Would you turn down a private invitation from your hero if it meant risking your career? In 1995, a very lucky group of fans received a secret call to join John Denver in a tiny studio with only 200 seats.
The rules were strange and strict. Everyone had to wear the identical outfit two days in a row so the cameras would not see a difference. This was the start of a legendary moment that Corinne Smith highlights in her Chronological Review of John Denver’s Albums Part XV. It was a golden ticket that most people would give anything to hold.
Corinne shares with a heavy heart the reason she said “no” to John Denver’s concert in NY. choosing her paycheck over her pass.
Chronological Review of John Denver’s Albums, Part XV: 1992-1995
The fans who occupied those 200 seats saw a version of John that felt brand new. One viewer recently noted that his music is the only thing that brings peace during rocky times. Another fan shared that they felt a deep, vicarious pain for anyone who missed that magic.
The tragedy of the story is that Corinne was laid off from that “stable” job just one month later. The job was gone, and the chance to see her hero in such an intimate way was gone forever too. This leaves us with a quiet mystery about the choices we make and the moments we can never get back.
When he stepped onto the stage for that special filming, he looked calm and steady in a simple brown vest. His voice had a new weight to it, sounding much richer than the records from his younger years. In the video, yuou can see the pure joy on his face as he performs his anthem Rocky Mountain High.
John Denver – Rocky Mountain High (from The Wildlife Concert)
John Denver spent his final years trying to wake people up to the beauty of the natural world. His journey reminds us to hold onto the things that matter before they slip away into the clouds. Follow John Denver on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube to keep his spirit close to your heart.