John Denver's birthday (Dec 31, 1943-Oct 12, 1997)

Subject: John Denver's birthday
From: The Shambles
Date: 31 Dec 06 - 02:37 PM

John Denver was born this day (31 December) in Roswell NM, in 1943.

Hmmm - born in Roswell eh?

Subject: RE: John Denver's birthday
From: GUEST,Greycap
Date: 31 Dec 06 - 08:05 PM

Been to Roswell,checked it out. His dad was a USAF officer serving there-John was an awesome singer & picker and gave heaps of pleasure to all who listened to his work.
I can say no more apart from the fact I wish he was still around -IMHO

Subject: RE: John Denver's birthday
From: Deckman
Date: 01 Jan 07 - 12:41 AM

He gave countless hours of joyful music to me. I still miss him. Bob(deckman)Nelson

Subject: RE: John Denver's birthday
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 01 Jan 07 - 02:55 AM

' I'm leaving on a jet plane, I'm never coming back again. '

eric

Subject: RE: John Denver's birthday
From: Ebbie
Date: 01 Jan 07 - 04:08 AM

My brother, a musician, said he had never attended any concerts as good as the ones John Denver gave. Right now I'm in the process of turning John Denver vinyl albums into CDs for my brother's widow, many in live concert. I'm blown away by Denver's voice, his impeccable ear, his choice of songs. If I hadn't been a fan of his before I would be now.

Subject: RE: John Denver's birthday
From: The Shambles
Date: 01 Jan 07 - 12:32 PM

I went to see him perform live once and was only dragged along by my wife - who was a real fan of his.

I was very glad I did go. To my great surprise and delight - it was really one of the very best live performances I have been fortunate to attend.

Subject: RE: John Denver's birthday
From: freightdawg
Date: 01 Jan 07 - 06:25 PM

Sniff...

One of the greatest songwriters ever - and you could even understand his lyrics.

If airplanes had never been invented we sure would have a lot more talent still alive today.

Freightdawg

Subject: RE: John Denver's birthday
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Jan 07 - 06:31 PM

To me he was the adult version of the Milkybar Kid. A great influence during my formative folk years. R.I.P.

Subject: RE: John Denver's birthday
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 01 Jan 07 - 10:20 PM

I loved him and his music.
I even had him up on stage singing with me once...
What a nice guy.
Seamus

Subject: RE: John Denver's birthday
From: GUEST,Nellie Clatt
Date: 02 Jan 07 - 01:46 AM

Nice guy my arse, he was well known to be a wife beater, and while preaching all things green and environmentaly friendly he was secretly having huge underground deisel tanks built at his home in Aspen.

Hypocrite is a kind thing to call him.

Subject: RE: John Denver's birthday
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 02 Jan 07 - 01:54 AM

He was nice to me, and didn't beat my wife.
Plus, he gave me a few gallons for the car.

Seamus

Subject: RE: John Denver's birthday
From: Ebbie
Date: 02 Jan 07 - 02:14 AM

"Nice guy my arse, he was well known to be a wife beater, and while preaching all things green and environmentaly friendly he was secretly having huge underground deisel tanks built at his home in Aspen." Guest

Guests are well known for exaggeration and outright lies.

Subject: RE: John Denver's birthday
From: Cluin
Date: 03 Jan 07 - 12:58 AM

Right. And he was an Army sniper in Vietnam and notoriously hated Jehovah's Witnesses too.

Been a big fan of his since I was a kid and he was a big influence on me. Happy birthday, JD. Wish you were still around.

Subject: RE: John Denver's birthday (31 Dec 1943)
From: Jim Lad
Date: 03 Jan 07 - 03:22 AM

The made for T.V. movie "Sunshine" had the best musical score of all time. In so many songs, John Denver has written his own epitaph. Fly Away...Leaving on a Jet Plane... And they say that he got crazy once and tried to touch the sun .. the list goes on.

