John Denver was one of the most prolific artists of the 20th century, and is widely beloved to this day, even though he has sadly been deceased now for over a quarter of a century. He recorded and released something like 300 songs in his lifetime, about two thirds of which he wrote himself. At Bonjongles, we are big John Denver fans, and we wanted to take some time today to talk some about his life and career.
His Early Life
Born in Roswell, New Mexico on New Year’s Eve in 1943, John Denver actually wasn’t his given name. His actual birth name was Henry John Deutschendorf Jr., I think you can see why he later would change his name! When he was just 11 years old, his grandmother would gift him an acoustic guitar, which he would begin to learn to play. He would eventually move to Los Angeles after dropping out of Texas Tech in 1963, where he would join The Chad Mitchell Trio, replacing its founder Chad Mitchell.
The Start of His Career
In 1969, Denver began his solo career and released his debut album, Rhymes & Reasons, for RCA Records. This album did ok, but his career wouldn’t really start to take off until he released his album, Poems, Prayers & Promises. The hit single off the album, “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” went straight up to the number two spot on the Billboard charts. This song would help skyrocket his career, and is one of his most lasting legacies, as it is still beloved to this day.
The Peak of His Career
In 1972, his album, Rocky Mountain High, would become his first Top Ten album. The title track of the album would also become a Top Ten hit. In the following years, Denver would have three number one albums, John Denver’s Greatest Hits, Back Home Again, and Windsong. Off of these albums, he would have four number one hit songs (“Sunshine on My Shoulders”,”Annie’s Song”, “Thank God I’m a Country Boy”, and “I’m Sorry”).
The Tragic End of His Life
John Denver would record and release music throughout his entire life. He likely would have made more, had his life not been tragically cut short. Denver would pass away on October 12th, 1997 when his homebuilt aircraft crashed into Monterey Bay in Pacific Grove, California. Denver was an experienced pilot with over 2,700 hours of flying time, but nevertheless, disaster would still strike.
Find Some John Denver at Bonjongles
What is your favorite album John Denver made? He made so many amazing albums, and at Bonjongles we have a good number of them. If you’re looking for some John Denver on vinyl or CD, or any other popular artist of the 20th century, stop by and check us out at Bonjongles. We always have John Denver in stock, and are constantly adding new records, CDs, and other pieces of music memorabilia to our music room. Stop by and check us out in the Winchester Exchange Building in downtown Westminster, MD.
