Copyright 1998 Christine Smith.
All Rights Reserved.
By Christine Smith
Photos by Mary Ledford and Charles
& Barbara White
John Denver. His life touched millions worldwide. Through his music and extensive environmental and humanitarian projects, he inspired, motivated, changed and even saved people’s lives. He sang of good things: love, family, home, wilderness, freedom and peace, reaching deep within the perceptive listener’s heart. To know John’s music is to truly know the beautiful authentic spirit behind it.
“What you saw on the stage is what John was off the stage. Very animated, very warm, very conversational,”says Tom Poberezny, President of the Experimental Aircraft Association of which John was an active member for over twenty years.
Born December 31, 1943 in Roswell, New Mexico, John’s early years were spent travelling to places where his father, Lt. Col. H. J. “Dutch” Deutschendorf, was stationed. A shy young Air Force brat, John was drawn to his two “best friends” – nature and his guitar.
After performing in the folk music scene of the 60’s, John left the Chad Mitchell Trio and began his solo career in 1969, with one of his first college venue performances at Alma College in Michigan where Stephen Falk, President of the Union Board, booked entertainment for the campus community.
“John gave you the impression he really cared; that he would do everything he could to provide a positive experience. It was not a job to him. He had that tenderness to his spirit he could give to other people,” Falk says.
“When you’re a young impressionable college student as I was, you find very few of the ‘stars’ cared about you. But John was different. He taught me there were some performers who were good human beings. He had an intangible charisma … really human, sincere, gentle … a real person. That’s kept with me my entire life.”
John remembered the rapport at Alma, returning twice, the last during a tremendous snow storm in January 1971 when his car broke down. Falk continues, “I was in the gymnasium (it was packed) and everybody was really getting antsy.” As Falk was apologizing and assuring the audience of refunds, “The side door opened and we saw this arm with a snow covered guitar come through first. We went from a riot to ecstasy in the swing of about ten seconds.” John had walked about two miles through the blizzard.
“The place just went nuts. Everybody cheered,” recalls Pam Eldridge. “John kind of smiled, walked to the microphone, and said something to the effect of ‘You think it’s hard to be waiting for someone. But believe me, it’s much harder to be the person who is late.’ The concert was great. I loved it.”
Charlotte Schmidtke, Alma Media Relations Editor, says many alumni frequently reminisce about this highlight of their college days.
That unique ability to connect with individuals and audiences continued throughout John’s life.
“You couldn’t help but be moved by the man,” says Dr. William Conway, President of the Wildlife Conservation Society for which John was on the Board of Advisors and performed a benefit concert and tapes for. He remembers John holding a baby snow leopard, “I liked the way he approached the animal and the way he held it. He wasn’t afraid at all. He was very gentle. A lot of times you can tell by the way a person handles a wild animal the kind of person they are. His sensitivity showed. He passed the test.”
Sensitive. It describes John perfectly.
“We did a tour back in the 70’s. I think it was 63-64 shows in fifty-some days,” recalls Kris O’Connor, John’s friend and tour manager/associate producer for thirty years. “He put everything into it … John believed in what he said and stuck to it.”
For even in the height of his career and busy worldwide tours, John kept his feet on the ground, taking time to get involved in the things he believed, and to personally relate to people. From reading his mail to telephoning children he’d heard from, stories of John’s impact on people’s lives abound.
“Every big step of my life, when I wrote, he always answered,” relates Claudia Bartoli, now Executive Director of the Virtual Dolphin Project. “I had been writing back and forth every so often in crucial periods of my life since I was 15. I had anorexia and had been hospitalized. His music is what helped me get through some really terrible times. He always wrote me back, sending photos and things to lift me up.”
See: "A Wild Heart Looking For Home – Part 2"
Return to: FourteenerNet : John Denver Remembered
Rev. 5/20/05 jmb