:00 AM Pete Baker 79 Canal St./Apt. 1 / Lyons, NY 14489
or (315) 946-9917 $15.00 <112002.3523@compuserve.com>
Oct 11, 1998 - Snowmass Village, CO - Dedication of Memorial
Grove 10:15am - Church Service 9:00am
Oct 11, 1998 - Snowmass, CO - Buffet at the Tower Restaurant
$20.00 Info: Debbie Wood
Oct 11, 1998 - Clearwater, FL - JD Celebration 1-5 PM at Moccasin Lake Park / Potluck dinner, live music, sing-along,
Mem. Plaque Dedication - Sue (813) 791-8004
Oct 11, 1998 - VH1 Documentary on John - 9:00 PM Eastern Time
Oct 12, 1998 - Aspen, CO 11:00 - 4:00 Hotel Jerome Ballroom
"A John Denver Reunion" $50.00
Rory Young: (972) 495-9327
Oct 12, 1998 - HIH Formal Dinner is completely booked up.
Dinner/Concert - "Inn at Aspen" 6:00 PM
Oct 12, 1998 - IAT Event - Snowmass Chapel & Community Center
Free Event - Snowmass, CO Marcelle
Oct 13, 1998 - Snowmass, CO Buffet Dinner at the Tower
5:30 PM - Mary Ledford
(October 22)
The New York Post, Sept 16, 1998
by Michael Starr
Aspen Times Staff Writer
Billboard Online Daily News, September 15, 1998, 11:00 a.m. EST
(I found this message on alt.fan.john-denver on August 19 and thought it's worth introducing...)
Former Director of Communications
The Windstar Foundation
Aug 14-16, 1998 Camp Shepherd / Mt. Rainier, WA
Aug 15, 1998 - Aspen, CO Noon-5:00 PM Dedication of JD Memorial Park at Rio Grand Park in Aspen (September 22)
2. River 4:05 (Renee Armand, Marty Gwinn, 1980)
3. Rusty Green 2:04 (unknown, 5/27/69)
4. Rita Ballou 2:37 (Guy Clark,1980)
5. Four strong winds 4:09 (unknown, 10/2/78)
6. No one 6:19 (unknown, 1971)
7. Dance little Jean 3:07 (Jimmy Ibbotson, 6/13/79)
8. High wind blowin' 3:19 (Renee Armand, Kerry Chater, 1980)
9. It's a sin to tell a lie 1:42 (William P. Mayhew, 4/73)
10. Mr. Bojangles (original version) 4:10 (Jerry Jeff Walker, 11/6/69 )
11. Nobody can take my dreams from me 2:08 (W. Danoff, 1980)
12. The game is over (original version) 2:22 (John Denver,11/6/69)
My Sweet Lady
Sunshine On My Shoulders
Follow Me
Poems, Prayers and Promises
Rhymes And Reasons
Annies' Song
Country Roads
Leaving On A Jet Plane/Goodbye Again
Whispering Jesse
Fly Away
Calypso
Wall Street Journal, 7/10/98
A Missouri priest gets high on John Denver.
"Back Home Again"