John Prine not only DESERVES to be in the hall, it is a crime he is not--album/CD sales are not the criteria, it's excellence...it would be a shame if he passed and he was inducted AFTER that...!!

Posted by Warren on Thursday, 09/4/2014 @ 19:29pm

I think the first person to respond needs to realize who some of the people who disagree with him are.

some of the artist who covered John Prine's songs:

Paul Anka - Steve Goodman - Bonnie Koloc - Kris Kristofferson - David Allan Coe - Bob Dylan - Emmylou Harris - Johnny Cash - Roger Waters - Vince Gill - Bonnie Raitt - John Mellencamp - John Denver - Lynn Anderson George Strait - John Fogerty - Miranda Lambert - Skip Haynes - Bette Midler - The Seldom Scene - Marley's Ghost - Rosanne Cash - Willie Nelson - Amy Black The Everly Brothers - 10,000 Maniacs - The Crickets - Peter Paul & Mary - Randy Scruggs - Joan Baez - Nitty Gritty Dirt Band - Merle Haggard - Carly Simon - Spencer Davis Group - Tammy Wynette - Judy Collins - Gail Davies - Kim Carnes - Boz Scaggs

For anyone who is interested there is a Youtube video titled John, Arlo, Kris and Others Dsicuss Steve Goodman. It's about John Prine's friend Steve Goodman but John Prine is one of the people interviewed and several of the stories pertain to both Steve Goodman and John Prine.

Posted by Zuzu on Friday, 02/20/2015 @ 14:39pm

John Prine's songs are what life is all about - from happiness to pathos and the certainty that life can change on a dime. He is my guru,who just happens to have a sublimely askew look at the world, and we are all much the better for it.

Posted by laurey lummus wilkonson on Monday, 07/20/2015 @ 07:12am

Dylan called Prine one of his favorite singer/songwriters. I'll take Dylan's opinion over the guy who said Prine "sucks", but then he probably thinks Dylan "sucks" too!

Posted by Lucinda on Sunday, 03/13/2016 @ 11:25am

Lucinda, I saw John Prine at 2015 ROMP Bluegrass Fest. he played after Hot Rize. Big, enthusiastic crowd for him. He seemed to have a great time. Appeared to have had a few. In person, he sorta looks like a hobbit. Had a small backing band, he played guitar. Wish you could have seen him.

I'm glad I saw him.

Posted by Paul in KY on Monday, 03/14/2016 @ 07:30am

My bet is that John Prine, if he gets in, will in the excellence category for his songwriting, not in the so-called "main" category for performers.

Posted by Joe on Tuesday, 10/9/2018 @ 08:34am

Too many great artist overlooked to justify John Prine's induction in main category.

Induct Captain Beefheart

Posted by JESSE on Tuesday, 10/9/2018 @ 15:57pm

Jesse


What makes John Prine important is influence on songwriting. My take on what I have read is that artist consider him a stronger influence on Bruce Springsteen. You need to google him,

Personally I think Steve Goodman is more important and I think the Old Town School of Folk Music.

Both along with Roger McGuinn went to the school, and I get the impression that they consider McGuinn the least important of the 3.

Posted by Zuzu on Tuesday, 10/9/2018 @ 17:09pm

Should read than not on. I need to my nails. I am making too many typos.

Posted by Zuzu on Tuesday, 10/9/2018 @ 17:11pm

My guess is if John Prine is not in as a performer, he'll be inducted in the non-performer category (Ahmet Ertegun Award). Just a thought.

I didn't think of it before BUT the mention of the many artists who covered him. The Hall of Fame made a mistake nominating him as a performer, he's far more remembered for being a songwriter/composer.

His nomination as a performer does an injustice to other '70s singer-songwriters that have not been nominated yet, namely Carly Simon. MOF, are there any more singer-songwriters left to be inducted besides her and Prine? I mean they inducted Cat Stevens for god sakes!

I'm sure Prine is a great performer but in terms of where his legend stands, it's definitely as a writer.

Posted by Timothy Pernell on Sunday, 10/14/2018 @ 00:44am

That is not what the Musical Excellence category is for. John Prine is mostly celebrated for his songwriting, that is true, but so are Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen, both artists that are rightfully inducted in the Performers category. Musical Excellence should be for those songwriters that repeatedly wrote songs with the intention to have them performed by other artists. Prine wrote mainly for himself.

