Tag Archives: John Prine

2021 Grammy Awards – Country, Americana, Bluegrass and Folk Nominees

Posted on by — No Comments ↓

2021 GRAMMY Awards

Nominees for the 2021 Grammy Awards were announced with Miranda Lambert dominating the Country Music Categories (3). The Queen of Americana Lucinda Williams has 2 and ties with The Secret Sisters (Laura Rogers & Lydia Rogers) and John Prine’s last composition , “I Remember Everything, which has been nominated in two categories Best American Roots Performance and Best American Roots Song.

The Grammy Awards for roots music takes place before the televised preceding the 2021 GRAMMY Awards show, the 63rd GRAMMY Awards Premiere Ceremony will take place Sunday, March 14, at noon PT, and will be streamed live internationally via GRAMMY.com.

The 2021 GRAMMY Awards show performer lineup will include performances from Texas’ own neo-soul newcomers Black Pumas, Brandi Carlile, Mickey Guyton, Brittany Howard, Miranda Lambert and more.

Here are the country and roots music nominees:

Best Country Solo Performance:
“Stick That in Your Country Song,” Eric Church
“Who You Thought I Was,” Brandy Clark
“When My Amy Prays,” Vince Gill
“Black Like Me,” Mickey Guyton
“Bluebird,” Miranda Lambert

Best Country Duo/Group Performance:
“All Night,” Brothers Osborne
“10,000 Hours,” Dan + Shay & Justin Bieber
“Ocean,” Lady A
“Sugar Coat,” Little Big Town
“Some People Do,” Old Dominion

Best Country Song:
“Bluebird,” Miranda Lambert (Luke Dick, Natalie Hemby & Miranda Lambert, songwriters
“The Bones,” Maren Morris (Maren Morris, Jimmy Robbins & Laura Veltz, songwriters
“Crowded Table,” The Highwomen (Brandi Carlile, Natalie Hemby & Lori McKenna, songwriters)
“More Hearts Than Mine,” Ingrid Andress, (Ingrid Andress, Sam Ellis & Derrick Southerland, songwriters)
“Some People Do,” Old Dominion (Jesse Frasure, Shane McAnally, Matthew Ramsey & Thomas Rhett, songwriters

Best Country Album:
Lady Like, Ingrid Andress
Your Life Is a Record, Brandy Clark
Wildcard, Miranda Lambert
Nightfall, Little Big Town
Never Will, Ashley McBryde

Best American Roots Performance:
“Colors,” Black Pumas
“Deep in Love,” Bonny Light Horseman
“Short and Sweet,” Brittany Howard
“I’ll Be Gone,” Norah Jones & Mavis Staples
“I Remember Everything,” John Prine

Best American Roots Song:
“Cabin,” The Secret Sisters (Laura Rogers & Lydia Rogers, songwriters)
“Ceiling to the Floor,” Sierra Hull (Sierra Hull & Kai Welch, songwriters)
“Hometown,” Sarah Jarosz (Sarah Jarosz, songwriter)
“I Remember Everything,” John Prine (Pat McLaughlin & John Prine, songwriters)
“Man Without a Soul,” Lucinda Williams (Lucinda Williams, songwriter)

Best Americana Album:
Old Flowers, Courtney Marie Andrews
Terms of Surrender, Hiss Golden Messenger
World on the Ground, Sarah Jarosz
El Dorado, Marcus King
Good Souls Better Angels, Lucinda Williams

Best Bluegrass Album:
Man on Fire, Danny Barnes
To Live in Two Worlds, Vol. 1, Thomm Jutz
North Carolina Songbook, Steep Canyon Rangers
Home, Billy Strings
The John Hartford Fiddle Tune Project, Vol. 1, Various Artists

Best Folk Album:
Bonny Light Horseman, Bonny Light Horseman
Thanks for the Dance, Leonard Cohen
Song for Our Daughters, Laura Marling
Saturn Return, The Secret Sisters
All the Good Times, Gillian Welch & David Rawlings

John Prine Indy Label ‘Oh Boy’ Records Celebrates 40 Years

Posted on by — No Comments ↓

USA’s second oldest artist-owned independent label (if you know the first drop it in the comments section) and the oldest in Nashville—celebrates its 40th anniversary this year with a series of special releases and events. Founded in 1981 by legendary singer, songwriter and musician, John Prine, along with his longtime manager, Al Bunetta, Oh Boy has gone on to release more than fifty audio and video recordings and continues today as a vital part of Nashville’s independent music community with the recent signings of emerging artists Tré Burt, Arlo McKinley and Kelsey Waldon.

Of his initial inspiration to start the label, Prine has shared, “Every time I’d go to a little concert hall or a club, I was filling it up. So I thought, ‘Why not make music just for those people.’ And that’s when I talked to Al about starting Oh Boy. I’m really proud of it. As time’s gone by and people starting independent record companies has kind of become the thing, it’s great that we’ve stayed afloat for this many years.”

Prine’s widow and President of Oh Boy, Fiona Whelan Prine shares, “As long as there are people who want to listen to good music, who will value the singer-songwriter than we will keep on going.”
To commemorate the milestone, Oh Boy will share a new documentary series chronicling the label’s rich history and legacy via their YouTube page. Watch the official trailer below.

