Henry John Deustchendorf Jr or John Denver, as he was more popularly known, was born on December 31, 1943 to Henry John Deustchendorf Sr and Erma Louise. Denver took to music at 11 after his grandmother gifted him a guitar, and went on to perform regularly in college. He adopted Denver as his surname because it was the capital of his favourite state, Colorado. He is said to have made the change because musician Randy Sparks told him his given name was too long to fit on announcement boards. The late John Denver's children Zak Deutschendorf (right) and Jesse Belle Denver (left) pose while holding a photo of their father following his posthumous Hollywood Star ceremony in 2014. Photo: AFP

Denver started out by playing with several bands including ‘The Alpine Trio’ and the ‘Chad Michelle Trio' but soon left them to pursue a solo career from 1969 and released his first album, ‘Rhymes & Reasons’. The album included the famous song ‘Leaving on a Jet Plane’, which was written in the years prior and originally called ‘Babe, I Hate to Go’. He achieved success as the writer of the song, after its version by American folk group Peter, Paul and Mary reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Flowers placed by the late John Denver's daughter Jesse Belle Denver remain on her father's just unveiled posthumous Hollywood Star during a ceremony in California in 2014. Photo: AFP

After the success of ‘Leaving on a Jet Plane’, the American singer recorded two more albums in 1970 called ‘Take Me to Tomorrow’ and ‘Whose Garden Was This’. However, it was the 1971 album ‘Poems, Prayers & Promises’ that made him famous in the US for the song ‘Take Me Home, Country Roads’, which reached No. 2 on the Billboard charts. By 1975, the singer had four songs at No. 1 and three No. 1 albums to his credit. In 1974, he also released the single ‘Annie’s Song’, among his most popular, based on his first wife Annie Martell after they had had an argument. Members of the band 'Trampled by Turtles' who performed 'Annie's Song' pose on the late John Denver's posthumous Hollywood Star ceremony in 2014. Photo: AFP

Apart from his musical pursuits, Denver also set up The Hunger Project with American authors Robert W Fuller and Werner Erhad in 1977 to promote efforts to end world hunger. The singer wrote a theme song, ‘I Want to Live’, after former US President Jimmy Carter appointed him to serve on the President’s Commission on World Hunger. Later, he also went on to start the sustainable charitable organisation called the Windstar Foundation. Denver not only had an interest in environment and humanitarian work, for which he performed at various fundraisers during his career, but also in flying. It led him to work closely with NASA over the years. 'John Denver in Front of Plane', four stitched gelatin silver prints, ca. 1976-1986, (estimate is $20,000 to 30,000) by Andy Warhol on display during a preview at Christie's in New York in 2013. Photo: AFP

John Denver has a close relationship with India too. Through his song ‘It’s About Time’ in the 1983 album by the same name, Denver pays respects to his spiritual guru Swami Muktananda. It was also during this time that he had visited India and met people from the film industry, who were on their way to Delhi for the promotions of the film ‘Gandhi’. The first line of the song goes ‘There's a full moon over India and Gandhi lives again’. Photo: AFP

The American singer-songwriter died on October 12, 1997 at the age of 53 after his airplane crashed into Monterey Bay. After hearing about his death, Colorado Governor Roy Romer ordered that all state flags be lowered to half-mast in his honour. Denver’s funeral was held at the Faith Presbyterian Church in Aurora, Colorado. He was then cremated and his ashes were scattered in the Rocky Mountains. Tom Crumb (centre) looks to a portrait of his long-time friend John Denver while Pastor Les Felker stands by during a eulogy he gave at Denver's memorial service at the Faith Presbyterian Church in Aurora, Colorado. Photo: AFP