Posted by The_Claw on Sunday, 10/14/2018 @ 03:26am

But ain't most of his songs covered? I mean unless people were that into Prine, I can't recall a signature moment for him. But maybe I'm not deep into the Americana thing?

Posted by Timothy Pernell on Friday, 10/26/2018 @ 06:31am

That's the liability, Timothy, but on the other hand, inductees are a huge chunk of the voting body, and critics are another big bloc. So, that's why he has a serious shot.

On the other hand, we'll see. As I've said, the question is: will he be another Tom Waits, getting on the first shot, or another Laura Nyro, needing multiple nominations?

Posted by Philip on Friday, 10/26/2018 @ 11:16am

I'll be honest here, I just don't think that he deserves induction IMO, I think his nomination was a wasted one and I still don't understand why he got nominated, I think his nomination should have gone to either another Country/Americana artist like Patsy Cline, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, Merle Haggard, George Jones, Glen Campbell, Conway Twitty, Waylon Jennings, Buck Owens, Kris Kristofferson, Emmylou Harris, Garth Brooks or Shania Twain, or another Singer/Songwriter like Gram Parsons, Warren Zevon, Harry Nilsson, Carole King, Carly Simon or Jim Croce because they're all much more well-known and much more deserving of induction than him IMO, besides he's just too obscure to ever get inducted anyway.

Posted by richie on Friday, 10/26/2018 @ 12:43pm

There is no way he is getting in this year. It's not like he's Leonard Cohen or Tom Waits.

Posted by Roy on Wednesday, 10/31/2018 @ 15:00pm

Roy

You really know very very little about the folk side.

Tom Waits seriously important to who?

You should look up John Prine before you make such uneducated comments.

There is no real competition on this ticket.

Posted by Zuzu on Wednesday, 10/31/2018 @ 15:44pm

I really think that John Prine's nomination this year really should have gone to either another Country/Americana act like Patsy Cline, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, Merle Haggard, George Jones, Glen Campbell, Conway Twitty, Waylon Jennings, Buck Owens, Kris Kristofferson, Gram Parsons, Emmylou Harris, Lucinda Williams, Garth Brooks, or Shania Twain or another singer/songwriter like Warren Zevon, Harry Nilsson, Carole King, Carly Simon, or Jim Croce because they're all much more well-known and much more deserving of induction than him IMO, I just think that his nomination was such a wasted one and truly a big mistake on the Hall's part, I still don't understand why he got nominated over more deserving acts in his league like Patsy, Willie, Dolly, Loretta, Merle, Jones, Glen, Conway, Waylon, Buck, Kristofferson, Gram Parsons, Emmylou, Lucinda, Garth, Shania, Zevon, Nilsson, Carole, Carly Simon, and Jim Croce. besides he's just way too obscure to ever get inducted anyway.

Posted by richie on Wednesday, 10/31/2018 @ 16:30pm

John Prine is not “too obscure”.
A wise and informed choice for nominee and probable induction.

Posted by Mark on Wednesday, 10/31/2018 @ 16:51pm

Mark,

I have to disagree with you about John Prine, I just think that he's not a wise choice on the Hall's part that they nominated him this year over all of the much more deserving Country/Americana/singer-songwriter acts that I mentioned (Patsy, Willie, Dolly, Loretta, Merle, Jones, Glen, Conway, Waylon, Buck, Kristofferson, Gram Parsons, Emmylou, Lucinda, Garth, Shania, Zevon, Nilsson, Carole, Carly Simon, and Jim Croce as well as one other act that I haven't mentioned and that is Steve Earle) and they are all much more well-known than him and one of them really should have taken his spot on this year's ballot, so I just feel that he's just way too obscure and I just can't see him getting inducted this year (let alone ever), and he certainly doesn't deserve induction IMO, but I respect your opinion about him, Thanks and Have a great day...

Posted by richie on Wednesday, 10/31/2018 @ 17:47pm

Richie

John Prine is not a country artist. By the way some of those country artist have nothing to do with rock and roll hint Buck Owens and Dolly Paton.

Gram Parsons - nom and rej 3 times
Conway Twitty nom and rej once

The man is a folk artist.

