Chicago honors John Prine with weekend of events
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John Prine performs onstage in 1985 at the Aire Crown Theater in Chicago. Photo: Paul Natkin/Getty Images
If Maywood-born singer-songwriter John Prine were still alive today, he'd turn 80 on Saturday.
To mark the anniversary, the city is hosting several events this week and declaring Saturday John Prine Day.
Catch up quick: Prine started studying guitar at the Old Town School of Folk Music in the early '60s and — after an Army stint — began playing at local clubs like The Fifth Peg on Armitage where, in 1970, Roger Ebert gave him his first review.
- The gifted songwriter made his major-label debut in 1971 with "John Prine," featuring some of his most enduring tunes, including "Angel From Montgomery," "Hello in There," "Paradise" and "Sam Stone."
- By 1980, Prine moved to Nashville and co-founded "Oh Boy Records" in 1981, nurturing a new generation of songsmiths.
- Over his career, he released more than 20 albums, finishing with "The Tree of Forgiveness" in 2018.
Zoom in: The poetic lyricist earned multiple honors, including four Grammys and a PEN Award for Song Lyrics of Literary Excellence.
- Prine died from COVID complications in Nashville on April 7, 2020.
💭 My thought bubble: My mom, a regular on the city's '70s folk scene, played Prine records in our house throughout my childhood.
- I loved seeing him celebrate his old pal Steve Goodman during a fabulous tribute at Medinah Temple in 1997.
- Prine's "All the Best" and "In Spite of Ourselves" remain in heavy rotation on my playlists.
If you don't have tickets for Thursday night's sold-out "Souvenirs: 80 Years of John Prine Tribute Concert," you can try these events, some of which may be sold out or close.
Thursday 10am-1pm: Oh Boy Records Pop Up Shop at the Old Town School of Folk Music.
Friday 1pm: "John Prine's Chicago" panel discussion at the Chicago History Museum.
Friday 6pm and 8:30pm: "How Lucky Can One Man Get" film screening at the Gene Siskel Film Center. Sold out with a waitlist.
Saturday 10am-6pm: Daylong John Prine Celebration in and around the Old Town School of Folk Music, including talks, a mural dedication, food, a sing-along and a musical tribute at Martyrs'.
Sunday 10am: John Prine Day of Celebration at 121 S. 5th Ave in Maywood with trolley tours through the western suburb's Prine landmarks.
Sunday 3-7pm: A John Prine 80th Birthday Weekend Hang at Hattie B's in Wrigleyville with food, beer and a Prine look-alike contest.