As Colorado marks its 150th anniversary, few musical artists feel as inseparable from the state’s spirit as John (Deutschendorf) Denver––whose stage name was inspired by the capital of his favorite state. Tribute bands all over the world have shared Denver’s music since his untimely death in 1997, and Cherokee Ranch & Castle (CR&C) recently hosted John Adams & Band for several concerts to celebrate the life and legacy of Denver.

Adams, a personal friend of Denver’s who performed with him on a few occasions, guided the roughly 100 guests at the intimate concert through stories and songs that reminded us why Denver became such a beloved voice of our state. “John Denver’s love for Colorado wasn’t just lyrical,” said Adams. “It was lived.”

The concert opened with the song perhaps most indelibly linked to Colorado, “Rocky Mountain High.” Co-written by Denver and Mike Taylor and released in 1972, it became one of Colorado’s two official state songs, adopted in 2007 and celebrated for its vivid depiction of mountain life and wide-open skies.

Following the familiar opening guitar chord progression, the crowd anticipated the beginning lyrics: “He was born in the summer of his twenty-seventh year…” and joined in for the chorus, singing “Colorado” in unison subsequent to the band’s cue of “Rocky Mountain high…”

Adams recounted how Denver penned “Annie’s Song,” on a ski lift in Aspen, a place Denver moved to in 1970 as a refuge from the pressures of fame and a place where he could live close to nature and enjoy his favorite pastimes of hiking, skiing and writing songs. The band also performed favorites like “Poems, Prayers & Promises,” a soothing folk song that explores themes of nostalgia, the passage of time, and the value of human connection. To balance the deep reflection of the evening, “Grandma’s Feather Bed” got the audience clapping and stomping along with the upbeat, whimsical song.

“Eagles and Horses,” a lesser-known but deeply evocative ode to freedom, spirit and nature, reminded us of Denver’s commitment to the preservation of wildlife and the environment––themes present in much of his prolific activism.

“The heartfelt reception by the intimate audience, combined with the highest musical quality makes this concert a very special experience,” stated Donna Smith, community development manager for CR&C. “The March show is already sold out, so we added another concert date of Saturday, April 11.” Tickets are on sale now at cherokeeranch.org.

Today, Denver’s songs are memorialized at the John Denver Sanctuary in Aspen, where granite boulders are engraved with his lyrics in a garden by the Roaring Fork River. For more information on the sanctuary, visit johndenversanctuary.com.

The evening reminded everyone that Denver did not just sing about Colorado, he invited us to experience it, helping to shape the soundtrack of the Centennial state. For lyrics, event information and more, visit johndenver.com.

 

 

Article and photos by Terri Wiebold; courtesy photo