Posted by Zuzu on Wednesday, 10/31/2018 @ 18:28pm

Zuzu,

John Prine is not a folk artist, he's a Country/Americana artist, and the reason why that I listed all of those Country/Americana acts (Patsy, Willie, Dolly, Loretta, Merle, Jones, Glen, Conway, Waylon, Buck, Kristofferson, Gram Parsons, Emmylou, Lucinda, Steve Earle, Garth, and Shania) is because they all have had much more commercial success and much more influence on the music industry than him, and because of that, they all are much more well-known and much more deserving of induction than him IMO.

Posted by richie on Wednesday, 10/31/2018 @ 18:51pm

Richie

John Prine is folk.

Look up Old Town School of Folk music.

Bonnie Raitt is blues.

She covered Make Me An Angel.

The outlaws took John Prine and Steve Goodman under their wing. This does not make them country.

For the record I saw Pete Seeger at the OTSOFM.

They are proud of their star students.

Just look it up.

Posted by Zuzu on Wednesday, 10/31/2018 @ 19:59pm

Actually, Buck Owens performed on some of Gene Vincent's recordings, so even though he wasn't inducted, he could considered a member of the Blue Caps.

Posted by Philip on Thursday, 11/1/2018 @ 00:56am

I usually do not comment on any artist's page, but that is by far the most embarressing thing I've ever read.

"Tom Waits seriously important to who?"

You can't be serious. Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, Lou Reed, David Bowie,...

Posted by MichaelEU on Thursday, 11/1/2018 @ 06:40am

You guys are all way too worried about genre definitions. Truly great musicians don't worry or think about genre. Indeed, they tend to find genre labels irritating and artistically limiting. I can guarantee that John Prine has never sat down to write a tune, thinking about what genre it was aimed for.

It's always the second string copy cat type of singers and bands that worry about their genre label.

Posted by Shrek on Thursday, 11/1/2018 @ 12:01pm

MichaelEU

2 things that never cease to amaze me about the younger generations

1 The inability to comprehend the concept of genre.

2 The inability to distinguish propaganda from fact.

Now would you like to try again?

The genre is folk.

Posted by Zuzu on Thursday, 11/1/2018 @ 13:22pm

Zuzu,

The younger generations understand genres far better than us. They create new ones yearly. I do not understand the anti-youth slant of your post.

On that second point, genres themselves are propaganda created by the industry to help market and define acts. We can only blame generations like ours for allowing that to happen. So the blame falls on us. The younger generation at least seems to be waking up to that concept.

As for Prine, Folk barely defines him, as a fan of his music I doubt he would like to be put in that box.

He may say you were burying his artistic ability.

"Please don't bury me
Down in that cold, cold ground
No, I'd rather have 'em cut me up
And pass me all around"

I think he would be fairly happy being defined as a multi genre artist.

Posted by Chris F. on Thursday, 11/1/2018 @ 13:34pm

Chris how old are you to have the nerve to say us?

Are you joking?

Posted by Zuzu on Thursday, 11/1/2018 @ 14:11pm

Zuzu,

Old enough to know using age as a reason to grandstand and talk down to others is incorrect. Also old enough to be as nostalgic about artists as you are, the same artists.

Posted by Chris F. on Thursday, 11/1/2018 @ 14:19pm

Chris

You mean young enough to think you can bs your age and wisdom. You do not get it!!

Calling out lies and revionist histories not talking down to.

Posted by Zuzu on Thursday, 11/1/2018 @ 14:39pm

Zuzu,

I haven't seen you redirect a single revisionist history statement on this entire site. I have seen you make passionate arguments for artists, and take hard swipes at other artist legacies. I have certainly seen you sling mud at posters.

Young enough has a nice ring to it. I might have to start using that when people ask my age. I can at least change the narrative from old to young enough.

Either way this is a John Prine thread. And since you're only point so far has been Old Town School I am going to need a bit more to be swayed to call Prine a pure Folk act. I do not need more evidence that you hail from Chicago. It seems most of your arguments are based around what happened in the Windy City in 1972 (Cubs or White Sox fan?). I should not have to point this out but I will. Acts outside of Folk have often played that venue. Folk is Seeger. It is not Prine, he dabbles with it and plays around with the sound, but he forged his own path helping to form what would be called Americana. Americana being a Folk adjacent subgenre of Rock'N'Roll. So if you are a fan of boxing in talented artists he for the most part has worked within that frame. Sometimes falling more into Alt Country, sometimes playing with a Bluesier sound, often inspired by Honky Tonk, and occasionally dabbling in pure Country glory. Definitely has some Folk records (his debut for instance), but not a Folk artist along the lines of Odetta or The Weavers.