Subject: RE: John Denver's birthday (31 Dec 1943)
From: The Shambles
Date: 03 Jan 07 - 05:08 AM

It all comes back to being born in Roswell.

Subject: RE: John Denver's birthday (31 Dec 1943)
From: Tom Hamilton frae Saltcoats Scotland
Date: 03 Jan 07 - 06:33 AM

I saw him once in concert along with my dad in Glasgow, it was a great night, just him and his guitars.

Subject: RE: John Denver's birthday (31 Dec 1943)
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Jan 07 - 06:48 AM

Was dad playing as well?

Subject: RE: John Denver's birthday (31 Dec 1943)
From: John Hardly
Date: 03 Jan 07 - 10:17 AM

"If airplanes had never been invented we sure would have a lot more talent still alive today."

Of course, he'd have never written "Leavin' On A Jet Plane"

Subject: RE: John Denver's birthday (31 Dec 1943)
From: Wesley S
Date: 03 Jan 07 - 01:22 PM

"Leavin' On The Next Train" would have rhymed just as well....

Subject: RE: John Denver's birthday (31 Dec 1943)
From: Greg B
Date: 03 Jan 07 - 01:28 PM

Here's a rather thorough report on John Denver's
demise:

http://www.avweb.com/other/ntsb9905.html

'Airplanes' weren't the problem.

The pilot, however, was.

Subject: RE: John Denver's birthday (31 Dec 1943)
From: Ebbie
Date: 04 Jan 07 - 12:47 PM

Greg B, I don't understand your cryptic remark. I read the whole report and it does NOT conclude with your evaluation or even intimate your insinuation.

The basic conclusion: "Also, the Board determines that the pilot's inadequate preflight planning and preparations, specifically his failure to refuel the airplane, was causal. The Board determines that the builder's decision to locate the unmarked fuel selector handle in a hard-to-access position, unmarked fuel quantity sight gauges, inadequate transition training by the pilot, and his lack of total experience in this type of airplane were factors in this accident."

The position of the fuel selector handle was most certainly a huge factor in the crash; the fact that Denver had decided that he had enough fuel for his planned activities was the ONLY instance given that he had 'inadequately' done preflight preparations.

Before you respond that his medical certification was not current that question is not pertinent. Toxicology tests showed NO drug agents in his blood; the certification board made their judgment based on his reporting the routine consumption of wine or beer weekly, on their determination that his medical certification was dependent on his using NO alcohol, because of his known drinking problems.

Subject: RE: John Denver's birthday (31 Dec 1943)
From: Greg B
Date: 05 Jan 07 - 09:30 AM

Ebbie, you apparently aren't a pilot.

If you were, you'd know that the pilot, and the pilot alone,
is responsible for the safety of the flight. No blaming somebody
else. No 'the dog ate my homework' no 'I wasn't feeling well' no
'I was upset.' No excuses.

The report indicts this pilot:

"...the Board determines that the pilot's inadequate preflight planning and preparations" (This is a general violoation of the Federal Air Regulation 91.103)

"...specifically his failure to refuel the airplane" (This is a
specific violation of the Federal Air Regulations 91.103 and 91.151)

"The Board determines that the builder's decision to locate the unmarked fuel selector handle in a hard-to-access position, unmarked fuel quantity sight gauges," (The FARs are very specific---
responsiblity for determining that an aircraft is safe to fly
rests with the 'owner/operator.' That full responsbility was
John Denver's when he took title to the aircraft, remained his
as the pilot who chose to operate it FAR 91.403). It was up to
him to KNOW, not guess, what the fuel gauges meant. Every pilot
knows this. If it comes down to filling the tanks a gallon at a
time and looking at the gauges to see what they look like, that's
what you do. What the BUILDER did or didn't do was immaterial. The airplane's engine stopped running with Denver operating it. HE
alone was responsible for knowing how that aircraft's systems worked.
If he couldn't reach a critical control, it was up to HIM to either fix that situation or DON'T FLY THE PLANE. Hey, I'm short. But if I
crash an airplane because I can't reach the rudder pedals IT IS
MY FAULT FOR NOT TAKING THE RIGHT SEAT CUSIONS, not Cessna's for
building airplanes made for six-footers. It's better to be down
here wishing you were up there than the other way around.)

