Five years ago today (4/7/00), John Prine died at age 73 following complications from COVID-19. Prine was enjoying a decade-or-so-long career resurgence, and many a younger, successful artist praised Prine as a primary influence. He was a storyteller with a rare gift for blending wit, warmth, heartbreak, and humanity in just a few lines. He was often described as “Mark Twain with a guitar,” and his songs, like “Angel from Montgomery,” “Sam Stone,” “Hello in There,” and “Paradise,” have become classics, covered and celebrated by generations of musicians. Watch Prine’s third to last show on 2/7/2020 in Sweden.
