In 1969, after performing with various bands, John Denver launched his solo career and recorded his debut LP, Rhymes and Reasons. Though the album wasn't a major hit, it featured 'Leaving on a Jet Plane,' which became an international chart-topper for Peter, Paul & Mary. Denver's early follow-ups, Whose Garden Was This and Take Me to Tomorrow (both 1970), didn't establish him as a solo star, but his 1971 release Poems, Prayers & Promises propelled him to superstardom with million-selling hits 'Take Me Home, Country Roads' and 'Sunshine on My Shoulders.' Over the next years, he delivered enduring songs like 'Annie's Song' (written for his wife) and 'Back Home Again,' becoming America's best-selling artist by 1974. Albums such as An Evening With John Denver (1975) and Windsong achieved massive popularity, and he continued dominating the charts with hits including 'Thank God I'm a Country Boy' and 'I'm Sorry.'