Real Lyrics to Great Songs

Dick Kniss, a bassist who performed for five decades with the folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary and co-wrote the John Denver hit "Sunshine on My Shoulders," has died. He was 74.

CORRECTS DATE OF DEATH TO JAN. 25, 2012 and BYLINE TO THEODORE JEAN - In this undated photo provided by Theodore Jean, Dick Kniss plays the acoustic bass. Kniss, who performed for five decades with Peter, Paul and Mary and co-wrote the John Denver hit "Sunshine on My Shoulders," died on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2012 in Saugerties, N.Y. He was 74. (AP Photo/Theodore Jean) NO SALES

Olivia Newton-John is set to host a benefit concert celebrating the late John Denver as he becomes the first inductee of the Colorado Music Hall of Fame on April 21.

Erma Deutschendorf Davis, mother of the late singer John Denver, has died at an Aurora care facility at age 87.

Ron Deutschendorf says his mother died Sunday. She had suffered health problems since a fall in November.

He says she often attended the concerts of John Denver, who was killed in 1997 at age 53 in the crash of a plane he was piloting in California.

Services for the 30-year Aurora resident will be Sunday. Besides her son, she is survived by eight grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and a sister.