John Denver Sings 'Take Me Home, Country Roads' In Classic Performance From The Wildlife Concert

Feb 22, 2020 by apost team

John Denver is remembered as one of the most prolific musicians in the history of country music. 

Born Henry John Deutschendorf Jr., Denver’s father was a pilot in the United States Army. Due to his father’s career, Denver and his family moved around a lot, making it difficult for the quiet and shy young man to make friends. Nevertheless, Denver could always turn to music for inspiration. During his junior year of high school, Denver ran away from his family’s home in Fort Worth, Texas and drove his father’s car to California to start his singing career. Denver’s father, a strict, often domineering man, borrowed a friend’s jet to retrieve his wayward son, intent on ensuring that Denver finished his education.

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When Denver finished high school and escaped his father’s shadow, he quickly made a name for himself in the country music scene. One of the best-selling artists of the 1970s, Denver would win multiple awards during the heyday of his career. Among the many accolades won by Denver are two Grammy Awards and one Emmy Award. Denver was also given the honor of induction into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame in 1996. The accomplished singer-songwriter released hit after hit as his career took off. In Denver’s extensive catalog, 4 of his albums achieved platinum status and 12 went gold. Most of Denver’s songs focused on the beauty of the natural world as well as his own torrid love life. Usually only relying on his own voice and acoustic guitar, Denver also performed in countless films and TV shows during his storied career.

The 1990s saw Denver embracing environmentalism and interest in space exploration. In an appearance at the Wildlife Concert in 1995, Denver sang his signature song, “Take Me Home Country Roads,” to the delight of those in attendance. 

Tragically, Denver died in a plane crash in 1997. Only 53 years old, the country music megastar was flying with a revoked pilot’s license.

What do you think of Denver’s performance at the Wildlife Concert? What are your favorite John Denver songs?