John Denver with his adopted son Zachary and a bear cub in the Rockies in 1978

Singer-songwriter John Denver was born on December 31, 1943, in Roswell, New Mexico. He grew up in Texas and Colorado and aspired to become a professional baseball player before shifting his focus to music. Denver was a strong supporter of animal rights, and he frequently spoke out against the fur trade. In 1979, he published his first novel, The Call of the Canyon, based on his experiences in Aspen. Denver’s early albums featured folk-style songs, but he shifted to a more pop-oriented sound in the 1970s. He was known for such hits as “Rocky Mountain High,” “Sunshine on My Shoulders” and “Thank God I’m a Country Boy.”