This year also marks the 50th anniversary of Prine’s landmark self-titled debut album. Featuring iconic songs such as “Hello In There,” “Paradise,” “Sam Stone” and “Angel From Montgomery,” John Prine was inducted into the Recording Academy’s “Grammy Hall of Fame” in 2014 and was recently named #149 on Rolling Stone’s “500 Greatest Albums of All Time” list. In celebration of the occasion, Oh Boy will release a special anniversary edition of the album later this year with much more to be announced.

Additionally, throughout the year, Oh Boy will roll out several new releases from their catalogue—including new music from Tré Burt, a special edition John Prine 7-inch box set, Fair & Square on vinyl and new material from Dan Reeder—as well as exclusive new merchandise, special curated playlists, outdoor pop-up events and more. Moreover, each week this year, the label will celebrate a different album or artist from their extensive catalogue. The series kicks off this Wednesday, February 24 highlighting The Bis-Quits.
Special exclusive commemorative merchandise as well as all the new releases to come will be available throughout the year at www.ohboy.com.

John Prine’s Family Announce ‘Picture Show’ Tribute Livestream June 11

Posted on by — No Comments ↓

On June 11th the John Prine’s family will celebrate the late beloved singer-songwriter’s legacy with the Picture Show a livestream tribute.

Produced by the Prine family and Oh Boy Records, the event will feature “musicians, actors, and friends sharing memories and songs.” The names of those participants, which will stream via Prine’s YouTube and Facebook pages — have, so far, not yet been revealed.

The event will also raise money for several charities including NAMI (the National Alliance on Mental Illness) and Alive, whose Grief Center is providing free counseling sessions to anyone in Middle Tennessee who has had a family member die of COVID-19.

Additional details will be shared soon.

Brandi Carlile, Lukas Nelson, Jeff Tweedy & More Pay Tribute To John Prine

Posted on by — No Comments ↓

The loss of singer/songwriter John Prine due to complications associated with COVID-19 has hit fans and members of the Americana community hard. Few artist of his stature were as generous of spirit and touched so many lives.

His death has created a vacuum in this world where an unlikely ex-mailman and towering talent once existed.

Members of the Americana and country music community aired their grief in the best way possible. They paid testament in covering Prine’s songs.

Brandi Carlile – “Hello In There”

Jeff Tweedy – “Please Don’t Bury Me”

Lukas Nelson – “Lonesome Friends of Science”

Ani DiFranco – “Angel From Montgomery”

BJ Barham – “Paradise”
https://www.facebook.com/americanaquarium/videos/2866668576702331/

Jason Isbell & Amanda Shires – “Angel From Montgomery” “Clocks And Spoons.” “Illegal Smile.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxwJ2qQs4ZE

Andrew Bird – “Souvenirs”
https://www.instagram.com/tv/B-uw1SzD3g8/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Ryan Bingham – “Illegal Smile”
https://www.instagram.com/tv/B-vNUJoBS9x/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Willie Nelson To Be Honored at Grammy Week Americana Music Association Benefit Concert

Posted on by — No Comments ↓

shotgun willie

In keeping with its honoring music legends in the runup to the Grammy Awards (who in many ways prefers to forget them), the Americana Music Association will be producing a solute to none other than the red-headed stranger himself, Willie Nelson.

Willie will be saluted by peers and admirers that include John Prine, Tanya Tucker, Shooter Jennings, Rhiannon Giddens & Francesco Turrisi, Calexico, Andrew Bird, I’m With Her (Sara Watkins, Sarah Jarosz, and Aoife O’Donovan) and Yola. The War and Treaty, Iron & Wine, Madison Cunningham, Gregory Alan Isakov, Ida Mae, Sierra Ferrell and others still to be announced also are slated to take part in the tribute.

The evening celebrates the Recording Academy’s recognition of Americana musicians and typically uses the work of an Americana luminary as a focal point. Prine was the honoree last year and will be making his second appearance at the event to pay homage to the 86-year-old Texas singer and songwriter, who is not expected to attend.

Previous honorees include Everly Brothers singer and songwriter Phil Everly (which I was fortunate enough to attend), Eagles founding member Glenn Frey and country queen Loretta Lynn.

The benefit will take place at the storied West Hollywood venue Troubadour. Tickets are $75 and proceeds benefit the AMA. General sales begin at 10 a.m. Friday.

John Prine Joins Todd Snider On The Ryman Auditorium Stage

Posted on by — 2 Comments ↓

John Prine & Todd Snider | Illegal Smile
Screen grab via YouTube – Kimberly Lord

Over the Easter weekend the Jester King of Americana, Todd Snider, surprised his audience at the historic Ryman Auditorium by inviting John Prine , one of his musical mentors, on stage during the encore.

The longtime friends traded verses on the 1971 classic, “Illegal Smile,” an unintentional weed anthem of sorts perfect for the 4/20 revelry.

Of the song Prine sqys “I have to confess, the song was not about smokin’ dope, It was more about how, ever since I was a child, I had this view of the world where I can find myself smiling at stuff nobody else was smiling at. But it was such a good anthem for dope smokers that I didn’t want to stop every time I played it and make a disclaimer.”

Todd Snider with John Prine – “Illegal Smile”