John Prine facts for kids

Quick facts for kids John Prine
Prine at MerleFest 2006
Background information
Birth name	John Edward Prine
Born	(1946-10-10)October 10, 1946 Maywood, Illinois, U.S.
Died	April 7, 2020(2020-04-07) (aged 73) Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Genres	Country-folk Americana
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter guitarist
Instruments	Vocals guitar
Years active	1969–2020
Labels	Atlantic Asylum Oh Boy Rhino
Associated acts	Steve Goodman Iris DeMent

John Edward Prine (October 10, 1946 – April 7, 2020) was an American singer and songwriter. He was known for his unique style of country-folk music. John Prine wrote songs that were often funny. They also shared important messages about society and life. He performed and recorded music from the early 1970s until he passed away.

John Prine was born and grew up in Maywood, Illinois. He started playing the guitar when he was 14 years old. He also took music classes in Chicago. After serving in the U.S. Army in West Germany, he came back to Chicago. He worked as a mailman and wrote songs as a hobby. Soon, he began performing his songs in clubs.

A famous writer named Roger Ebert wrote a great review about John Prine. This helped him become very popular. Another singer-songwriter, Kris Kristofferson, heard Prine play. Kristofferson was so impressed that he invited Prine to open for his shows. This led to Prine releasing his first album in 1971. He made several more albums with big record companies. In 1981, he started his own record label called Oh Boy Records. He released most of his later music through his own company.

Many people say John Prine was one of the most important songwriters of his time. His songs often had funny lyrics about love and everyday life. He also wrote serious songs that shared his thoughts on social issues. In 2020, he received a special Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

John Prine was born in Maywood, Illinois. His parents were from Muhlenberg County, Kentucky. The family often visited relatives in Kentucky during the summers. This area later inspired some of his songs, like "Paradise."

John started playing guitar at age 14. His brother, David, taught him. He also attended classes at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago. After high school, he worked as a mailman for five years. He also served in the United States Army in West Germany. He was a vehicle mechanic before starting his music career.

Becoming a Star in Chicago

In the late 1960s, while still a mailman, John Prine began singing his songs at open-mic nights. These were held at a place called the Fifth Peg in Chicago. He often wrote songs in his head while on his mail route. At first, he was shy about performing. But soon, he was offered paid shows.

His popularity grew quickly after critic Roger Ebert wrote a glowing review. John Prine became a key part of the Chicago folk music scene. Other talented singer-songwriters like Steve Goodman and Bonnie Koloc were also part of this group. Prine often performed in Chicago clubs.

In 1971, John Prine was playing at the Earl of Old Town. Steve Goodman convinced famous singer Kris Kristofferson to come and listen to Prine. Kristofferson was amazed. He later said it was like finding Bob Dylan when he first started.

John Prine's Music Career

The 1970s: First Albums and Famous Songs

John Prine's first album, called John Prine, came out in 1971. Kristofferson invited Prine to perform with him in New York City. There, a music executive named Jerry Wexler heard him. The very next day, Prine signed a record deal with Atlantic Records.

His first album included many of his most famous songs. These include "Illegal Smile," "Sam Stone," and "Angel from Montgomery." The song "Paradise" also became a folk and country favorite. Another song, "Hello in There," was about getting older. Even Bob Dylan himself once played harmonica with Prine at one of his early shows.

Prine's second album, Diamonds in the Rough (1972), was different. It was simpler and showed his love for bluegrass music. It included songs like "The Great Compromise," which touched on the Vietnam War.

He released more albums in the 1970s. Sweet Revenge (1973) had popular songs like "Dear Abby" and "Christmas in Prison." Common Sense (1975) was his first album to appear on the Billboard Top 100 charts. In 1978, he released Bruised Orange, which included "That's The Way That The World Goes 'Round."

In 1979, Prine released Pink Cadillac. This album featured two songs produced by Sam Phillips, who founded Sun Records. One song, "Saigon," was about a soldier dealing with the effects of war.

The 1980s: Starting His Own Label

In 1981, John Prine decided to do things differently. He felt that big record companies didn't always treat artists fairly. So, he started his own independent record label called Oh Boy Records in Nashville. His fans helped him by sending money in advance to cover the costs of his next album.

He continued to write and record music throughout the 1980s. Other famous artists, like the supergroup The Highwaymen, recorded his songs. His friend Steve Goodman passed away in 1984. Prine honored him by contributing to a tribute album.

