=============================================
*** R O C K
Y M O U N T A I N H I G H
***
=============================================
The John Denver Internet Fan
Club
Monthly Newsletter
January 2006
Editor: Emily M. Parris
Table of Contents
January 2006 * Issue #141
John Denver
Events...............................2
"Coors Sings an Old Tune" -
Rocky Mountain
News 12-13-05..................3
John Denver Lives in the Missouri Ozarks
A
Biography of Rod Phillips
by Emily M.
Parris...................4
CD Reviews:
"Coming Home For
Christmas"
by Kathy Berdan..........................5
"Wild
Horses and Dreams" - Vic Pellerano cd
Reviewed by Emily M.
Parris...............6
John Denver
Notes................................7
Poetry Corner:
"Song of Peace" by Cynthia
Helen Gullage.......8
"With A Song & A Melody" by Emily
Parris.......9
John Denver Want
Ads.............................9
=======================================
J O H N D E
N V E R E V E N T S
=======================================
January 21, 2006 - England - Steve Brook will be playing an
afternoon
Concert at St. Joseph the Worker Church Hall /
Demontfort Way. Coventry.
3:00pm RSVP to irene@fojd.org.uk
Christine Moon president@fojd.org.uk
January 23, 2006 - Largo, FL - The Rocky Mountain Memory
Show, a
"Tribute to John Denver" starring Ron Rich and
the Stone Tree Band / Shows
at 2:00pm and 7:00pm
Largo Cultural Center / 105 Central Park / Largo,
Florida
Tickets: $15 (727) 587-6793
February 10 and 11, 2006 - Steamboat Springs, CO *
Brad and Kathy
Fitch with the Yampa Valley Boys will
present 2 events of concerts
featuring the songs of John
Denver / The Mountain Theater, Ski Times
Square
Info: Steve Jones (970) 879-4746 www.cowboybrad.com
March 24, 2006 - Monterey, California - Steve Gillette and
Cindy
Mangsen will share songs and invite you to sing
along at a house concert at
13 Antler Place, Monterey, CA
7:30pm / Judy 831-373-7780 jht@spamarrest.com
http://www.compassrosemusic.com
April 28-30, 2006 - PA Friends of John Denver - Annual
Spring Retreat
- Bitter Goose Lodge $55 - Deposit of $20
required. Make checks or money
orders payable to Susan
Spohn / 628 Hemlock Street / Pittsburgh, PA
15202
Info: < spohn@infionline.net >
June 17, 2006 - Baltimore, MD * 2nd Bi-Annual "Nightingala"
"A Musical
Tribute to John Denver" Concert for John
Hopkins School of Nursing. /
Peabody Conservatory of
Music / 1 Mount Vernon Place / Peabody Concert
Hall
8:00pm / 6:00 - VIP "Great Chefs" Reception in the
Peabody
Library * http://www.musicunites.com/Schedule.htm
* * * * * * * * * * *
COORS SINGS AN OLD TUNE
Rocky Mountain News
December 13,
2005
by Roger Fillion
From bikini-clad twins to John Denver's "Rocky Mountain
High", Coors
Brewing Co. is returning to its Rocky Mountain
roots. The Golden brewer -
known for using the Coors twins to
pitch its Coors Light Beer - has bought
the rights to Denver's
1972 hit song. The company is once again employing its
own
version of the upbeat "Rocky Mountain High" in Coors Light
commercials
now airing on tv.
"We did indeed buy the rights to 'Rocky Mountain
High'"
said Coors spokeswoman Kabira Hatland. She declined to discuss
how
much the company paid, although it is estimated in the
"six-figure" range.
The commercial is also notable for
featuring Pete Coors as chief pitchman,
underscoring his
return to the company following his failed US Senate bid
last
year. Coors, who is vice chairman of Molson Coors Brewing
Company is
shown among the snow-capped rocky mountains touting
the unique quality of
Coors Light's taste. As vice chairman,
Pete Coors gets an annual base salary
of $800,000. He also is
eligible for an annual bonus. Coors Brewing used
"Rocky
Mountain High" several years ago in a commercial in which a
man
whistled the tune in a bar and others there soon joined in
singing.
