John Prine (October 10, 1946 - April 7, 2020) was an American country folk singer-songwriter. He has been active as a composer, recording artist, and live performer since the early 1970s, and is known for an often humorous style of country music that has elements of protest and social commentary.

Prine is widely regarded as one of the most influential songwriters of his generation.

In 2009, Bob Dylan told The Huffington Post that Prine was one of his favorite writers, stating "Prine's stuff is pure Proustian existentialism. Midwestern mindtrips to the nth degree. And he writes beautiful songs. I remember when Kris Kristofferson first brought him on the scene. 'Sam Stone' featuring the wonderfully evocative line: 'There’s a hole in daddy's arm where all the money goes, and Jesus Christ died for nothing I suppose.'[20] All that stuff about "Sam Stone," the soldier junkie daddy, and "Donald and Lydia", where people make love from ten miles away. Nobody but Prine could write like that."[21]

The 73-year-old Prine had twice fought cancer. Most recently, he was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2013 and had part of a lung removed. The surgeries affected his voice but Prine continued to make music and to tour.

Family

• Parents: William Prine and Verna Hamm
• Siblings: 3 brothers
• Spouses: 1) Anne Carole (high school sweetheart), 2) Rachel Peer (married from 1984 to 1988) 3) Fiona Whelan (married 1988).
• Children: Tommy Prine, Jody Whelan, and Jack Prine.
• Cousin: actor Andrew Prine

John Prine, One of America’s Greatest Songwriters, Dead at 73

Grammy-winning singer who combined literary genius with a common touch succumbs to coronavirus complications

By STEPHEN L. BETTS & PATRICK DOYLE

John Prine, who for five decades wrote rich, plain-spoken songs that chronicled the struggles and stories of everyday working people and changed the face of modern American roots music, died Tuesday at Nashville’s Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He was 73. The cause was complications related to COVID-19, his family confirmed to Rolling Stone.

John Prine Obituary

Influential singer-songwriter who brought a blend of poignancy, anger and humour to songs about the problems of everyday life

Robin Denselow

Wed 8 Apr 2020 06.48 EDTLast modified on Wed 8 Apr 2020 12.50 EDT

John Prine, who has died aged 73 due to complications of Covid-19, was a highly influential American singer-songwriter. Musically, his style veered between folk and country, with a dash of country-rock and rockabilly thrown in, but lyrically he was far harder to define.

References

• Official site; John Prine, From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia; “ JOHN PRINE: AMERICAN LEGEND” by Roger Ebert (2010); “John Prine: In Spite of Himself.” Eddie Huffman. University of Texas Press (2015). GoogleBooks; “PRINE'S SENSE OF HUMOR SHOWS IN RECORDS, LIFE” by Jim Presnell, Special to the News and Sun-Sentinel (1985). ”Forming his own record label wasn't that farfetched. It appears music always has been a personal, family affair for Prine. Older brother Dave taught John to play the guitar and plays fiddle, Dobro and banjo on Prine's records. Younger brother Billy has a rock band that had been called Whiplash and the Lawsuits. And Prine is now married to his former bass player, Rachel Peer-Prine.”; “John Prine & Oh Boy Records Message Boards” (17-May-07) “3 wives - 3 sons 1. Anne (his high school sweetheart) 2. Rachel Peer (his bass player) 3. Fiona Whelan - mother of Jody, Jack and Tommy. Jody is responsible for introducing John to his mother. Jack and Tommy are their "Irish Twins" born about 10 months apart.”; “John Prine Biography” (2016); “For Better or Worse” interview on YouTube (2016); “Inside the Life of John Prine, the Mark Twain of American Songwriting” RollingStone.com (2017); “ Oh Boy! John Prine’s Family Business Is Booming” Pollstar.com (2018); “John Prine on Spotify”; “Singer John Prine is in stable condition, his wife says” APNews, March 30, 2020. “ John Prine, One of America’s Greatest Songwriters, Dead at 73” RollingStone.com April 7, 2020

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Singer-Songwriter. Born and raised in Maywood, Illinois, Prine learned to play the guitar at the age of 14. He attended classes at Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music. After serving in West Germany with the U.S. armed forces, he moved to Chicago in the late 1960s, where he worked as a mailman for five years, writing and singing songs as a hobby. Prine attended Proviso East High School in Maywood, Illinois. In 1971 Prine's self-titled debut album was released. His second album, Diamonds In The Rough (1972). Between 1971 and 2003 he released 24 albums and several videos. He won two Grammy Awards out of eleven nominations.

Bio by: Former MLB Players

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Apr 26 2020, 20:22:58 UTC