Before singer, songwriter, environmental activist and one-time actor John Denver made his name known, he began his career as many musicians do — playing anywhere he could, including Ames.

March 1971 marked Denver’s first appearance in Ames. Scheduled as a last-minute replacement after B.J. Thomas canceled, Denver was brought from the Minnesota State fair to play for Thomas’s sold-out crowd.

“It seems to me that it [Denver replacing Thomas] was arranged by a student organization,” said Don Wirth, an 1972 ISU graduate.

“It was a big football weekend and was the only time they had concerts,” he said.

The change in venue was so last-minute that many concert goers, including Wirth, were not aware of the change in performers until they arrived at Stephens.

“I didn’t know it until I got to the concert,” Wirth said. “Otherwise I would not have gone. Maybe it’s all serendipity. If he wouldn’t have been in Minnesota, he wouldn’t have been here.”

Despite the disappointment over missing Thomas’s performance and the opportunity to return tickets, Wirth and others remained to listen to Denver. According to the Iowa State Center’s records, the concert was sold out.

Stepping onto stage wearing a Micky Mouse t-shirt and red pants with white vees down the side, Denver took his place.

“The sole prop [on stage] was a tall bar stool, a microphone and John with an acoustic guitar,” Wirth said.

This performance took place before Denver received his 14 gold records — before he had his first hit.

“The only song I remember him playing is ‘Leaving on a Jetplane,’ a song he wrote for Peter, Paul and Mary,” Wirth said.

“He said, ‘I always wanted to do this — here’s a medley of my hit,'” he added.

His songs of the night may not be remembered, but his stage presence was, Wirth said.

“I would liken [the concert] to something that would occur at the M-Shop,” he said. “Even though it was at Stephens, it felt intimate.”

“He had a real friendly attitude towards the audience and good rapport,” Wirth added. “You felt like he was relaying it to you individually.”

Shortly after this performance, Denver began to make a name for himself with hits like “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” “Rocky Mountain High” and “Grandma’s Featherbed.”

Denver also made five more stops through Ames, the last in September 1995.

While in Central Iowa, Denver touched more than just music lovers. He was an active member in the World Food Prize, an organization concerned with world hunger.

A tribute in Denver’s honor will be given at the 1997 World Food Prize Award Ceremony, scheduled for Thursday at 4 p.m. in the Des Moines Civic Center.

Excerpts and songs from Denver’s participation in last year’s award ceremony will be featured.