John Denver

John Denver, born Henry John Deutschendorf on December 31, 1943, in Roswell, NM, rose to fame in the 1970s as a country-folk singer/songwriter known for his environmentally conscious music. Growing up in a military family, Denver began his musical career in the early '60s, eventually achieving solo success with hits like "Take Me Home, Country Roads" and "Annie's Song." By the mid-'70s, he was America's best-selling performer, with multiple chart-topping albums and singles.

As his music career peaked, Denver also ventured into acting and humanitarian work, notably starring in the film "Oh, God!" alongside George Burns. He later focused on ecological and space exploration causes, touring countries like Russia and China. Despite a decline in mainstream popularity in the 1980s and '90s, Denver maintained a loyal fan base until his untimely death in a plane crash on October 12, 1997, at the age of 53.