"...inadequate transition training by the pilot" (Again, Denver
was responsible to ensure that he was adequately experienced in
that category, class, and type, and in the specific plane, to
successfully complete the flight.)

You state:
"The position of the fuel selector handle was most certainly a huge
factor in the crash;"

Did the position of the handle move after John Denver made the
decision to go flying? Was it ready to hand, and suddenly disappeared
and cropped up elsewhere? I don't think so. You just don't see that
in a mechanical contrivance.

Further that: "the fact that Denver had decided that he had enough
fuel for his planned activities was the ONLY instance given that he
had 'inadequately' done preflight preparations"

Well--- that's a bit of a deal-breaker now isn't it? There just
aren't any avgas stations that you can pull over and use in
the middle of Monterey Bay.

But you are incorrect--- his training was inadequate, his
analysis of the safety of the aircraft (the FAR calls it
'all factors relating to the safety of the contemplated flight)
was clearly skewed by the desire to play with his new toy, his
familiarity with the systems was flawed, and his ability to
physically manipulate the controls was known to be inadequate.
JOHN DENVER WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL OF THIS. NOBODY ELSE.

His lack of a 3rd class medical is certainly pertinent: he was
not, at the time of the flight, any more legal to make it than
a random person off the street. He had made an agreement to keep
that medical, and admitted he had broken it. So it was revoked.
Common belief is that alcoholics tend to lie about the amount
they're drinking, if they're drinking at all. In addition, his
violation of the agreement, together with his willingless to
break Federal law and fly without a valid medical suggest that
he was beginning to feel that the rules didn't apply to him.

Experience tells us that once pilots begin to believe that---
that they are above the rules that apply to their peers, their
life-span (and that of their passengers) becomes markedly
decreased.

The big failure that fateful day was not the fuel system. It
was in perfect working order. The problem was the loose nut
that held the stick.

Sorry if you don't like that; like all the capable doctors that
have killed themselves in their airplanes, it doesn't reflect on
JD's ability as an entertainer. But on that day, he was a lousy
pilot.

Subject: RE: John Denver's birthday (31 Dec 1943)
From: jojofolkagogo
Date: 05 Jan 07 - 09:36 AM

"Guests are well know to exaggerate "


WELL SAID   Ebbie


I have recently been reciting "The Ambulance Down in the Valley"

anyone know it ???? its a very funny poem - and I first (or only ever) heard John Denver recite in on a TV show some many years ago - taped it, played it over and over again, and only just NOW have decided to recite it at clubs -

I just HATE Grandma's feather Bed but LOVE lots of his other stuff.

Jo-Jo

Subject: RE: John Denver's birthday (31 Dec 1943)
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 05 Jan 07 - 11:57 AM

"He was born in the Summer of his 27th year
Coming home to a place he'd never been before
He left yesterday behind him, might say he's born again
Might say he's found the key to every door"

Pretty much my theme song in 1977 when I moved to Colorado, particularly "friends around the campfire, and everybody's high". Over the years, John was looked at more as a kind of pollyana figure, a caricature of his own creation, the ultimate sunshine-and-granola hippy. But he wrote great songs for sure.

Take me home Country Roads...

Subject: RE: John Denver's birthday (31 Dec 1943)
From: Ebbie
Date: 05 Jan 07 - 12:05 PM

Greg B, I live in Alaska, a state that has more small planes and pilots than any other state in the union. I am not a pilot but many of my friends are. I am well aware of the rigorous preflight checklists and of the consequences of slipshod methods.

The plane John Denver was flying was an experimental plane; as such I believe that some things - like the placement of the fuel selector handle and the fact that when the fuel level in the gas tanks fell below a certain level, the plane's fuel injection tended to fail when the plane was in a steep dive- would be improved in a later model.