The 1990s: Grammy Wins and Collaborations

In 1991, Prine released The Missing Years, which won a Grammy Award. This album included a funny song about what Jesus might have done during his "missing years." In 1995, he released Lost Dogs and Mixed Blessings. This album featured "Lake Marie," a long song that was a favorite of Bob Dylan.

In 1999, Prine released In Spite of Ourselves. This album was special because it had mostly cover songs of classic country tunes. He sang these songs as duets with many famous female country singers. These included Lucinda Williams, Emmylou Harris, and Iris DeMent.

The 2000s: New Music and More Awards

In 2001, John Prine appeared in the movie Daddy & Them. His song "In Spite of Ourselves" was played at the end of the film.

In 2005, Prine released Fair & Square, his first album of new songs in ten years. This album had a more relaxed, acoustic sound. It included songs like "Safety Joe," about a man who avoids risks. It also had "Some Humans Ain't Human," a song that shared his thoughts on human nature. Fair & Square won the 2005 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album.

The 2010s: More Tributes and a Final Album

In 2010, a tribute album called Broken Hearts & Dirty Windows: Songs of John Prine was released. It featured many modern folk artists singing his songs.

Prine onstage, 2016

In 2016, John Prine received the PEN/Song Lyrics Award. This award recognizes songwriters for their amazing lyrics. He shared the award with Tom Waits. Later that year, he released For Better, or Worse. This album was a follow-up to In Spite of Ourselves. It featured more country duets with artists like Alison Krauss and Kacey Musgraves.

In 2017, the Country Music Hall of Fame displayed some of Prine's personal items. These included his cowboy boots, jacket, guitar, and handwritten lyrics. He also won his second Artist of the Year award at the Americana Music Honors & Awards.

On February 8, 2018, Prine announced his first album of new original songs in 13 years. It was called The Tree of Forgiveness and came out on April 13. This album became his highest-charting album ever on the Billboard 200 chart.

His last recording session in 2019 included the song "Please Let Me Go 'Round Again." This song gently talks about the end of life.

After His Passing: "I Remember Everything"

The very last song John Prine recorded was "I Remember Everything." It was released on June 12, 2020, after his death. A special tribute show was held, featuring many famous country artists. This song was also used in a video during the 2020 Democratic National Convention to remember those lost during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Personal Life

John Prine was married three times. He had two sons, Jack and Tommy, with his third wife, Fiona Whelan. He also adopted Fiona's son, Jody. John Prine also had a home in Ireland, where he spent part of the year.

Health Challenges

In 1998, John Prine was diagnosed with a type of cancer in his neck. He had surgery to remove the cancer. This surgery changed his voice, making it sound more gravelly. He needed a year to recover and work with a speech therapist before he could perform again.

In 2013, he had another surgery to remove cancer from his left lung. After this, he worked hard to regain his strength. Six months later, he was back on tour.

His Passing

In March 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, John Prine's wife, Fiona, tested positive for the virus. Soon after, John Prine was hospitalized with COVID-19 symptoms. He passed away on April 7, 2020, at the age of 73, due to complications from the virus.

Following his wishes, half of his ashes were spread in Kentucky's Green River. This was a place he sang about in his song "Paradise." The other half were buried next to his parents in Chicago.

His Impact on Music

John Prine is seen as one of the most important songwriters of his time. He has been called "the Mark Twain of songwriting."

Many famous musicians admired his work. Johnny Cash said John Prine was one of his "Big Four" favorite songwriters. Roger Waters of Pink Floyd also named Prine as one of the five most important songwriters.

Prine also helped and inspired many younger artists. These include Jason Isbell, Brandi Carlile, and Kacey Musgraves.

Awards and Recognitions

Grammy Awards

John Prine won four Grammy Awards and also received a special Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. He was nominated 13 times.

Other Honors

• In 2005, John Prine became the first singer-songwriter to perform at the Library of Congress.
• In 2019, he was added to the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
• He won six awards from the Americana Music Honors & Awards. These included Artist of the Year multiple times.
• In 2020, the Governor of Illinois named John Prine the honorary Poet Laureate of Illinois.

Discography

After his death, John Prine's music became very popular again. Several of his songs charted high on Billboard's Rock Songwriters Chart. His 1971 debut album and his last album, Tree of Forgiveness, also re-entered the Billboard 200 chart.

See also

In Spanish: John Prine para niños