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Missing John Prine
Singer/songwriter John Prine becomes an old friend when he sings
2 min readAug 6, 2021
John Prine. There’s so much to say about him.
- Born October 10, 1946.
- Died April 7, 2020.
- Gave up his job at the Post Office after Kris Kristofferson discovered him in 1971.
Battled squamous cell cancer on the right side of his neck and won in 1998.
- Underwent surgery to remove cancer in his left lung — 2013. Was back on tour six months later.Inducted into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame in 2019.
- Two time Grammy Award winner.
- Adored by his wife, Fiona Whalen Prine and their children. Fiona was also his manager.
- His songs reflect how much he loved his family, friends, and life.
My husband is a Vietnam veteran. About 20 years ago, he played Sam Stone by John Prine. The song really hit home with both of us. “There’s a hole in Daddy’s arm where all the money goes. Jesus Christ died for nothin, I suppose.”
Someone once asked John if Sam Stone was a guy he served with in Vietnam. Nope. #1) He picked the name Sam Stone because it rhymed with home. (Sam Stone came home to his wife and family), and #2) John didn’t go to Vietnam. He was stationed in Germany. That’s…
