Red Rocks Amphitheatre

Colorado Music Stars Conquer the World…Really

By Marc Shulgold

Colorado came late to the party. History shows that the roots of rock started long ago in the South – in cotton fields, churches, the Mississippi Delta. The music spread through America and Great Britain, while we were known for our mountains and skiing. Eventually, Colorado found its way to contribute.

THE SUPERSTAR

John Denver 1975. Photo: ABC Television

Read on and discover how our little square state has given America and the world a bountiful helping of extraordinary music. And not just “Rocky Mountain High.” John Denver – born John Deutschendorf, Jr. – remains our beloved superstar, and one forever associated with Colorado. He lived much of his life up in Snowmass and wrote some dandy songs praising the natural beauty of the Rockies. He was, nonetheless, born in New Mexico, went to college in Texas and built his career in my hometown of Los Angeles. Fun fact: In 1965, he headlined at my high school’s hootenanny, strumming an 18-string guitar! John settled here in 1970, and he wasn’t the only pop-music transfer.

THE EARLY GROUPS

The Eagles. Photo: Asylum Records

The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band formed in Long Beach, California back in the ’60s, but once the guys discovered the scenery of Aspen and Evergreen, the move here began. Jimmy Ibbotson‘s “Ripplin’ Waters,” with its mention of columbines and streams, is all-Colorado. We’ve inspired oodles of anthems, perhaps none more rousing and rocking than Joe Walsh‘s “Rocky Mountain Way.” He recorded that classic in ’73 while making a record with Barnstorm at Caribou Ranch (more on that in a sec). It’s a showstopper when Walsh sings it at Eagles concerts.

THE RECORDING STUDIO

Those mountains have brought inspiration to musicians of all stripes. In fact, some great hit records were born up in them hills, in a barn converted to a serious recording studio. Caribou Ranch is a 7,000-acre site located 41 miles northwest of Denver (not far from Nederland), purchased in 1971 by renowned record producer James William Guercio. Word spread in the rock world that the studio and its surrounding mountain vibes were not to be missed. Caribou had its heyday in the ’70s and early ’80s, hosting sessions by Elton John, Dan Fogelberg, Billy Joel, the Beach Boys, America, Michael Jackson, Earth, Wind & Fire and many more superstars. When Elton was recording “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds,” he had help on the chorus from his old friend John Lennon who’d dropped by. Alas, the place burned down in March 1985.

THE ACCLAIM

Colorado Music Hall of Fame

This a good moment to mention the Colorado Music Hall of Fame, which includes Caribou Ranch and many of the names dropped earlier. Founded in 2011, the Hall was originally located at Red Rocks Amphitheatre but was moved to the Colorado Convention Center in 2025. Now numbering 60 honorees, it includes pop, rock, jazz, classical and folk performers, along with venues, industry professionals, radio stations, educational leaders, etc.

To name a few, there’s big band immortal Glenn Miller; beloved folk music icon Judy Collins, an East High graduate who took her farewell tour at age 87; legendary concert promoter Barry Fey, Central City Opera and other greats.

TODAY’S HIT GROUPS

The Fray. Photo: Walmart Soundcheck

But what about future Hall of Famers? Two groups started in 2002 and have sold tons of records and filled arenas: The Fray, born in Denver, and OneRepublic, hailing from Colorado Springs. The Fray toured Europe and the States in ’26, while OneRepublic hit Europe that year and performed as far away as Asia, Australia and New Zealand.

Here are two local bands who’ve also toured the planet. The Lumineers are a two-man indie-folk group, fronted by Jeremiah Fraites and Wesley Schultz, with help from friends. Their songs are joyful and universal. They’ve shared the Boettcher Hall and Red Rocks stages with the Colorado Symphony. But then, so has another successful local band: DeVotchKa.

The name is unusual, and so is this indie band. Lead singer/guitarist Nick Urata’s songs cover a wide range of styles and moods, while Tom Hagerman’s violin and electronic keyboard create unique classical/space-age accompaniments. Jeanie Schroder provides a strong bottom on double bass or sousaphone (!) with Shawn King’s strong drumming. So, where did their unique sound come from?

Tom Hagerman in a promotional appearance for the Denver Center Theatre Company’s Sweeney Todd. Photo: John Moore

“We all grew out of the Gothic country thing back in the ’90s,” Hagerman recalled. “There were bands here like 16 Horsepower and Denver Gentlemen. You didn’t have to conform. Whatever you did was OK. We had some support from college radio stations, and that helped put us all on the map.”

Still, those bands struggled. Some broke up, a few added or exchanged members. As Hagerman recalled, it was Urata who made the difference for DeVotchKa (named for a variation on the Russian word for girl). “Nick had the drive,” he said of the New York-born musician, who has followed a successful career as a film composer. In fact, the movies brought the band into the big time.

In 2006, first-time film-makers Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris chose DeVotchKa to score the Oscar-nominated film Little Miss Sunshine. As Hagerman admitted, “It was a big deal. After that, things fell into place.”

The multi-instrumentalist mused that it seems like a million years ago. “I’ve been in this band for 30 years. We keep saying, ‘Let’s give it five years and we’ll be done.’ Every five years, we decide to keep it going. You strive to find new avenues,” he said.

Hagerman pointed to the wealth of popular Colorado talent. “There’s Leftover Salmon, Nathaniel Rateliff, Gregory (Alan) Isakov, and so many others. Yeah, there used to be a ‘Colorado sound.’ But not anymore. Not with the internet. It’s just music from here that goes all over the world. It’s pretty cool.”

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