John Denver: Mother Nature's Son

John Denver: Mother Nature's Son by Collis, John. hardcover edition. ISBN: 9781840181241.

In the 1970s, John Denver was Americas biggest-selling solo star, a singer whose cross-over appeal drew millions of fans from the diverse worlds of folk, pop, and country music. Beneath the tranquil surface of his music and his clear, clean tenor voice, however, lurked a darker side to Denvers character. The writer of "Annies Song," a memorably tender expression of love, was a wife beater. The wholesome figure who cavorted with the Muppets was a troubled alcoholic. The committed environmentalist had an ultimately fatal addiction to aircraft, a highly polluting form of transport. Delving into the singers past to discover who John Denver was, John Collis found a complicated man who was much more intriguing than the placid surface of his music might suggest. And, in looking at Denvers career and development as an artist, Collis assesses his contribution not only to the world of music, but to the culture of which he was an icon and a victim.