Denver died in 1997 after the small plane he was flying
crashed into Monterey
Bay, off the California coast. But
"Rocky Mountain High" has lived on, a song
that pays tribute
to Colorado's mountains and beauty. "I love it" said
local
concert promoter Barry Fewy, who handled concerts for Denver.
Fey
said the song particularly strikes a chord with him. The
first line - "He was
born in the summer of his 27th year"
refers to a young man moving to Colorado
when he was 27. Fey
also acknowledged that "Rocky Mountain High" can
strike
listeners differently. "It became very, very hip not to like
John
Denver", he said. Sixteen-year-old Ben Kennedy, of
Arvada, who works at Wax
Trax Records in Denver, is among
those who isn't a fan. "It's kind of
annoying" said Kennedy.
"I really don't like that." Kennedy recalled that his
uncle
liked to play the song several years ago while having a drink.
Hatland, the Coors spokeswoman, noted the ad is not
intended for a
16-year-old such as Kennedy, who is too young
to consume beer. Foote Cone
& Belding in Chicago produced the
Coors ad. The agency's music director,
Gregory Grene, noted
that older hits such as "Rocky Mountain High" have
become
popular in ads. Another Coors ad uses the O'Jay's 1973 hit
song
"Love Train". "These songs mean something to people",
Grene said of the older
music. He also noted that older songs
are the most expensive to license.
Asked how much the songs
typically cost to license for a year, he replied
"six
figures." Coors also is using contemporary music in its
various ads,
one of which features Jane's Addiction's
"Mountain Song."
Steve
Sander, principal of Pure Brand Communications, a
Denver advertising and
marketing company, said the use of
"Rocky Mountain High" shouldn't hinder
Coors' ability to sell
its beer in Colorado - even though not all people are
fans of
the tune. "Overall, 'Rocky Mountain High' and John Denver have
a
positive legacy in Colorado", he said.
<*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*>
<*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*>
JOHN DENVER LIVES in the Missouri Ozarks -
A Bio of Rod
Phillips
by Emily M. Parris
Rod Phillips and his wife, Andrea, have lived in Branson,
Missouri
since 1987. He presently performs in the "John Denver
LIVES" tribute show at
the Hillbilly Inn and Dinner Theatre
right on Highway 76. On Sundays he is
the music director at
the Branson Christian Church downtown and he also leads
an Old
Gospel Sing at the Presley Theatre every night at 7:00pm.
Rod
has a Master's degree from North Texas State
University and a Bachelor's
degree in Vocal Performance from
Phillips University. He is very versatile in
his range of
instruments playing the piano, guitar, bass, cello,
banjo,
mandolin, harmonica, flute and the celtic harp. He has written
300
songs, as well as four musicals, a novel, short stories
and poetry. Through
his efforts John Denver has a presence
in the musical scene there.
Branson, Missouri sits atop scenic highway 76 in the
Missouri Ozarks and is
nestled in the hills. It is a music
town and since it is situated in the
heart of the Bible Belt,
Gospel Music is very popular. Rod has several cd's
of the
"Old Gospel" piano music that he plays nightly at the
Presley
Theatre. The Presley Theatre was one of the earliest theatres
in
Branson. They began a music show in the Talking Rocks
Cavern in 1960, and
opened their theater on Highway 76 in
1967.
Rod's musical career
started back in 1973 when he was the
musical director of the New Christy
Minstrels in Hollywood,
California. He was also a soloist with "Young
Country" in
Dallas, Texas in the 70's. From 1978 to 1984 he toured
with
Michael Martin Murphey opening for the rock group "America."
He was
also a solo singer-songwriter in Taos, New Mexico.
From 1985 to 1995 he
was a Christian singer-songwriter
doing 80 concerts in the Branson area. Two
tours with
Cornerstone Praise Company took him to Warsaw, Poland in
1989
and 1990. In 1990 he played keyboards, wrote, danced, and
did
puppetry at the Jim Stafford Theatre and in 1993 he began
opening for
the show. He also did solo road shows with Jim
Stafford.
