Julie-Just now catching up on some of your previous columns. John Denver always hold a special place in my heart as well. I graduated from U of Iowa in 1970 and get married in 1971 -I chose John’s song Follow Me to be sung at our wedding. 🙂
I too am from Iowa, I loved your article! Follow is one of my favorite John Denver songs. I actually had it sung at my wedding way back in 1978. I miss John Denver he was such a kind soul. We could use his voice right now!! He cared about our earth and all people on it!
I am from Iowa as well, a nephew graduated from Simpson several years ago. I also knew John and his brother who lived in the San Diego area. I lived in San Diego from 1980 to 2005, my wife passed away in 2003.
Several people tried to talk John out of buying that plane which was a Long Easy. From what I knew about the plane from a neuro surgeon I worked with, you really had to pay attention flying it. We both kind of think that he had turned his head to turn the fuel flow off from one wing and that he pushed the stick or yoke forward and he didn't have enough time to recover. There are those that say he committed suicide, and John had his times of melancholy over the years, but I don't think this had anything to do with this crash. I think it was pilot error and getting hours in the plane would help that, which he was doing. But it was a fast plane, but as I said, it was also somewhat dangerous because of the small amount you moved the control you could get a big change in the attitude of the plane.
nicely put, down deep he will always be a friend who when times get down we can always go back in time when we first dsicovered that blonde shaggy haired man with the granny glasses and laughed and pour his heart out in every song he sang especially his own songs Miss you JD Peace .
John Denver was & still is a part of me. I never meet him, but his music still speaks to me like no other. Julie I just read your piece to my husband- its beautiful and I am so grateful you shared it with us all. My dying wish is to meet him in heaven & let him know how he saved the dying soul of a teenager on the precipice of suicide to escape abuse. Thank you.
Julie, I’ve read all your recent columns and enjoyed them. But there was something about the bittersweet memories you recalled in this one that was especially touching. Funny how past and present are linked. Keep remembering and writing!
I love your story, Julie! I was fortunate to have been with John many times for lunch, a newspaper interview, and a campfire. In fact, I am looking at a photograph of us at the campfire right now. His music changed my life, and it still does. I am just sad that more people don't realize how great a singer and songwriter he was. His music is very healing, and we need that right now.
I will have to look up the date, but it was for a local newspaper of mine, the Beavercreek News. Beavercreek is a suburb of Dayton, Ohio. I interviewed him at the University of Dayton arena. He was doing interviews before his concerts because of the Hunger Project. I was working as a volunteer for them, and John gave me his movie, "I Want to Live" for my presentations. Interesting fact: at the interview and the concert that night, John had a 104 temperature and did the concert anyway. He had his tea with honey to get him through. John said, "the show must go on."
You continue to share such interesting and honest stories of your life. Thank you. I saw John Denver in concert as well, but with thousands of others at Hilton in Ames. It is a good memory of a nice evening of music that felt like a comfortable friend.
Julie-Just now catching up on some of your previous columns. John Denver always hold a special place in my heart as well. I graduated from U of Iowa in 1970 and get married in 1971 -I chose John’s song Follow Me to be sung at our wedding. 🙂
His dad was an USAF B58 Hustler pilot, whom I think would have admonisted him for not topping off the fuel tanks when the attendant asked to do so.
Small mistakes forged the links to a chain of events that played out very much like Jack London's To Build a Fire.
Brought fond memories and some tears. I was at those concerts in the student union. Thanks for the memories. Ginny (Grek) Preston
Thanks!
Very much love this heartfelt story Julie. Thank you so much for sharing it with all of us. Times seem much sweeter back then
Julie, wonderful column and better memories! PP&P and Follow Me two of my favorites before I knew your part.
I was just thinking about you and the cable show we did. Fun times. What did you call it?
Iowa Inquiry. Julie Gammack, Jack Hatch, Alfredo Parrish, Harold Wells and me. Pretty good group back in the early day of cable.
Yes!
Thanks, Rich!
What a great piece and memory!
Thanks, Brad!
Wow! Thank you so much for sharing this. Very interesting to hear where some of his lyrics came from.
Thanks, Mark!
I too am from Iowa, I loved your article! Follow is one of my favorite John Denver songs. I actually had it sung at my wedding way back in 1978. I miss John Denver he was such a kind soul. We could use his voice right now!! He cared about our earth and all people on it!
This was fascinating! And all these years I had no idea he wrote “Follow Me.” The Olivia Newton-John version was very popular.
I am from Iowa as well, a nephew graduated from Simpson several years ago. I also knew John and his brother who lived in the San Diego area. I lived in San Diego from 1980 to 2005, my wife passed away in 2003.
Several people tried to talk John out of buying that plane which was a Long Easy. From what I knew about the plane from a neuro surgeon I worked with, you really had to pay attention flying it. We both kind of think that he had turned his head to turn the fuel flow off from one wing and that he pushed the stick or yoke forward and he didn't have enough time to recover. There are those that say he committed suicide, and John had his times of melancholy over the years, but I don't think this had anything to do with this crash. I think it was pilot error and getting hours in the plane would help that, which he was doing. But it was a fast plane, but as I said, it was also somewhat dangerous because of the small amount you moved the control you could get a big change in the attitude of the plane.
Carl, can you email me: juliegammack@mac.com
Carl, can I email you with a question?
nicely put, down deep he will always be a friend who when times get down we can always go back in time when we first dsicovered that blonde shaggy haired man with the granny glasses and laughed and pour his heart out in every song he sang especially his own songs Miss you JD Peace .
John Denver was & still is a part of me. I never meet him, but his music still speaks to me like no other. Julie I just read your piece to my husband- its beautiful and I am so grateful you shared it with us all. My dying wish is to meet him in heaven & let him know how he saved the dying soul of a teenager on the precipice of suicide to escape abuse. Thank you.
Fran, how touching and kind of you to share this story.
My Mom and Dad were there. My parents came every night.
Really?!
Julie, I’ve read all your recent columns and enjoyed them. But there was something about the bittersweet memories you recalled in this one that was especially touching. Funny how past and present are linked. Keep remembering and writing!
Thanks, Nancy!
I love your story, Julie! I was fortunate to have been with John many times for lunch, a newspaper interview, and a campfire. In fact, I am looking at a photograph of us at the campfire right now. His music changed my life, and it still does. I am just sad that more people don't realize how great a singer and songwriter he was. His music is very healing, and we need that right now.
Where and when was the interview?
I will have to look up the date, but it was for a local newspaper of mine, the Beavercreek News. Beavercreek is a suburb of Dayton, Ohio. I interviewed him at the University of Dayton arena. He was doing interviews before his concerts because of the Hunger Project. I was working as a volunteer for them, and John gave me his movie, "I Want to Live" for my presentations. Interesting fact: at the interview and the concert that night, John had a 104 temperature and did the concert anyway. He had his tea with honey to get him through. John said, "the show must go on."
Can you post the picture in the comments here?
It's fun to connect this way.
Thanks, Sandra! I hope you can subscribe?
You continue to share such interesting and honest stories of your life. Thank you. I saw John Denver in concert as well, but with thousands of others at Hilton in Ames. It is a good memory of a nice evening of music that felt like a comfortable friend.