I don't feel bad that Denver died doing what he loved to do, and an in his death he took no one else with him. I only resent the implications I felt you made.

Subject: RE: John Denver's birthday (31 Dec 1943)
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Jan 07 - 11:09 PM

Poorly Designed Airplanes and Negligent Pilots are not mutually exclusive categories.

Subject: RE: John Denver's birthday (31 Dec 1943)
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Jan 07 - 11:29 PM

That should have been, Crashes caused by poorly designed airplanes and crashes caused by negligent pilots are not mutually exclusive categories.

Subject: RE: John Denver's birthday (31 Dec 1943)
From: The Shambles
Date: 06 Jan 07 - 06:34 AM

I am reminded of one those Crash Investigation Programmes where a plane developed a fuel leak in the middle of the Atlantic. The pilots had a warning that something was wrong but did not not establish that it was a leak until it was too late.

Whatever and whoever may have been to blame for getting them into such a position - and this show does tend to demonstrate that it never just one factor that goes wrong but a combination - from that point onward all of the passengers owed their lives to the crew.

They mangaged to find the only available land - a tiny mid-atlantic island - and to glide unpowered for many miles - to land the plane.

Were the crew villans for getting the passengers into the mess or heroes for getting them out of it?

Subject: RE: John Denver's birthday (31 Dec 1943)
From: Ebbie
Date: 06 Jan 07 - 04:25 PM

"They mangaged to find the only available land - a tiny mid-atlantic island - and to glide unpowered for many miles - to land the plane." Shambles

I would be very surprised if a normal sized plane, a Boeing 737 on up, say, would be able to glide "many miles" unpowered. Unless it was a small plane, as in a Cessna or a Cub or whichever.

As for whether the crew were villains or heroes in that scenario- I'd say they were mostly heroes. Unless the pilot(s) were 'under the influence', which would change all perceptions, they were heroic in successfully coping with the problems. Human error does happen. Until the day comes that airplanes are remotely controlled or flown robotically humans will on occasion make bad decisions. (Even robots' batteries could malfunction!)

Subject: RE: John Denver's birthday (31 Dec 1943)
From: The Shambles
Date: 06 Jan 07 - 08:23 PM

I would be very surprised if a normal sized plane, a Boeing 737 on up, say, would be able to glide "many miles" unpowered.

Well them be surprised.

For it was the longest recorded unpowered flight/landing of an airliner. Perhaps not something that would be practiced very much.

Subject: RE: John Denver's birthday (31 Dec 1943)
From: The Shambles
Date: 06 Jan 07 - 08:27 PM

24 August 2001; Air Transat A330-200; near the Azores Islands, Portugal:

The aircraft was cruising across the Atlantic at 39,000 feet (11,900 meters) on a scheduled flight from Toronto to Lisbon when the right engine lost power. The left engine quit about 13 minutes later.

Both engines lost power as a result of fuel starvation. There had been a leak in the fuel system near the right engine, and an open cross feed valve allowed fuel to be lost from both wing tanks. The leak had been noticed by the crew about an hour prior to the engines shutting down, and the aircraft was already diverting toward Lajes military airfield in the Azores.

After the last engine lost power, the crew was able to glide for 20 minutes for about 115 miles (185 km) to Lajes airfield and avert a mid-ocean ditching. None of the 13 crew members or 293 passengers were seriously injured.

Although the landing gear was damaged during the high speed landing, the crew was able to stop the aircraft on the runway. All 13 crew members and 291 passengers survived, though some occupants were injured during a emergency evacuation. Transport Canada later fined the airline C$250,000 (about US$165,000) for maintenance infractions relating to an improper installation of a hydraulic pump on an engine of the incident aircraft.

Subject: RE: John Denver's birthday (31 Dec 1943)
From: GUEST,Kris
Date: 08 Jan 07 - 06:35 PM

Anyway, Happy Birthday...