"Legends", a
Las-Vegas based show at the Grand Palace was
the venue he directed in 1996.
He was the musical director and
pianist for the show in the 4000-seat
theatre. He also has
appeared at Silver Dollar City, Chateau on the Lake, the
IMAX
Theater and the Engler Block in the Branson area.
The Branson,
Missouri area became famous in 1907 when
Harold Bell Wright wrote the book
"The Shepherd of the Hills."
The city was incorporated in 1912. Marvel Cave
became an
attraction in 1949 but it was not until 1960 that Silver
Dollar
City opened incorporating Marvel Cave into the theme
park.
==========
CD REVIEWS
==========
"Coming Home For
Christmas", various artists, Legacy/RCA
by Kathy Berdan - Pioneer Press
in the article
"Christmas CDs are (mostly) a feast for the ears"
This is that strange concoction the turducken (a chicken
in a duck
in a turkey), that tries to be many things to many
people. Why else bring
together Kenny Loggins, Amy Grant, Hall
and Oates, Lonestar, John Denver,
Michael Bolton, the
Trans-Siberian Orchestra and Jim Brickman? A stellar
example
of what a mix-up this is: Olivia Newton-John and Vince Gill
sing
"There's No Place Like Home for the Holidays", backed by
a flock of singers
and the London Symphony Orchestra. Huh?
Note: a new song on the CD by Anne
Cochran is called "Someone
is Missing at Christmas" and it's so emotionally
manipulative
that it's downright mean. No one needs reminding that
the
holidays are harder with loss. No one needs tears from
"favorite
chairs that are empty."
< < < < < o o o > > > > >
Review of "Wild Horses and Dreams" cd - Vic Pellerano
by Emily M.
Parris
Vic Pellerano, who was born in New Jersey, is "High on
North
Dakota." He does for this state what John Denver did
for Colorado. In his
songs he sings about the land, the
weather, the people and the state. He is
often called "The
John Denver of North Dakota" and in his songs he weaves in
the
history and a feeling for the state.
His song "Crossings" is the
theme song for
Fargo-Moorhead's All American City. It tells the 125
year
history of the two cities. "Scarecrow" and "Against the Wind"
are
about the plight of farmers.
All the songs have very good guitar work and
one of my
favorites is the "Tale of the Medora Roughriders" because
it
starts out with a horse neighing. The entire album has a very
western
feel to it and you definitely feel that you have been
brought into some of
the places, sounds, and highlights of the
state of North Dakota.
"Quiet Sunsets" is the song that sounds most like a John
Denver song: "I was
born in the city;
had the country in my heart" -
In
this song the lyrics go on to say...
"where eagles fly free and the buffalo
still roam"
This is why I call North Dakota my home."
"Red River Nights", "Discover the Spirit" (of North
Dakota),
"Dakota Western Skies" and, of course, "High on North
Dakota" are some of the
songs that highlight the area. If you
like nature and the outdoors I'm sure
you would like this
album because the themes are very much like a John
Denver
song.
The Fargo-Moorhead area is like Kansas City in that part
of it is in
one state, and part in another. Fargo is in North
Dakota and Moorhead is in
Minnesota. Kansas City is the same
with the major part of the city in
Missouri, but with Kansas
City, Kansas; Overland Park and many other nice
suburbs on the
Kansas side. If you want to read more about the
Fargo-Moorhead
area you can go to...
http://www.fargo-history.com
or
http://www.fargomoorhead.org
Samples
of all the songs on "Wild Horses and Dreams" can be
heard at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/vicpellerano
Vic is also listed on www.slackpacker.com/usmap.html
where
they have a list of Hiking Trails by State and a list of what
songs
to listen to as you hike. He is the musician listed for
North Dakota along
with a link to his cdbaby website.
Of course, JOHN DENVER is listed for
Colorado.
