Today we are bringing you a true gem from more than 35 years ago: the late singer-songwriter John Denver singing the iconic song, “Thank God I’m a Country Boy.”
“Thank God I’m a Country Boy” isn’t just an iconic song, but a March 22, 1977, ABC television special. With John Denver starring as host, the special also featured plenty of other stars including Johnny Cash, Roger Miller, Glen Campbell, and Mary Kay Place. During the show, John Denver sings his hit song while accompanied by Cash on the guitar, Roger Miller on the fiddle, and Glen Campbell on the banjo.
“Thank God I’m a Country Boy”, also known as “Country Boy”, was originally written by John Martin Sommers and subsequently recorded by Denver. The song was originally part of Denver’s 1974 album Back Home Again. A live version of the song was recorded and released on August 26, 1974, at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles. That was part of his 1975 album An Evening with John Denver.
The live version saw its release as a single and went to No. 1 on both the Billboard magazine Hot Country Singles and Billboard Hot 100 charts. The song topped both charts for one week each, first the country chart and the Hot 100 chart a week later.
Take a look at Denver’s legendary performance down below:
John Denver Would Have Turned 77 on December 31st
An avid pilot as well as a musician, John Denver died at the age of 53 in a single-fatality plane crash while piloting his recently purchased light plane.
Meanwhile, in honor of what would’ve been Denver’s 77th birthday, Outsider recently took a moment to remember some of the late country roads singer’s best moments.
Our recent piece goes into detail about Denver’s life and highlights a number of various John Denver classics. Some of those include telling the story behind “This Old Guitar,” Kermit and John Denver’s duet, his release of Rocky Mountain High in 1972, and more. It also discusses Denver’s philanthropic ventures. He was someone who did his best to improve the quality of life for all people environmentally and politically.
The music of the late John Denver is distinct in many ways. Even though trends in the industry seem to come and go, Denver’s music continues to stand the test of time. For many of his fans, his music takes listeners back in time to the romantic, dreamy setting of the 1970s.
Here are a few of Denver’s best moments to celebrate a life well-lived and a musical legacy, unlike any other.