Posted by Chris F. on Thursday, 11/1/2018 @ 15:13pm

Chris

So you admit you know jack about John Prine.

Can it. Your nonsense is getting you nowhere.

Posted by Zuzu on Thursday, 11/1/2018 @ 16:36pm

Why you gotta be rude zuzu

Posted by Michael on Thursday, 11/1/2018 @ 16:43pm

Michael

you want rude go look in the mirror. This is the music of the Boomer Generation. Why come here to talk smack about my generation's music. Go start your own hall of fame if you want to glorify your music.

Posted by Zuzu on Thursday, 11/1/2018 @ 17:24pm

@The Almighty Majestic Zuzu

I don't know if you notice, but you talk tons of smack about generation's too. KrAfTwErK iS a GaRbAge DuMp TiCkEt! ToM wAiTs Is A gArBaGe DuMp TiCkEt! JaNeT jAcKsOn Is A gArBaGe DuMp TiCkEt! You basicially just talked smack to every single other generation... expect yours. What makes you so special?

Posted by Michael on Thursday, 11/1/2018 @ 17:37pm

Hey Micheal

There you go again starting shit. I asked what does Tom Waite have to do with folk.

You want somebody in the rock and roll hall of fame they must have something to do with rock and roll. Stop disrespecting us. Like I said you want to honor your generation's music start your own hall.

You go do your thing and leave us to do ours.

Posted by Zuzu on Thursday, 11/1/2018 @ 17:47pm

@ little girl zuzu

wake up and smell the coffee!!!!!!
your little girl behavior is serously annoying me. i dont know why you think you have the right to go and make fun of people calling them little boy and things loike that. its also unnecessary to curse like that. have some common decency.

do not forget:
devo
kraftwerk
radiohead
rage against the machine
the cure
depeche mode



Also, I posted my response about Tom and folk music on Tom Waits page. You need to pay attention.

Posted by Michael on Thursday, 11/1/2018 @ 17:56pm

What does your grandma do when you call her little girl?

Rock and Roll

Stop starting shit and disrespecting me.

You do not even know where the saying came from.

Posted by Zuzu on Thursday, 11/1/2018 @ 18:46pm

@ little zuzu

ok you need to bring your little girl games somewhere else. this isnt gen waa i want it now. you didnt even awnser my question. one, stop cursing do you see me cursing? have some common decency two, you need to realize that your generation isnt the only one that has good music. 80s has good music (pls dont start on that "dropping recird sales" story), 90s has good music, and 2000's has good musix. three you need to stop acting like your the queen of england and thinking you have the rigjt to randomly called people little boy and cursing like your dping right now. would you curse at yoyr grandlids??? stop spreading propaganda

do not forget:
kraftwerk
radiohead
depeche mode
nine inch nails

Posted by Michael on Thursday, 11/1/2018 @ 18:56pm

Stop trying to start shit and disrespecting me.

Go start your own hall where you kids can wallow in all that propaganda you buy into.

Go do your thing and leave us to do ours


ROCK AND ROLL

I knew you were clueless about where that line came from.

HINT John Prine wrote a song about their sisyer

Posted by Zuzu on Thursday, 11/1/2018 @ 19:53pm

Zuzu,

You are a delight. I still have not figured out if you are a troll, a bad one at that, or an irate person with too much time on their hand. Judging by your use of slang I highly doubt you are what you pretend to be here.

Either way let's try and direct this back to the purpose of the thread. Which you appear to loathe to do. What outside of your first initial point, which I showcased as invalid, makes Prine a Folk artist? Is it something you pick up in his music that other trained ears are not hearing. Is it a large presence in the scene? Is it even maybe a record shop marker you once visited on the Southside that the clerk decides to showcase Folk that month? Give something to the conversation. So we can at least discuss music here. As a piece of advice, which you will not take, maybe attack a posts musical merit as opposed to name calling and shaming on things you have no idea on.

