Share

John Denver biography

1 photo

Quick Facts

Best Known For

John Denver was one of the most successful singer-songwriters of the 1970s. His hits include "Take Me Home, Country Roads" and "Thank God I'm a Country Boy."


Quiz

Think you know about Biography?

Answer questions and see how you rank against other players.

Play Now

Synopsis

John Denver was one of the most successful singer-songwriters of the 1970s. His most successful albums included Poems, Prayers, and Promises (1971), which featured the hits "Take Me Home, Country Roads;" Rocky Mountain High (1972),

Quotes

My purpose in performing is to communicate the joy I experience in living.

– John Denver

and Back Home Again (1974) featuring "Thank God I’m A Country Boy." He was an pilot and an outspoken environmental advocate. He died in a plane he was piloting in 1997.

Early Career

Singer-songwriter. Born Henry John Deutschendorf Jr., on December 31, 1943, in Roswell, New Mexico, to parents Henry John and Erma. As a teenager, Denver received his first guitar, a 1910 Gibson acoustic, as a gift from his grandmother. He attended the Texas Technical University from 1961-1964, but dropped out before completing his studies. In 1965, after traveling to New York City and successfully auditioning for the Chad Mitchell Trio, he began performing with the group until 1968.

Meanwhile, the folk-pop group Peter, Paul and Mary recorded a song he'd written, "Leaving on a Jet Plane," and its success gave Denver a higher profile in the music industry. Record executives had already convinced him to change his last name to Denver. partly in honor of the city and surrounding Rocky Mountains that he treasured, and partly due to his clean-living image. He signed with Mercury RCA Records in 1969 and released his first single, "Rhymes and Reasons." In the next two years, he released four moderately successful albums, including Take Me to Tomorrow (1970) and Aerie (1971).

Commercial Success

With his wholesome good looks and down-to-earth appeal, Denver was considered the golden boy of folk music. Soon he was playing to sold-out crowds in stadiums across the country. The most successful albums of his career included Poems, Prayers, and Promises (1971), which featured the hit: "Take Me Home, Country Roads;" Rocky Mountain High (1972), and Back Home Again (1974) featuring the title track, "Annie’s Song," and "Thank God I’m A Country Boy."

In 1977, Denver made his film debut in Oh, God!, costarring George Burns. Even though the film was a minor box-office hit, Denver's acting career was thereafter limited to television until 1997, when he starred in Craig Clyde's outdoor adventure film Walking Thunder. John Denver and the Muppets (1980), The Christmas Gift (1986), and Higher Ground (1988) are among the numerous television specials in which he either hosted or starred.

Activism

As a renowned environmentalist and humanitarian, Denver's membership in many organizations included the National Space Institute, the Cousteau Society, Friends of the Earth, Save the Children Foundation, and the European Space Agency.

ADVERTISEMENT
9542069 9542069
profile id: 9542069
profile name: John Denver
profile occupation:
related profile id: 9542069
related profile name: John Denver
related profile occupation:
related profile img: /imported/images/Biography/Images/Profiles/D/John-Denver-9542069-1-402.jpg
related profile URL: /people/john-denver-9542069
profile
pop
Your Connections

Sign in with Facebook to see how you and your friends are connected to famous icons.

specific profile connection
Your Friends' Connections
specific friend connection
Profile Connections
    Show More Connections
    Included In These Groups

    See all related groups


    ADVERTISEMENT

    Celebrity Connections

    Show More Connections
    Fact Check: We strive for accuracy and fairness. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact us!