John Denver Biography

Fast Facts

• Supported a number of charities and organizations, including Save the Children, the National Wildlife Federation, The Cousteau Society and Friends of the Earth
• Helped establish the Hunger Project, which aims to solve the problem of chronic world hunger
• Inducted into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame in 1996
• Served as a member of the Presidential Commission on World and Domestic Hunger
• While living in Fort Worth during his teen years, he attended Arlington Heights High School, attempting to run away in his junior year before reluctantly returning to graduate
• His first big break came in the mid-1960s after being chosen to sing for the Mitchell Trio
• Adopted the name "Denver" in honor of the capital of Colorado, his favorite state
• After being taught how to play the guitar by his grandmother beginning at age 11, Denver went on to perform at local music clubs
• Quote: "My music and all my work stem from the conviction that people everywhere are intrinsically the same․"
• His acclaimed song "Rocky Mountain High" was declared the state song of Colorado in 2007