Music Plane Crash Victims #9 - John Denver
@teamfreak16 (43577)
Denver, Colorado
April 27, 2017 10:09pm CST
After writing about Otis Redding a couple days ago, @JudyEv suggested a series on artists that died in plane crashes. Hence, my Music Plane Crash Victims countdown, which will not be called "Favorite" because that just seems a bit morbid to me. We are at #9, John Denver.
John Denver's music career lasted from 1962 until his 1997 death, when his private experimental plane crashed into Monteray Bay, near Pacific Grove, California. At the time, due to alcohol-related issues, Denver was not legally allowed to fly, however, alcohol was not a factor in the crash.
Denver is in both the Songwriters and Colorado Music Halls of Fame, and has been named a Poet Laureate of Colorado.
He was also immensely popular. Just how popular? By 1974, John Denver was America's best selling artist, and has sold 33 million albums (and that's just albums. His singles sales must have been through the roof.) He was a five-time Grammy host, and his Rocky Mountain Christmas special was watched by 60 million viewers, and was ABC Television's highest rated show to that point. And, common knowledge here, he co-starred with George Burns in the popular 1977 movie Oh God!
In other words, John Denver's music meant a lot to a lot of people. When he died, America lost a great talent. A singer/songwriter, actor, writer, and political activist. It's hard to believe that it's been two decades.
(Info verified by Wikipedia)
You don't have to be on a mountain in Colorado to have a wilderness experience and You can get a "Rocky Mountain high" on any mountain any where in the world...
13 people like this
13 responses
@FourWalls (86613)
• United States
28 Apr 17
And then there was the time Denver was named CMA Entertainer of the Year...and Charlie Rich, upset (and quite drunk), set the envelope on fire in protest.
2 people like this
@spiderdust (14756)
• San Jose, California
28 Apr 17
LOL! I never knew this story! Now I have to look it up on YouTube to see if there's a clip of it.
2 people like this
@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
28 Apr 17
Time has passed and it's forgotten he was massive at one time, bigger than Bowie and others.
2 people like this
@teamfreak16 (43577)
• Denver, Colorado
28 Apr 17
I didn't realize it until I started doing the research.
2 people like this
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
30 Apr 17
great singer though Oh God was an embarrasment
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
30 Apr 17
@teamfreak16 Burns was always good - I loved The Sunshine Boys movie
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43577)
• Denver, Colorado
30 Apr 17
@arthurchappell - That was a great movie. Haven't seen it in years.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43577)
• Denver, Colorado
30 Apr 17
I thought he was good in it, though. George Burns was funny.
1 person likes this
@TiarasOceanView (70020)
• United States
28 Apr 17
He was a very special soul John was.
And he lived right here didn't he in a beautiful place.
RIP
I loved him.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43577)
• Denver, Colorado
28 Apr 17
He spent a lot of time living in Aspen. He loved Colorado.
1 person likes this
@spiderdust (14756)
• San Jose, California
28 Apr 17
I was raised on John Denver. My dad would sing his songs to us at night.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43577)
• Denver, Colorado
28 Apr 17
My sister had a live album she played all the time.
@spiderdust (14756)
• San Jose, California
30 Apr 17
@teamfreak16 Dad probably had that album. I don't remember which John Denver records he owned, but he had several.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43577)
• Denver, Colorado
30 Apr 17
It's hard to believe it's been 20 years. It sure doesn't seem that long ago.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43577)
• Denver, Colorado
2 May 17
@JediYoda - It does seem like it wasn't that long ago.
1 person likes this
@crossbones27 (52905)
• Mojave, California
28 Apr 17
Isn't it Funny his last name is Denver and he is from Colorado.I know his last name is not really Denver and he was not born in Colorado, but would be funny if it were true.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43577)
• Denver, Colorado
28 Apr 17
Even funnier had he been born at Denver General. 
1 person likes this
@silvermist (19701)
• India
29 Apr 17
@teamfreak16 One of my favorite singers.So many good songs.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43577)
• Denver, Colorado
29 Apr 17
I honestly never realized just how popular he was.
@cmoneyspinner (9218)
• Austin, Texas
28 Apr 17
I once worked with a guy who claimed he knew John Denver's father. He says when he used to used to visit with the father, as they were friends, the dad would always say, regarding his son – John Denver - “All that boy does all day is sing and play his guitar.” I don't know if it's a true story but it sounds like a true story. 
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43577)
• Denver, Colorado
28 Apr 17
It sounds plausible. Who would make something like that up?
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43577)
• Denver, Colorado
28 Apr 17
I didn't think it was that long ago. Sad.
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (118793)
• Anniston, Alabama
28 Apr 17
Yeah I like his music, not all of it but most of it.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43577)
• Denver, Colorado
28 Apr 17
Me too. Of course, "Rocky Mountain High" is a given.
@teamfreak16 (43577)
• Denver, Colorado
29 Apr 17
What they are saying is that the switches for the fuel tanks weren't where they usually are on a normal plane, and he couldn't reach them in time.
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
28 Apr 17
That's so sad. His songs are so positive and enjoyable.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43577)
• Denver, Colorado
28 Apr 17
That's true, he was a positive songwriter, other than maybe "Leaving on a Jet Plane."
