John Prine - American Legend

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American songwriter John Prine died yesterday.

Was just 73 years old.

He got sick a couple of weeks ago and the complications of COVID-19 claimed him.

It’s always weird to lose a recording artist because thankfully their work will be accessible forever.

That’s good news, but the bad news is that every time I hear a song from one of those artists - think Tom Petty, Eddie Money, Ric Ocasek...

...hell, even Dino or Elvis or Sinatra...

...there’s a twinge of sadness.

And now John Prine’s songs like Angel of Montgomery or Paradise or Sam Stone or In Spite of Ourselves...

...all fall into the same category.

Now Prine wasn’t the world’s biggest star.

He finally received some critical acclaim but he was more a working man star.

A guitar and excellent lyrics.

He spent some time as a mailman.

Patterned his writing after Steinbeck and I love that.

When an artist dies I also think of the music that is now lost to us. Prine finally put out a record a couple of years ago and had plans to maybe do another.

There isn’t anyone around who can do it quite the same way...

...so this horrific virus took that from us too.

Sad.

When this thing finally breaks we might have a shot at some good news...

...feels a long way away.

When a legend is claimed.

Gonna’ go listen to some poetry.

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