50 years is a long time, even in the life of a tree. It’s an impossibly long time to remain relevant in the music business but John Prine did just that. Wrote, played, recorded relevant music from 1971 to 2020. Cancer (twice) couldn't stop him but the Corona Virus laid him low.
I’m pretty sure it was a guy named John Hanaford that turned me onto John Prine. Hanaford was a kick ass dirt bike rider and racer and a good friend even though I haven’t seen him in probably 45 years. He taught me lots about making a dirt bike go impossibly fast and shared a great sense of music and marijuana. If he did nothing but introduce me to John Prine it’d be plenty to make him stay in my memory.
After a stint in the Army in Germany (a hell of a lot better than Vietnam at the time) he got a job as a mailman and worked in clubs and bars until Kris Kristoferson heard him play. He said “Prine writes songs so good we’ll have to break his thumbs.”
It feels like it ought to be time to pick a favorite song by John Prine. I don’t think I can do it. His first album had Sam Stone, Illegal Smile, Hello In There and Angel from Montgomery which are all still relevant today. His latest has ‘Summer's End’ about an Opioid Overdose.
I got to see John Prine play at least a half dozen live shows. They ranged from fairly elaborate shows (once with Booker T and the MGs-Google it) to Prine and a stool and a guitar. He was a tireless touring act and the shows were always just great. If you didn’t see him, you missed out.
I don’t know about you, but some music just makes me smile. One of my most used music channels has always been ‘the John Prine channel’. John Prine may have made me feel sad, he may have made me think, but he always made me smile. It’s the highest tribute I have.
Rest in Peace, John Prine. You certainly gave better than you got.
The words are all mine. The videos are from YouTube
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