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John Denver - artist, singer, songwriter, humanitarian, visionary. His legacy lives on through his songs and the seeds he planted - seeds of possibility, seeds of "what if," and seeds of spirit. Denver believed in the spirit of humanity and the ability of that spirit to take wing and soar. His belief that 60% of the power in our world rests in the hands of those individuals who sit back and do nothing, allowing the 40% to rule and run the world. A constant activist to promote peace, save the environment, stop hunger (especially among children), and reach beyond our boundaries in space and sea exploration, Denver walked the talk he spoke.
While strolling down the streets of Aspen, John would leave a conversation to cross those streets to pick up stray trash. His song, "Calypso," was written as a tribute to the work of Jean Cousteau. In 1976, along with Tom Crum, he founded The Windstar Foundation (www.wstar.org) that is still in operation. The foundation has scholarships, is dedicated to the earth and environmental works through volunteering, education and ongoing programs.
Denver, a peace advocate, wrote and performed a song which is now available to watch on You Tube, entitled "Let Us Begin (What Are We Making Weapons For?)." Denver recorded this relevant piece of music in 1986 with Alexander Gradsky, who, at the time, was the most popular recording artist in the Soviet Union. This was the first time ever that a Soviet citizen was allowed to record with a Western artist, and this single was recorded in Moscow. It also included the men's voices from the Reds Army Chorus. The two performed this song together on stages concurrently from both Russia and America. Unfortunately, the song still rings true. The faces may have changed but the result is still the same. Denver hoped that the 60% would be moved to change the results.
A good friend of Buckminster (Bucky) Fuller's, John also spoke about the energy crisis long before prices at the pump showed they were right. The song, "What One Man Can Do," was a tribute written for Fuller. The chorus, "What one man do is dream. What one man can do is love. What one man can do is change the world and make it work again" not only reflected the life of Buckminster Fuller, it was also the rallying cry of John Denver. It has become our rallying cry.
To write about all that John Denver did, all that he stood for, and all that he affected would take more than a simple blog. We invite you to read about this man, listen to his music, and then live the life you have been given as a contribution. Join us as we celebrate, unearth, nurture and ignite the passion we each have been born with, and with which we can all make a difference.
Action Taken: John Denver lived his passion. He lived his life with intention from the start to the finish.
Find out more about John Denver at www.johndenver.com