"How Lucky Can One Man Get," a 2010 concert documentary starring our beloved JP screens at @afisilvertheatre in Silver Spring, MD on Sunday, June 7. It's one of only a handful of screenings happening across the country.
Fiona Whelan Prinehosts a VIP reception and meet-and-greet at 4:30pm, with the screening at 6PM. Tickets start at $25, with all proceeds benefitting the Hello in There Foundation and grantmaking in John's memory.
On behalf of the Prine family, we were deeply saddened to hear of the passing of John’s dear friend, Kris Kristofferson. Their friendship was made of magic, and Kris was the long time North Star for John. He was a beacon of light, a fierce talent and a gentle soul. Our hearts are with Lisa and his family…
Kris was an important character in John’s story. They first met when Steve Goodman convinced Kris to go hear John play in Chicago: “The chairs were on the tables, the waitresses were counting their tips, and I was waiting for my paycheck. And Kris came in with two other people. We got four chairs down and I got on the stage right in front of him and sang about seven songs. And then he bought me a beer and asked if I could get back up there and sing those seven again and anything else I wrote.” Kris then invited John to join him at his NYC show which led to John getting offered a record deal from Atlantic the next morning. The friendship between the two not only impacted John but every country artist after Kris and beyond.
He was always happy to connect with those who admired him; we appreciate the time he took to speak with Fiona Prine’s mother Mary (super fan). Though he was a giant, he was incredibly warm and human. He will be missed.
“Kris did more for me than anyone, without looking for anything for himself. I always make a point of telling musicians, and other singer-songwriters, that at no time did Kris ever introduce me to his music publisher or record label. He introduced me to people who were good people, and let it fly from there. After being in the music business for 45 years, I can see how rare that is.” - JP
Happier times - we are gonna miss Kris like we miss John
"It was never a secret that John loved to sing with women. He marveled at how the best and beautiful voices in music agreed to sing with him and especially at how good they made him sound.
Nanci Griffith had one of those best and beautiful voices. She was maybe his first real duet partner on stage. I rode the tour bus in the early 1990s with them and it was a golden time.
She and John had a real affection for each other; both enjoyed their Major cigarettes from Ireland; they had the same sense of goofy humor; and he regarded her as a kindred spirit because they both saw and wrote about the experiences of everyday men and women of the heartland.
This is a sad day for our music community, and for Nashville.
It gives me comfort to know that John had reached out to Nanci in January 2020. He missed her. He tried to persuade her that there were young women who needed her - her experience, friendship, humor and the gift of her singular craft. She was amazed to hear him say those things and said she’d think about it. They spoke one more time before John passed in April.
Rest In peace and music, sweet Nanci, and if you see that old duet partner please hug him from all of us"
More John . . . . . just read this memory from John's widow Fiona Whelan Prine. The last song John wrote is an emotional paean (to her I would claim) and it is as sad as heartfelt and self aware as he ever got . . . . . . . . .
I remember the evening John came home having written a new song with Pat McLaughlin. He loved to write with Pat because it meant he got to hang out with him-they were old friends and committed co-writers. John and Pat had shared many Meat and Three lunches and written some beautiful songs together over the years.
I had never seen John quite like this when he had a new song to bring home. He literally bounced in the door, immediately took his guitar from its case and said, “Listen to this Fi...” He was excited and proud, but there was something else too.
As he picked the melody I could see he was emotional with tears welling up in his eyes.
“I’ve been down this road before, alone as I can be careful not to let my past go sneakin’ up on me....
He stumbled over some of the lyrics, stopped, and started again. A yearning, evocative, and simple melody; his classic fingerpicking and a somewhat familiar yet new 3-chord melody from the same old D-28 John had written every song on.
“I remember everything, things I can’t forget
the way you turned and smiled on me on the night that we first met...”
He made it through the song and explained there were still some tweaks needed and asked, “What do you think Fi ?” We were both crying a little by now and I told him it was beautiful - that it was as beautiful a song as he had ever written.
John would always say, ‘No song before it’s time.’ I’m not sure if he heard that from someone else but I know he absolutely believed it to be true.
It appears John knew more than I imagined about the demands of Time. He left us a beautiful and timely parting gift. Thank you, John.
Thank you, for Everything.
Fiona Whelan Prine
John's last song . . . . . .
No, thank you Fiona
Wednesday, May 06, 2020
FIONA WHELAN PRINE
John Prine down the Pool Hall
John Prine's widow is a delightful bright and attractive woman who has shown great warmth and care for John's fans since his death and taken care to share some of her more profound feelings with his fans that surprised and delighted me at a time when one might have expected her to lie low and nurture the family mourning exclusively. That's not her style and some of her tweets and messages have been truly heartfelt and touching. I had to post this one however in response to the POTUS . . .
