"John Denver Christmas" at the University of Dubuque -- December 13.
Friday, December 13, 7:30 p.m.
University of Dubuque's Heritage Center, 2255 Bennett Street, Dubuque IA
Capturing the simple soul of the artist's music through guitar, fiddle, and upright bass arrangements, tribute artist Layne Yost's John Denver Christmas celebrates the holiday season at the University of Dubuque's Heritage Center on December 13, with Yost, Carol McDowall, and Jon Shimoda providing stories woven within the music that give insight into Denver's remarkable life and legacy.
Born Henry John Deutschendorf Jr. in 1943, Denver was a songwriter, record producer, actor, activist, and humanitarian whose greatest commercial success came as a solo singer. After traveling and living in numerous locations while growing up in his military family, Denver began his music career with folk-music groups during the late 1960s, and by the start of the '70s, he was one of the most popular and best-selling acoustic artists of the decade, with AllMusic.com calling him “among the most beloved entertainers of his era.” Denver recorded and released approximately 300 songs, about 200 of which he also composed. He had 33 albums and singles that were certified gold and platinum in the U.S by the RIAA, with estimated sales of more than 33 million units, and he recorded and performed primarily with an acoustic guitar, singing about his joy in nature, disdain for city life, enthusiasm for music, and relationship trials.
Denver's music appeared on a variety of charts, including Billboard's country music, Hot 100, and adult contemporary, with the artist earning 12 gold and four platinum albums with such signature songs as "Take Me Home, Country Roads," "Thank God I'm a Country Boy," and "Sunshine on My Shoulders." Prior to his 1997 death in a plane crash, Denver was inducted into Songwriters Hall of Fame, earned an Emmy Award for his TV special An Evening with John Denver, and received three American Music Awards, two Country Music Association Awards, and an Academy of Country Music Award for 1974's Back Home Again, which was named Album of the Year. A year after Denver's passing, he also received a Grammy Hall of Fame Award for “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” and having lived in Aspen for much of his life, Denver was named Colorado's poet laureate in 1974, with the Colorado state legislature adopting “Rocky Mountain High” as one of its two state songs in 2007.
As John Denver Christmas' touring tribute artist explains at LayneYost.com, "I started playing guitar at age 14, sitting around campfires at our local YMCA camp, taking pointers from anyone and everyone kind enough to offer. I played folk and acoustic venues in the Chicago area, earning my way through college. I saw two John Denver shows during my college years in the early 70’s, both times at the McCormick Place. The most compelling aspect of both shows was the sense of closeness, the connection between John Denver on stage, and every member of the audience. It was like being back around that campfire of years before sharing songs and companionship with good friends. That’s the type of show I want and need to play: intimate, close, connected. This not an impersonation show, rather a sharing of his songs and message in the context of his life and world events."
Layne Yost's John Denver Christmas will be performed in the John & Alice Butler Hall of the University of Dubuque's Heritage Center on December 13, admission to the 7:30 p/.m. concert event is $20-30, and more information and tickets are available by calling (563)585-7469 and visiting Dbq.edu/HeritageCenter.
