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Weeklong John Prine Celebration Set In Nashville Oct. 3-10
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The family of revered singer-songwriter John Prine, who died last year of complications from COVID-19, will present a weeklong celebration of the artist Oct. 3-10 with a special concert and event series across several venues in Nashville.
“You Got Gold: Celebrating the Life & Songs of John Prine” will include tribute concerts at the Ryman Auditorium (Oct. 6-7), CMA Theater at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum (Oct. 8), and Basement East (Oct. 9). The celebration concludes on what would have been Prine’s 75th birthday.
Each of these shows will include a unique, surprise line-up of friends performing Prine’s songs. Tickets for the four shows go on sale starting Wednesday, May 26 with a general onsale beginning Friday, May 28 at the event’s website. Additional “You Got Gold” events will be announced.
Proceeds from the concerts and celebration will benefit the newly created Hello In There Foundation, a 501c3 established by the Prine family to honor John Prine’s memory.
“The work of the foundation will be inspired and guided by John’s simple song title, ‘Hello In There’ and will aim to identify and collaborate with individuals and communities where people are marginalized, discriminated against or, for any reason, are otherwise forgotten.” according to a statement. This year’s grant recipients are Nashville-based non-profits Room In The Inn and Thistle Farms.
Additionally, Oh Boy Records — the independent label that Prine created and that celebrates its 40th anniversary this year — will release a new tribute record, Broken Hearts and Dirty Windows: Songs of John Prine, Vol. 2. Each month ahead of the release, Oh Boy will unveil a new artist and song that is featured on the record, including the first two installments: “Paradise” performed by Sturgill Simpson and “I Remember Everything” performed by Brandi Carlile.
As part of Oh Boy Records’ anniversary, the label will roll out several special releases this year including a new documentary series, “Big Old Goofy World: The Story of Oh Boy Records,” which chronicles the label’s rich history and legacy.
Prine is a four-time Grammy-winner, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award honoree, a seven-time Americana Music Award-winner, a PEN New England Lyrics Award recipient and member of both the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Since his debut in 1971, Prine released 18 albums, including his final masterpiece Tree Of Forgivess, and has had his songs recorded by Johnny Cash, Carly Simon, Bette Midler, Bonnie Raitt, Neil Young, Norah Jones, George Strait, Miranda Lambert, Zac Brown Band and many others.