Subject: RE: John Denver's birthday (31 Dec 1943)
From: Greg B
Date: 09 Jan 07 - 09:52 AM

At least the crew actually put fuel in the tanks before they
attempted to fly it.

The LongEZ is a pretty good airplane---some would say far
safer than most.

However, the engine is defective in that it won't run on
air.

Subject: RE: John Denver's birthday (31 Dec 1943)
From: GUEST,Marci
Date: 17 Apr 08 - 11:54 AM

Ya know...you can argue 'til the cows come home, but the fact remains that the man is gone and we all miss him and his music.

Subject: RE: John Denver's birthday (31 Dec 1943)
From: topical tom
Date: 19 Apr 08 - 10:12 AM

unfortunately, I never got to see John perform live but I loved his songs and obvious up-beat optimism.I'm sure he gave up-lifting, feel-good concerts.As in another thread, he is one performer I wish I had seen live. I miss him.

Subject: RE: John Denver's birthday (31 Dec 1943)
From: GUEST,bjb3355
Date: 02 Aug 08 - 09:25 AM

Ebbie,
Do you happen to have a copy of John Denver singing Happy Birthday? I see you were turning videos into DVDs. A friend of mine; who says she had known John personally, is doing the same thing and she needs that video. Perhaps you could swap some things. She has HOURS and HOURS of video. If anyone has it, please contact me at [e-mail]. Believe me, all around the world, he is missed.
Thanks

Subject: RE: John Denver's birthday (31 Dec 1943)
From: GUEST,scooter
Date: 26 Dec 08 - 10:55 PM

I am a huge fan of Denver and his music. I am younger than most of his fans, and have recently been turned on to his music. I think it's refreshing to hear an artist who actually writes his own music and with lyrics that are so meaningful to him, also strike a chord with me. Judging by the lyrics he seems to have been a emotional and spirtitual person, who cared so much about the natural wonders of our envirnment, and protecting them. And that voice! I wish I was a teenager of the 70's so I could see him live! For a while I have held him up as an idol of the ideal man, until recently after hearing some of his beautiful love songs, I did some research. My bubble was burst when I read of his infidelities, and cruel treatment of his first and second wives, who were the subject of those love songs. This reality contrasts so sharply with my perception of the man.

Subject: RE: John Denver's birthday (31 Dec 1943)
From: open mike
Date: 27 Dec 08 - 04:18 AM

does any one have copies of the christmas album he did with the Muppets?
I would like to get copies of two songs on there
The Christmas Wish and the Peace Carol.

wonderful original songs on that .

there is a memorial bench for John Denver
in Pacific Grove Calif. at the monarch
butterfly sanctuary.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3222/2803270051_335e19018d.jpg?v=0

this is near whaer his plane went down.

Subject: RE: John Denver's birthday (31 Dec 1943)
From: Zany Mouse
Date: 27 Dec 08 - 07:13 AM

Ebbie,

I would love a copy of the CDs if you fancy selling some.

Blessings
Rhiannon

Subject: RE: John Denver's birthday (31 Dec 1943)
From: bubblyrat
Date: 27 Dec 08 - 09:21 AM

All seems a bit overheated to me !! For a start, the guy was the son of one of America's great "The Right Stuff" test-pilots, Major Deutschendorf, and as such,would probably have had a better-than-average knowledge of the principles of flight generally,and maybe even a genetic predisposition to "natural flying ability".However,I have spoken to various people who saw JD "live" and have said that he was,in some instances,so drunk that he could hardly stand up.Add to that his rather "hippy" nature and laid-back life-style and philosophy,and you don't necessarily have the makings of a "master of the skies" !! Plus the fact that,despite what people think,American aircraft are not always the best in the world !!Now, I have to say that I do not know much about the machine that JD was flying at the time of his fatal accident, but my father flew all his wartime "operations"over Germany in B17 F & G marques of the Boeing "Flying Fortress", and they were notorious for being underpowered and quite unable to carry a worthwhile bomb-load compared to,for example, the Lancaster ,or Stirling.
   Despite that,I was a great JD fan, and loved his music, although I cannot say that he was a great actor ( I hated his films), and his "live" TV appearances with,for example,Frank Sinatra,were excruciatingly AWFUL ! At least he died doing what he undoubtedly loved, even if he wasn't very good at it . HUMANUM EST ERRARE !!

