Denver broke into the music business as a folk singer, most notably as a member of the Chad Mitchell Trio. It was the manager of the group, Milt Okun, who took Denver's song, "Leaving On A Jet Plane," to Peter, Paul and Mary. The song became a #1 hit for the group in 1970 - their only #1 song and the biggest hit of their career. The success of the song gave Denver some exposure and allowed him to pursue his solo career, which began with the release of the album Rhymes and Reasons in 1969. He followed up with Whose Garden is This and Take Me to Tomorrow in 1970.
"Take Me Home, Country Roads" almost never happened. The song's co-writer, Bill Danoff, said in an interview with NPR in 2011 that Denver had been in a car accident in Washington, D.C. the night he first heard the song and almost did not stop by Danoff's apartment, as planned. Danoff and his girlfriend and writing partner, Taffy Nivert, had written the song for Johnny Cash in hopes of landing a big record deal. Denver ended up recording the song, which was released on his 1971 album Poems, Prayers, and Promises and Danoff eventually wrote 12 more songs for him.
Denver followed up the success of "Take Me Home, Country Roads" with "Rocky Mountain High" in 1972. Although not a native, Denver proclaimed Colorado to be his favorite state and the song is an ode to the Rocky Mountain State. Some radio stations initially banned the song, erroneously thinking it referred to marijuana. Denver’s success carried him through the 1970s with other hit singles including "Annie's Song," "Sunshine On My Shoulders," and "Thank God, I'm a Country Boy."
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