Category Archives: Music

I have just returned from a week in Florida where there seems to be a law that tourists are required to listen to Jimmy Buffett’s “drunken Caribbean rock ‘n’ roll.”  Down there, nobody even thinks about – and perhaps they don’t even know about – Jimmy’s long-time ties to Colorado, which began no later than 1970Continue reading “A MILE HIGH IN DENVER (By Jimmy Buffett)”

By special request, this installment of Colorado Songs considers a song that is actually called “Colorado,” written by Rick Roberts. Often, it is difficult to determine what may have motivated or inspired the composer of a song.  That is not the case here because Rick Roberts wrote a book called Song Stories and Other Left-Handed RecollectionsContinue reading “COLORADO (BY RICK ROBERTS)”

In the mid-1960s, the most popular rock band in Colorado was the Boenzee Cryque (pronounced BEN-ZEE CRICK), which was formed in 1964 by Sam Bush, who later started the new Grass Revival, and several of his friends.  The personnel changed from time to time as members were drafted, married, moved and pursued other interests.  Still,Continue reading “ROCKY MOUNTAIN BREAKDOWN (BY POCO)”

In this “Colorado Song” installment, we will look at “Denver,” from Willie Nelson’s Red Headed Stranger album.  The song lasts less than a minute, but it is quite pleasant and worth listening to. Red Headed Stranger  is a concept album that was released in 1975.  It was the first album Willie recorded for Columbia Records underContinue reading “DENVER (BY WILLIE NELSON)”

Colorado is noted for the majestic beauty of its mountains and the nobility of its people, and those qualities have inspired many wonderful songs.  Like anywhere else, though, there is also a bit of weirdness around these parts; and that, too, has been the subject of a song or two.  “The Ballad of Alferd Packer,”Continue reading “THE BALLAD OF ALFERD PACKER”

“In My Colorado Home” is a song first recorded by the Sons of the San Joaquin.  Those readers who are paying close attention to this point may object that the San Joaquin Valley is in California, and not Colorado – and that’s true. The Sons of the San Joaquin are a trio consisting of brothersContinue reading “IN MY COLORADO HOME”

This post is about the song “Colorado,” by Paper Bird . . .  but before we get to that, let me talk a bit about my kids’ education. In 1993, the summer before our son Michael began 4th Grade and our daughter Suzanne began 2nd Grade, our family moved to the mountains outside of IdahoContinue reading “COLORADO (BY PAPER BIRD)”

In an earlier post, I mentioned that a statute enacted more than a century ago designates “Where the Columbines Grow” as the official Colorado State Song, but in 2007 the Legislature adopted a Resolution naming John Denver’s “Rocky Mountain High” as an “official co-state song.”  Here, we will look at “Rocky Mountain High.” John Denver, whoseContinue reading “ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH”

In considering songs about Colorado, it is important to remember § 24-80-909 of the Colorado Revised Statutes, which provides: That certain song entitled “Where the Columbines Grow”, the words of which were written by A. J. Fynn and the music of which was composed by A. J. Fynn, is hereby adopted as the official state songContinue reading “WHERE THE COLUMBINES GROW”