In 1998 I visited the Rocky Mountains for the first time as part
of a family fly-
so inspirational. Everywhere I looked it was like you could see a song.
It was so easy to see how John managed to write such wonderful songs.
I didn’t get much of a look at John’s home town of Aspen, Colorado, on that visit. Unfortunately we arrived just moments before Bill Clinton was due to arrive. All hotels were under instruction from the security services not to accept any new bookings. So we had to leave Aspen quickly and just got out of town as Bill Clinton’s helicopter landed at the airport. We gave him a Yorkshire salute as thanks for interfering with our itinerary. We later thanked him because we moved on and found the beautiful little town of Grand Lake. A cowboy town with wooden sidewalks situated on the shores of Grand Lake, where the Colorado river begins it’s long journey to the Pacific. We wouldn’t have found this place without Bill’s intervention. We didn’t have the chance to go back to Aspen
as we had a plane to catch for our next destination, Los Angeles, for the
next part of our trip, a drive to Las Vegas. During our visit to L.A. We
visited the Universal Amphitheatre which is where my first John Denver
album, ‘An Evening With John Denver’, was recorded. The only way to
describe my feelings on visiting that location, in John’s own words, which he used many times, Far Out !!! Now I knew what he meant ! I brought
home many memories from that trip and a longing to go back there again.
Since leaving school in 1984 I hadn’t really performed in public for
14 years, except for a few family parties. When John Denver died his
U.K. Based fan club ‘Free Spirit’ folded.
As a member of Free Spirit, John’s U.K. Fan club in the 80’s and
90’s, I became aware of another performer who sang John’s songs.
Dutchman Jos Adams, who laterly changed his name to John Adams.
He performed at the Free Spirit club gatherings and also did his own
Shows around the U.K. And all over europe. Watching him play also
taught me a lot. During his performances he used to sing duets with
miss Gill Wales. The first time I saw them sing together I was sat
right at the back, so with people talking between songs I couldn’t really hear what was being said on stage. When Gill was introduced I
didn’t hear her name, or where she was from. I just assumed that she
was dutch too and had come over for the show. Little did I know that
she lived just thirty minutes away from me. And it wasn’t for quite
some time before I found out differently. I really didn’t know what
I was letting myself in for !
A new fan based organisation was formed, Friends Of John Denver,
By Christine Moon and Allison Kenny, based in Leicester. After many years of longing to play my guitar for someone I got the chance to play
a few songs at their twice a year Denver day gatherings. I will be forever gratefully to Christine and Allison for making that happen.
My dad used to video these early performances, and I sent copies to a few friends that I had met on the day. Little knowing that Doris Prince and
Doreen Holmes were both friends of Gill Wales. During one of their infamous get together’s Doreen and Doris played the video for Gill, and
a short time later I got a phone call from Gill suggesting that we might
sing together sometime. I was amazed to say the least.
We began rehearsals and sang at the next Friends Of John Denver
Event in Solihull in May 1999. Gill was also quite busy touring with John
Adams that year with several shows in the U.K. and abroad.
We also sang at the autumn Denver Day which was in Leicester,
where we performed, along with new friends Mark Robinson and Mike
Bradley, who performed as a band called Colorado. We got together
privately with Mark and Mike on several occasions to work on songs,
many occasions being spent in Mike’s sound proofed garage. In December 1999 we all put on a Christmas show in Solihull, which came
just one day after Gill had done two nights in High Wycombe at the
John Adams Christmas shows. I went to see their Saturday night show,
then drove home home to collect my sound system, and back down to
Solihull for our event. A night of very little sleep. The first of many ! It
sort of goes with the territory !!!
At this time I was working in a Sheffield steel works, Tinsley Bridge
Limited. Many of my colleagues knew about my guitar playing, especially
after I gave them a performance at 2:00am in the works canteen on
The last night shift before Christmas. Hi to all the guys, that remain at
T.B.L. Sadly most of the business has now been moved to Turkey, and many good men have had to seek employment elsewhere. Such is Life !
