COLLEEN SLEVIN Associated Press writer | Posted: Tuesday, March 13, 2007 12:00 am
DENVER - "Rocky Mountain High," the late John Denver's love letter to his adopted state, became Colorado's second official song Monday.
Lawmakers passed a resolution that puts Denver's 1972 anthem alongside the lesser-known "Where the Columbines Grow", which was adopted in 1915.
"That is very cool. He'd be very honored. We are very proud. I am going to call my mom and tell her," said Ron Deutschendorf, Denver's brother. John Denver was born Henry John Deutschendorf and he changed his name in 1969.
Sen. Bob Hagedorn, who pushed for the second tune, said "Rocky Mountain High" has been an unofficial state song for years and has introduced many people around the world to Colorado.
He said West Virginia adopted Denver's song "Take Me Home, Country Roads" - with its opening line of "Almost heaven, West Virginia" - as a second song in addition to an older state tune.
"Even if John Denver thought West Virginia was almost heaven, he chose Colorado to live," said Hagedorn, a Democrat from the Denver suburb of Aurora.
The Senate passed the measure 26-8 and the House voted 50-11 to support it. One senator and four representatives were absent.
The move came nearly 10 years after Denver died in a plane crash near Monterey, Calif.
In the House, where lawmakers listened to a live performance of the song, Rep. Debbie Stafford, R-Aurora, unsuccessfully tried to amend the resolution to make it clear that the song refers to Colorado's altitude and doesn't encourage drug use.
Hagedorn said he disagreed with people who believe the song is about drug use. Hagedorn, who said he is a recovering alcoholic and serves on the board of the state's largest drug treatment facility, said he wouldn't promote a song that encouraged drug use.
Hagedorn, who thinks the popular song will help draw more visitors to the state, played a recording of a Denver performance at the Sydney Opera House from the 1970s. Some senators tapped their feet and sang along while others sorted through paperwork on their desk.
Rep. Nancy Todd, D-Aurora, holding up her vinyl recording of the song, recalled moving to Colorado in 1970, the same year Denver moved to Colorado.
Sen. Dave Schultheis, R-Colorado Springs, who voted against the measure, said he didn't think the state should have two songs.
"If we don't like 'Where the Columbines Grow' the legislature should remove it and replace it," said Schultheis, who admitted he didn't know the words to the original state song.