Original: John Denver ( December 31 , 1943 & ndash ; October 12 , 1997 ) , born Henry John Deutschendorf , Jr. , was an American singer-songwriter , actor , activist , and poet .
Simplified: John Denver ( born Henry John Deutschendorf , Jr. ) ( December 31 , 1943 -- October 12 , 1997 ) , was an American musician and songwriter .