We'd all heard one of John Denver's best songs before we even knew his name. Denver was the author of 'Leaving on A Jet Plane,' which was recorded and released by folk trio Peter, Paul, and Mary to great commercial success. Denver got a little of that money, but none of the acclaim. Undeterred, he decided to stop selling his songs to other people and set out on his own. Fortunately for him, he had plenty more hits up his sleeve. 'Take Me Home, Country Roads' is as popular now as it's ever been, and has been passed down from generation to generation.
Denver's introduction to music was also passed down from one generation to another - it was his grandmother who bought him his first ever guitar, as a birthday gift. He may have had more to give us as well - his life was ended prematurely in his early 50s in a plane crash. A memorial stone to him in his hometown bears the lyrics of his hit 'Rocky Mountain High.'