Specifically stop picking on contributors here who actually have intelligent discussion. It throws anything else you discuss into murky water. Feel free to give me a Dean Martin style roast. But you are not the most effective insult poster, you are like Angie Dickinson. When really you should try and be more like Ruth Buzzi.

Posted by Chris F. on Thursday, 11/1/2018 @ 20:04pm

Do your grandkids know they you're cursing out random people on the internet?

Posted by Michael on Thursday, 11/1/2018 @ 20:05pm

@Chris F. Troll. If you don't like the Music she likes, it's automatically a "garbage dump ticket."

Posted by Michael on Thursday, 11/1/2018 @ 20:07pm

There's no doubt at all that John Prine's feet were firmly planted in the rich earth of folk music from his education at Old Town to his participation in the folk music focused clubs in Chicago.

And he has written extraordinary songs that are absolute pure old school folk. "Paradise" being a prime example, it sounds like a song that could have come out of the Appalachian hills in the 19th century like so many of our great American folk standards did.

But he also was fortunate to debut in an age in which the lines between folk and country and pop and acoustic rock music were heavily blurred under the sweeping category of "singer-songwriter". So, Prine never felt the need to try to define himself, he just wrote the best songs he could and enjoyed the freedom to do arrangements that freely veered in style.

He was marketed as one in a string of people described as the "next Dylan"; but instead he turned out to simply be "John Prine" and that was a hell of a wonderful thing.

The only genre I need for John Prine is: An American Treasure.

I don't care what your age is, if you listen to John Prine, you are on the right path.

As far as the generational divide that Zuzu seems to be stuck on - hell as far as I'm concerned, most of her complaints about the HOF have been caused by the Boomer generation folks that run the place and have dominated the nominating and induction process; so I'm not sure quite why she thinks picking on the younger voices on these forums is going to do anything to change that.

Personally I think if young folks are less concerned with genre, that is a wonderful thing, it is as limiting on the listener as it is on the artists. I for one am very happy to be decades away from the old genre wars where I was expected to pick "sides" between prog rock and punk and disco. Now I can go back and listen to some great stuff I never allowed myself to hear at the time or simply wasn't exposed to because of the limits of radio and quality record stores in my podunk little rural farm town in the 70s.

Posted by Shrek on Thursday, 11/1/2018 @ 20:22pm

I'm not sure whether it is performance art or too much alcohol.

Posted by Paul in KY on Friday, 11/2/2018 @ 06:58am

That might be an issue on whether or not he'll get in: that he doesn't fit into any genre, that probably cancels his chances this year, considering he's up against another genre blurrer: TODD HARRY RUNDGREN.

I think people who love Prine's music got blinded by his nomination in the same way pop fans like myself got blinded by Janet's first nod in 2015 and said "ah this is a shoo-in, how can they not induct them!?" But people forget the Hall can be unpredictable.

Only reason I feel Todd could get in as a performer over Prine is because, like KISS and Rush, the Hall waited too long to nominate Todd and as Questlove pointed out, many in the committee didn't know Todd WASN'T in yet (that surely will tell you how much they know about the Rock Hall!). That puts Prine at a disadvantage.

Also, in all the articles I read on Mr. Prine has given him accolades on his SONGWRITING, not his overall musicianship. So they could possibly give him a backdoor induction (Ahmet Ertegun Award) over a Performer one (it's actually possible they can do that) or not induct him at all this year. Honestly, I think he should get in the Songwriters' Hall of Fame first before the Rock Hall, but what do I know? Lol

Posted by Timothy Pernell on Friday, 11/2/2018 @ 11:31am

That said, John has a great story similar to many Hall of Fame inductees and nominees: he defied people's expectations of him, he doesn't fit any category, his political views are similar to many of the singer-songwriters of his era (though he wasn't active in any human rights activism like, say, Joan Baez) and he's survived cancer. Plus having a top five record on the Billboard charts, performing recently on Fallon, etc., getting inducted would also bring a great boost to him. So why I feel he may not get inducted as a performer, he still stands a chance of getting in anyway so whatever happens, he'll be happy with.

