John Denver died 15 years ago today

[oregonjen]

I am a huge fan, always will be. His voice is dearly missed.

[MrsBrady]

1. I saw Peter Paul and Mary sing live

I think it was 1999 or 2000...

They included Leaving on a Jet Plane in their set that night...

anyway....they talked about John Denver and how much they missed him.

They had everyone...and I mean, everyone in tears after singing that.

[HopeHoops]

2. On the plus side, flying an ultralight was one of his favorite activities.

Personally, I'd like to go having sex, but at least he went doing something he loved.

[oregonjen]

3. Which made this song very prophetic

On The Wings of a Dream

Yesterday I had a dream about dying
About laying to rest and then flying
How the moment at hand
Is the only thing we really own
And I lay in my bed and I wonder
After all has been said and is done for
Why is it thus we are here
And so soon we are gone

Is this life just a path
To the place that we all have come from
Does the heart know the way
And if not can it ever be found
In a smile or a tear
Or a prayer or a sigh or a song

And if so I sing for my father
And in truth you must know I would rather
He were here by my side
We could fly on the wings of a dream
To a place where the spirit could find us
And joy and surrender would bind us
We are one anyway
Anyway we are more than we seem

There are those who will lead us
Protect us each step of the way
From beginning to end
For each moment forever each day
Such a gift has been given
It can never be taken away

Though the body in passing must leave us
There is one who remains to receive us
There are those in this life
Who are friends from our heavenly home
So I listen to the voices inside me
For I know they are there just to guide me
And my faith will proclaim it is so
We are never alone

From the life to the light
From the dark of the night to the dawn
He is so in my heart
He is here he could never be gone
Though the singer is silent
There still is the truth of the song

Yesterday I had a dream abiut dying
About laying to rest and then flying
How the moment at hand
Is the only thing we really own

And I lay in my bed and I wonder
After all has been said and is done for
Why is it thus we are here
And so soon we are gone
Why is it thus we are here
And so soon we are gone

Words and music by John Denver

[HopeHoops]

5. Yeah. Henry John Deutschendorf, Jr. had an amazing ability to capture feelings in a song.

Like I said, at least he died doing something he loved to do.

[EvolveOrConvolve]

4. Sadly, I only got turned on to John Denver after he died

Great musician, and a good person (from what I've heard).

[Tom_Foolery]

6. My favorite John Denver song...

[oregonjen]

8. This is from the first album I bought, "Windsong"

I remember putting all my change on the counter to buy it.
One of my favorite quotes from when I was younger from "Looking for Space,"
"It's just that it's just that way."

[Tom_Foolery]

9. That line just jumps right out at you, doesn't it? n/t

[Phentex]

13. Love that one!

Well, there are many of his songs that I love. There's no other sound like his.

[Lex]

7. Agreed.

[El Supremo]

10. Yes

[Manifestor_of_Light]

11. Great singer, great songwriter, great guitarist.

One of those people who sold millions of records, and was extremely talented, but didn't get respect.


Or as Liberace famously said after being criticized, "I cried all the way to the bank."



He got his big break with the Chad Mitchell Trio after Mitchell left. The guitar player on the left with the beard and glasses is Paul Prestopino. He also played backup for PP&M. I talked to him after a PP&M concert and he is very cool.

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Mitchell Trio w/John Denver doing Mr. Tambourine Man:

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John Denver playing The Bells of Rhymney on 12-string:

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[oregonjen]

12. The Bells of Rhymney is one of my favorites

I saw him so many times in concert. One of my favorite tours was when it was just him and his guitars, no band. He brought out his 12 string (I think) and during The Bells of Rhymney, he produced the sound of bells. It was truly breathtaking. The whole hall filled with that beautiful sound!

[cleveramerican]

14. Thank God I'm a Country Boy

I well remember loving this song and being thrilled by how different it sounded than anything else on the radio.
Its might be the song that made me go and explore country music more fully, and for that I am grateful.
He is an artist who enriched my life, what better legacy is there?