Most singers hope to play a place like Red Rocks once in their lives. John Denver did not just play there. He owned the air around those crimson cliffs.
In 2011, the state of Colorado made it official by putting both the man and the mountain stage into the Music Hall of Fame together. It was the first time they ever did that.
He was born as Henry John Deutschendorf Jr. But the world knew him as John Denver.
He recorded three hundred songs. But the ones about the mountains are the ones that still make people stop and listen today.
Remembering Country Music Great, John Denver!
Fans still talk about how special those nights were. One person said that they loved John from back in the day and cried when he passed away. Another viewer mentioned that his music was a big part of their life and they still play his old albums today.
The physical things he left behind tell a story of a life lived for others. There is a bronze statue in Colorado where fans go to say thank you because they have no grave to visit. Inside a nearby museum, you can find his gold records and the bright outfits.
One performance from 1995 shows exactly why people still miss him so much. He stood on stage during the Wildlife Concert and sang his most famous tune about country roads.
John Denver – Take Me Home, Country Roads (from The Wildlife Concert)
John Denver was more than just a famous singer with a guitar. His journey took him from a small town in New Mexico to the top of the music world.
If you want to feel that mountain magic again, follow John Denver on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.