JOHN DENVER
December 31st, 1943 - October 12th, 1997
Today, October 12th, is the 8th anniversary of the tragic death of folk artist and humanitarian John Denver.
You don't have to like the music that he made - you may find it "middle of the road" (whatever that's supposed to mean), boring, or corny - but you can't deny the impact that he made on both the music world in the early-to-mid 1970's, and his impact on mankind in the 1980's. Few artists have been so committed to humanitarian work, in ending world hunger, poverty, and maintaining wildlife.
I'm going to mourn for him, but that's because I think that John was the greatest artist in the entire world. He was taken so suddenly, and at a time where he was beginning to reach out to a new generation, to guide them and enlighten them about what it means to be true to yourself and what you really feel. You don't have to mourn for him, but please, try to understand his message to the world.
"The purpose of my music has always been to communicate the joy that I find in living and what is so about my life."
"I think that I would most like to be remembered for the fact that I stood up for what I believe in, that I spoke for it, that I sang for it, I worked for the things that I believe in in the world...I guess the thing that I feel best about, I'm not sure that I can say what I like most about myself, I don't think in those terms, but, uh...my music, the songs, the songs that I've written...the gifts that I have... that's why it's hard to say that I like this best about myself, because I really don't own this, it is a gift. I'm very grateful for it."
