John Denver
John Denver influenced me to buy a cheap guitar and teach myself how to play. I loved his music. My family went camping almost every Summer and the outdoors was an integral part of my fondest childhood memories. Denver’s music addressed the things I loved. He seemed approachable, friendly, like the kind of guy you’d invite over to play guitars and sing in your living room. His double vinyl live album was the first double album I ever purchased with my own money. I saw him play in concert three times—including once when I was running a high fever and had to sit in the pouring rain at our local amphitheater. A highlight of that evening was when he sang Sunshine on My Shoulders while wryly looking up into the cloudy, dripping sky. It raised a laugh from the sodden audience. I chose to portray John Denver as I first encountered him—in the mid-1970’s. The granny glasses and shaggy blonde hair was his trademark—along with his easy smile.
