2011-2012 Season
Take Me Home:
The Music of John Denver
Starring Jim Curry
March 21, 2012
John Denver Tribute
Jim Curry began his music career by writing and performing the opening
song, “The Time of Your Life” for his senior play. The song was voted to
be the 1975 class song, and Jim was awarded a Rotary Scholarship to
study music in college. Even at this early stage in his life Jim’s
natural voice resembled that of singer/songwriter John Denver. Embracing
the similarities, Jim continued to sing and specialize in the songs of
John Denver, sharing John’s positive messages of love, humanity and
environmental awareness.
The untimely death of John Denver in 1997 was a tragedy that was felt
the world over. Such a void in the musical world left John’s ardent fans
demanding that his music survive. CBS television responded by producing
a made-for-TV movie: “Take Me Home, the John Denver Story” in which Jim
landed an off-camera role as the singing voice of John Denver. This
experience inspired Jim to produce full-length John Denver tribute
concerts.
He’s not your usual “Vegas style” impersonator. In fact, he is not an
impersonator at all. Jim sings, in his own natural voice, a tribute to
the music in a way that has to be seen and heard to understand the pure
honesty of his amazing performance. His looks and his voice are simply a
pleasant coincidence that captures the true essence of John Denver’s
music. Curry’s heartfelt delivery rolls out into the crowd as
multi-platinum hits like “Rocky Mountain High,” “Annie’s Song” and
“Calypso” fill the room.
Jim believes that John Denver’s words still ring true in these difficult
times of war and environmental crisis. John Denver rapidly became a
mega-celebrity when the world was looking for some hope in the late
’60s, and his lyrics in songs like “Take me Home Country Roads” gave
America a new lift abroad as well as at home. People all over the world
found pride in the natural wonders of the earth and love for John’s
message of caring for our planet and each other. Jim delivers these
songs in the same spirit, with the same heartfelt care and desire to
make a difference. As concerns of global warming and other environmental
issues reach today’s youth, Curry sees a growing number of younger
listeners.
Curry says, “These songs blend the images of our natural earth with a
love for each other as people. The care you give to someone you love is
the best care. Making that connection to our earth and to each other is
the goal.”
Jim has created the ultimate tribute experience and has emerged as the
top performer of John Denver’s music today. Curry’s tribute is the first
and only full-length John Denver tribute in a Las Vegas casino and is a
sell-out favorite at the Silverton time after time. Curry has taken his
show on the road to performing arts centers and casinos in the U.S. and
Canada and out to sea as one of the most popular shows on the Holland
America Cruise Line.
Jim performs with many of John’s band members: bass player Dick Kniss
(who also tours with Peter Paul and Mary); songwriter, guitar and dobro
player Steve Weisberg (who penned many John Denver’s recordings); banjo
player Jim Connor (a former member of the New Kingston Trio and author
of the hit song “ Grandma’s Feather Bed”); legendary guitarist James
Burton (Elvis Presley, Ricky Nelson and John Denver), Chad Mitchell and
the Chad Mitchell Trio, and, in what would be one of his last major
performances before his passing, singer/songwriter John Stewart of the
famed Kingston Trio. The bold and dynamic thinking of Curry continues to
produce historical concert engagements and bring icons of the music
industry together into powerful shows.
Jim’s latest efforts have taken his tribute show to a new level by
adding symphony orchestrations back into live performances of John
Denver music. When John Denver wanted to add a full orchestra to his
live shows and recordings, he teamed up with Grammy Award-winning
arranger, composer and conductor Lee Holdridge. John’s songs, along with
Lee’s symphony arrangements, became the trademark sound of many of
John’s hits. Jim Curry and Lee Holdridge have now brought the rebirth of
the timeless songs of America’s troubadour back in a full-length live
concert of John Denver’s greatest works.
Whether Jim is performing with a symphony orchestra, with his talented
band, or all by himself, his compelling voice, combined with dramatic
images of nature is an unforgettable show that will truly fill up your
senses.