Who is the man in the picture?

Henry John Deutschendorf Jr. (December 31, 1943 – October 12, 1997), known professionally as John Denver, was an American singer-songwriter, record producer, actor, activist, and humanitarian, whose greatest commercial success was as a solo singer.

After traveling and living in numerous locations while growing up in his military family, Denver began his music career with folk music groups during the late 1960s.

John's love of flying came naturally. His father was Captain Henry John Deutschendorf Sr., USAAF United States Army Air Forces. Years later, as a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Air Force, Deutschendorf would set three speed records in the B-58 Hustler bomber and earn a place in the Air Force Hall of Fame.

Denver's Irish Catholic and German maternal grandmother was the one who imbued Denver with his love of music. In his autobiography, "Take Me Home", Denver described his life as the eldest son of a family shaped by a stern father who could not show his love for his children. He is also the nephew of singer Dave Deutschendorf of The New Christy Minstrels.

Denver was killed on October 12, 1997 when his experimental Long-EZ plane, aircraft registration number N555JD, crashed into Monterey Bay near Pacific Grove, California, while making a series of touch-and-go landings at the nearby Monterey Peninsula Airport.