Subject: RE: John Denver's birthday (31 Dec 1943)
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 27 Dec 08 - 04:58 PM

"...However,I have spoken to various people who saw JD "live" and have said that he was,in some instances,so drunk that he could hardly stand up.Add to that his rather "hippy" nature and laid-back life-style and philosophy,and you don't necessarily have the makings of a "master of the skies" !!..."

Gee Whizz, but those words sound so harsh, you know.

Does it never occur to you that John may never have intended to become dependant on alcohol? People don't get there because they're happy, you know. They get there because, more often than not, they're desperately *unhappy*

And maybe, just maybe, John decided to end his life on that particular day, and it had nothing to do with being an inexperienced pilot, which, for the record, he wasn't. No-one will ever know for sure what happened on that day. He was a vastly experienced pilot with a passionate interest in space travel:

John Denver - Memories


This is from one of the threads above, which I posted a few years back after some other somewhat harsh words:


>>>>RE: John Denver - 60's Folk Singer
From: Lizzie Cornish - PM
Date: 11 Dec 05 - 03:48 PM

Haven't a clue if he was a republican or not Tim, not that it matters or that anyone will ever know how John Denver voted. What is important is the music and the man.

John sold more records than The Beatles.... he did a vast amount for charities, for the hungry and the environment. He was also deeply loved by many, many people, some of whom still carry on his beloved Windstar Foundation for him:

The Windstar Organisation


He put in a huge amount of work and I believe, his own money, to ensure it would remain the way it was supposed to...free and wild...and to educate children and adults too, in what we're doing to our planet. If you read up about him, you'll find that he felt very guilty that his fame 'put Colorado on the map' and opened the door for the builders and the planners to move in....that it became some sort of Mecca, because of his songs. He was often happiest out in the mountains entirely on his own.

Yes he had problems in his life, mainly drink, which led him into some truly ghastly places...but he had the courage to admit it...and in the end he and Annie became friends again. It sent him to hell and back. I remember seeing him on TV over here in England a year or two before he died and he was talking about his problems...he made no excuses for himself at all. The happy-go-lucky "YeeHa!" John had gone....and in his place there was a deep-thinking man, quietly talking about his failings, his family and his hopes for the future.

His music played a very important part in my early life. I loved the gentleness in his songs. I loved the way he sang about nature...I loved the way he teamed up with Jacques Cousteau and The Calypso team. I was lucky enough to see him live twice, once at The London Palladium and once at Wembley, along with many thousands of other people. He let me soar with eagles, he let me stand upon 'cathedral mountains' he took me out into The Rocky Mountains...to Montana...he made me feel sad, happy, angry, inquisitive.....all the things that a great songwriter is able to make someone feel.

Leaving On A Jet Plane must mean a HUGE amount to many performers...who feel this urgent need to take their music to as many people as possible, whilst knowing they have to leave their families behind them. Annie was desperate for him to stay...he knew he had to go and it tore them apart. But if he hadn't done it...none of the messages on this board would probably ever have been written. In fact, you could almost say that we were all part of the reason that John Denver took to drinking in the first place. Now there's a new way of looking at things!

Love him or hate him....John Denver had a huge impact on very many people. I was deeply saddened by the personal things that befell him and his family, but at least things had become bearable again at the end. A man who knew much sadness in his life, whilst bringing much happiness to hundreds of thousands too. What a dilemma for anyone to face....A voice which tells you to 'stay' and a voice which tells you to 'go'......

