John Prine Posthumously Named Honorary Poet Laureate
John Prine has been posthumously named an Honorary Poet Laureate for the State of Illinois. Born in Maywood, IL and initially rising to fame in the state as the “singing mailman” in Chicago, Prine is the first Illinoisan to receive the honorary designation, which commemorates and celebrates his writing and musical contributions. Prine passed away due to complications from COVID-19 on April 7th at the age of 73.
“John Prine leaves behind an unparalleled musical legacy and was beloved by family and millions of fans who hope that in Heaven he finds Paradise waitin’ just as he longed for,” Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker said in a statement, deftly sliding in some references to well-known Prine songs in his proclamation.
“John had a great respect for writers of all kinds. He regarded Poets as being among those whose work carried weight, relevance and elevated craft,” Prine’s widow Fiona Whelan Prine said in a statement. “It is such an honor for me, our sons, and the entire Prine family to acknowledge that our beloved John will be named an Honorary Poet Laureate of the State of Illinois. Thank you, Gov. Pritzker, for this wonderful recognition.”
Fiona Whelan Prine revealed in June that John had been working on a new album when he passed away, and the very final song Prine ever recorded called “I Remember Everything” was released via Prine’s label Oh Boy Records. Co-written with longtime collaborator Pat McLaughlin and produced by Dave Cobb, the song actually debuted at #1 on the Billboard Digital Rock Songs Sales chart, giving Prine the first #1 of his career.
Don’t be surprised if more unreleased John Prine music surfaces in the future.
Big Tex
July 4, 2020 @ 9:05 am
Good news.
One may not have known this, however, if one had followed Prine’s advice to blow up your TV and throw away your papers.
Blackh4t
July 4, 2020 @ 2:29 pm
Someone will tell you.
Thanks for putting that song in my head, Spanish Pipedream is special.
The topless lady with something up her sleeve…so good.
Zebb
July 4, 2020 @ 3:09 pm
“On my way to Montreal” – I know a group of amateur concert promoters who got John there, finally, in about 2005. He knew he wouldn’t get his normal gate but he wanted to see the city, and he wanted a good French meal.
Julie Frazier
July 4, 2020 @ 7:18 pm
I know it’s an idiot box, TV but it’s company for millions.
Including myself in that number.
I love his music and his style. He stood, played, sang and didn’t try anything stupid.
Nick
July 4, 2020 @ 3:06 pm
God bless him. John Prine is the Norman Rockwell of songwriting.
Kathleen Shotz
July 4, 2020 @ 7:32 pm
This is wonderful. Just wish he was here to drink all of it in.
Just a fan
The deserter
July 4, 2020 @ 8:33 pm
I wonder how many other songwriters have been awarded this title I don’t know much about it
I’m curious about his company
Wuk
July 5, 2020 @ 12:46 am
Well deserved. An incredible songwriter. Wish he had had the recognition whilst living. He deserved it.
Tunesmiff
July 5, 2020 @ 3:23 am
As is too often the case, too little, too late~
Thanks for the update, Trigger~
Chuck Reda
July 5, 2020 @ 5:31 am
I never met John….but he was such a good friend.
Rich Merrill
July 5, 2020 @ 8:25 am
A remarkably human being. John Prine’s music inspired me and his lyrics could make me laugh at times and at others, reduce me to tears. He made me think I knew or wished I knew or maybe wished I was the subject of his lyrics.
Karen Dailey
July 5, 2020 @ 12:32 pm
“John was the best friend I never knew.”( a commenter made after hearing of his passing.) Listening to his plethora of songs during the past four month solo quarantine kept me calm and reflective on the human experience. He was such a humble fellow. He blessed my life and will continue t until they “spread my ashes” on my hometown lake.
Jackson Benjamin Friday
July 5, 2020 @ 12:39 pm
I remember John Prine back in the early 1970’s. After his days in the Military John Prine was back. Oh Boy, was he back. I was and am ‘Bob Dylan’ fan. But, when you put them back to back, it’s incredible. John Prine was sitting and still is On Top of the World. Thank You
Mr. JOHN PRINE.
NorCal Hellbilly
July 5, 2020 @ 4:18 pm
My local public radio station is doing a broadcast of all of the “best performances” from High Sierra Music Festival. They normally broadcast the festival live but since it was canceled this is what they came up with. John Prine’s set from 1992 is on at 7:00 pm tonight California time. Just a heads up it should be good. KVMR is the station. Anybody can listen to it online if they were interested
Tom
July 8, 2020 @ 7:21 am
A well-deserved if belated honor for John Prine.
The unfortunate consequence is that it exposes the fact that it’s taken our mutual home state nearly 200 years to bestow this honor on anyone despite the fact that it’s produced a significant number of qualified poets and songwriters.
Michael A Ross
July 8, 2020 @ 6:48 pm
in 1971, i was 21, in college, and could play the guitar & sing; i bought JP’s songbook and i have it today; JP took song writing to a reality we 20 somethings were feeling and understood; i started playing Paradise at the Ol’ Smokeshoppe in Spokane where i was born and raised; i learned a good lesson from JP in that i could not write songs, but i could sing them………..i saw JP a few years ago at the Bing Crosby Theater in Spokane where Bing started his career ………JP sounded just like his records this night and i’m so appreciative that i was able to breath the same air with one of the greatest singer songwriters ever………………..