=======================================
J O H N D E N V
E R N O T E S
=======================================
Emily < emily@parris.net > There is a new Rocky
Mountain High
Guestbook at Smartgb.com The other one was attacked
by
spammers. I have all the old messages from the 5/5/2000 to
the present
and can archive them on the RMH Web Site. There
are over 2200 messages. You
can get to the NEW Rocky Mountain
High Guestbook 2006 at http://www.rockymtnhigh.org
- - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I run my church Christmas
Music event and we sing "Aspenglow",
"Please, Daddy" and "A Baby Just Like
You." I announce that
the songs are from John Denver's "Rocky Mountain
Christmas"
album, just to keep him alive in our
hearts.
Peace! Bob Phillips
- - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Jingle belle time is a swell
time"... Seacoastonline.com
"Tried-and-true best-selling holiday music
from Nat King
Cole, Frank Sinatra, John Denver, Kenny G and Herb Alpert
has
all returned in new packages - even as Media Monitors notes
that the
artist who had the most Christmas songs played on the
radio last year was
still Sinatra."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
-
An Article on 12-20-05 said that Zachary J. Deutschendorf
lives in
Durango, CO and Anna Kate Deutschendorf lives in
Sausalito, CA
- - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The release date for a new
John Denver cd called "John Denver
Love Songs" is 1-10-06 on the RCA Legacy
label.
Track Listing:
"Poems, Prayers and Promises", "It's Up To
You",
"Come and Let Me Look in Your Eyes", "Annie's Song", "You're
So
Beautiful", "My Sweet Lady", "Love Again", "I Remember
Romance", "Seasons of
the Heart", "Leaving On A Jet Plane",
"If Ever", "Baby, You Look Good to Me
Tonight", "A Song For
All Lovers", "Dreamland Express", and "Perhaps
Love"
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
=======================================
J O H N D E N V E R P
O E T R Y
=======================================
SONG OF PEACE
by Cynthia Helen Gullage
Peace is a jewel,
rare and precious.
Peace is the sun
that shines
above.
Peace is a candle
brightly burning.
Peace is synonymous
with love.
Peace holds the
promise of tomorrow.
Peace comes about
when we
forgive.
Peace is a vision
never ending.
Peace is a dream
that we
can live.
Peace is the song
that I am singing.
Peace is a star
to light the
way.
Peace is the right
of all things living.
Peace is
my fervent
wish,
"Today"
In memory of John Denver
December 31, 1943 - October 12, 1997
Cynthia
Helen Gullage
December 21, 2005
* * *
With A Song and A Melody
Dedicated to John Denver
by Emily M. Parris
Seasons of the heart you gave me
As you taught me all about love
The
fullness of your emotions
That's what you were singing of
Sometimes you were looking for space
And I was looking too
Yearning
for the kind of love
That seemed to be there with you
Each song was my obsession
All the words became my own
There with the
Eagle and the Hawk
My wounded heart had flown
Though the years brought tragedy
And you left for a higher place
I
found my own sunshine
Just like I saw on your face
You took me from abject loneliness
To a love I could share every
day
It came with a song and a melody
In a loving and gentle way
_____________________________________
Copyright 11-11-05 by Emily M.
Parris
=================================================
JOHN DENVER W A N
T A D S / F O R S A L
E
=================================================
Roy River's cd "Thank God, I'm A Country Boy" is a European cd
that is
now available in the US with 2 additional songs: "What
Our Love Is Not About"
and "All Caught Up." $12 + $3.50 s/h
in the U.S. http://www.royrivers.com
- - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
John Eldridge < evgjohneldridge@wmconnect.com
>
I am looking for an autographed picture of John Denver.
Email me if
you have one to sell.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - -
Jim Buckner's Greatest Hits cd titled "Cover to Cover"
includes his
John Denver Tribute song called "Johnny."
The cd is available through www.cdbaby.com
The cd Baby description
for Jim's "In The Can" cd says...
"Bob Dylan meets John Denver country, folk,
rock, and pop
style music."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - -
Emily < emily@parris.net > I have a new book of
poetry for 2006
called "With A Song & A Melody" $6 postpaid in the
U.S.
Emily Parris 608 E. 96th Street / Kansas City, MO 64131
- - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
*************************************************************
Rocky
Mountain High: The John Denver Internet Fan Club
emily@parris.net http://www.rockymtnhigh.org
January
2006 * Issue #141 * Editor: Emily M.
Parris
*************************************************************