Read his words in 'Goodbye Again' and it's easy to see why things started to go so wrong for him:

Do you choose to remember a man for his faults? Or for his achievements? Perhaps reading this may help:

Remembering John Denver

I'm very glad that I was lucky enough to grow up with his music. I wish he were still here.......<<<<


No-one has the right to comment so harshly on the lives of performers, or indeed anyone else, because unless you've walked a mile in that person's shoes, you have no idea what was going on in their lives.

There but for the Grace of God...................................

Subject: Remembering John Denver
From: olddude
Date: 04 Mar 10 - 04:35 PM

Leaving on a Jet Plane

Subject: RE: Remembering John Denver
From: olddude
Date: 04 Mar 10 - 04:36 PM

Rocky Mountain High

Subject: RE: Remembering John Denver
From: olddude
Date: 04 Mar 10 - 04:38 PM

Annie's Song

Subject: RE: Remembering John Denver
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 04 Mar 10 - 05:12 PM

This is from one of the threads ages back, Dan....written after some somewhat harsh words had been said about John:


>>>>RE: John Denver - 60's Folk Singer
From: Lizzie Cornish - PM
Date: 11 Dec 05 - 03:48 PM

Haven't a clue if he was a republican or not Tim, not that it matters or that anyone will ever know how John Denver voted. What is important is the music and the man.

John sold more records than The Beatles.... he did a vast amount for charities, for the hungry and the environment. He was also deeply loved by many, many people, some of whom still carry on his beloved Windstar Foundation for him:

The Windstar Foundation



He put in a huge amount of work and I believe, his own money, to ensure it would remain the way it was supposed to...free and wild...and to educate children and adults too, in what we're doing to our planet. If you read up about him, you'll find that he felt very guilty that his fame 'put Colorado on the map' and opened the door for the builders and the planners to move in....that it became some sort of Mecca, because of his songs. He was often happiest out in the mountains entirely on his own.

Yes he had problems in his life, mainly drink, which led him into some truly ghastly places...but he had the courage to admit it...and in the end he and Annie became friends again. It sent him to hell and back. I remember seeing him on TV over here in England a year or two before he died and he was talking about his problems...he made no excuses for himself at all. The happy-go-lucky "YeeHa!" John had gone....and in his place there was a deep-thinking man, quietly talking about his failings, his family and his hopes for the future.

His music played a very important part in my early life. I loved the gentleness in his songs. I loved the way he sang about nature...I loved the way he teamed up with Jacques Cousteau and The Calypso team. I was lucky enough to see him live twice, once at The London Palladium and once at Wembley, along with many thousands of other people. He let me soar with eagles, he let me stand upon 'cathedral mountains' he took me out into The Rocky Mountains...to Montana...he made me feel sad, happy, angry, inquisitive.....all the things that a great songwriter is able to make someone feel.

Leaving On A Jet Plane must mean a HUGE amount to many performers...who feel this urgent need to take their music to as many people as possible, whilst knowing they have to leave their families behind them. Annie was desperate for him to stay...he knew he had to go and it tore them apart. But if he hadn't done it...none of the messages on this board would probably ever have been written. In fact, you could almost say that we were all part of the reason that John Denver took to drinking in the first place. Now there's a new way of looking at things!

Love him or hate him....John Denver had a huge impact on very many people. I was deeply saddened by the personal things that befell him and his family, but at least things had become bearable again at the end. A man who knew much sadness in his life, whilst bringing much happiness to hundreds of thousands too. What a dilemma for anyone to face....A voice which tells you to 'stay' and a voice which tells you to 'go'......

Read his words in 'Goodbye Again' and it's easy to see why things started to go so wrong for him:

Do you choose to remember a man for his faults? Or for his achievements? Perhaps reading this may help:

Remembering John Denver

I'm very glad that I was lucky enough to grow up with his music. I wish he were still here.......<<<<

Subject: RE: John Denver's birthday (Dec 31, 1943-Oct 12, 1997)
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 04 Mar 10 - 05:39 PM

Oh! how did that happen? :0) How did your thread of today get put into this one, Dan?