John Denver is among the world's biggest-selling solo artists in music history. Noted for his stratospheric vocals, guitar skills, and songwriting ability, Denver also pioneered environmental ethics and responsibility and was a champion of human rights as co-founder of The Hunger Project. 27 years ago today, Denver perished in a plane crash at the age of 53 and the Earth lost its troubadour and I lost a friend. Remembering the man who put me front and center, and sparked a flame in me that still burns today.