Posted by Timothy Pernell on Friday, 11/2/2018 @ 11:44am

Timothy,

That's my suspicion too. But it's not just about genre-blurring. My angle is that both those nominees have respect from deep in the industry. They're potential "industry picks," and not just those two, but also Brian Eno of Roxy Music. I haven't officially solidified my predictions, but when I compare "Biggest threats," those three will all be listed as the primary competitors for each other. OF course, all three could get in. I haven't set my thoughts in stone yet.

Posted by Philip on Friday, 11/2/2018 @ 11:50am

I forgot about Brian Eno but yeah it's still possible all three (or just two) could get in. I see it right now if Prine and Runt gets in this year, Todd would probably be in as a performer. If not, Prine will be in as a performer for 2020's induction.

Posted by Timothy Pernell on Friday, 11/2/2018 @ 16:22pm

Timothy Pernell,

I just don't see John Prine making it this year (let alone ever), I think he's just way too obscure to ever get an induction and I really think that his nomination this year should have went to Willie Nelson because Willie's 85 years old and he may not be with us for that much longer, plus Willie's much more well-known and iconic than him and also much more deserving of induction than him as well.

Posted by richie on Friday, 11/2/2018 @ 18:38pm

richie, he's not obscure to the people who vote.

Posted by Paul in KY on Saturday, 11/3/2018 @ 22:01pm

Paul in KY,

Yes, he is obscure to the people who vote, I just think that his nomination this year was a huge mistake and a wasted one on the Hall's part, along with Stevie Nicks, he is the most undeserving act on the ballot this year, I really think that his spot should have gone to either Patsy Cline, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, Merle Haggard, George Jones, Glen Campbell, Conway Twitty, Waylon Jennings, Buck Owens, Kris Kristofferson, Gram Parsons, Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle, Lucinda Williams, Garth Brooks, Shania Twain, Warren Zevon, Harry Nilsson, Carole King, Carly Simon, or Jim Croce because they're all much more well-known and much more deserving of induction than him, besides I just think that he's just way too obscure to ever get an induction and I just don't see him making it this year (let alone ever).

Zuzu,

I'm going to tell you for the last time, that John Prine is not folk, he's more Country/Americana, and also, Bonnie Raitt is not Blues either, she's more Rock & Roll, but I respect your opinion about them, Thanks and Have a great day...

Posted by richie on Monday, 11/5/2018 @ 12:58pm

richie, I don't really care whether you believe me or not, but I can assure you that he is not 'obscure' to the people who vote in this thing.

He may be more obscure than Def Leppard or Stevie, but he is in no way 'obscure' (to the HOF voters).

Gram Parsons is certainly not 'obscure' either, that hasn't gotten him diddley, so we'll have to see how it plays out for Mr. Prine.

Posted by Paul in KY on Monday, 11/5/2018 @ 18:26pm

Dylan waxed poetic about him, Bonnie Raitt performed with him, he was given rave reviews for performing with Jimmy Fallon and the Roots and he performs to sold-out audiences at his shows, he's not obscure. Sure, his is a name that came out of nowhere in terms of WHO the Hall nominates, but he's NOT obscure.

Posted by Timothy Pernell on Monday, 11/5/2018 @ 18:48pm

Paul in KY and Timothy Pernell,

I have to disagree with you guys, I just think that he's just way too obscure, and I just don't think that he deserves induction period, I really think that his nomination this year was a mistake and a wasted one on the Hall's part and along with Stevie Nicks, he is the least deserving act on the ballot this year, I really think that his spot should have went to either Willie Nelson or Gram Parsons again because they're both much more well-known and iconic and much more deserving of induction than him IMO, besides I just think that he's just way too obscure to ever get an induction and I just don't see him getting inducted this year (let alone ever).

Posted by richie on Monday, 11/5/2018 @ 20:00pm

I have a hard time with an artist with a top 5 Billboard album this year being described as "obscure". Albums don't sell the way the used to, for sure; but in that environment that is the same for every artist no matter how much fame they have, he sold enough copies of his latest to hit the top 5 list to *current* record buyers (which is different than say if he had hit the top 5 back in the 70s for a single album and then disappeared commercially).

He's won three Grammy Awards, including the Grammy Hall Of Fame, and been nominated for three additional ones.

So if the industry knows who he is (Grammy awards), and the musicians know who he is (already noted widespread praise), and the current record buyers know who he is (2018 top 5 album); who is it that he is exactly obscure to?

I think richie basically means he never heard of him before.

Posted by Shrek on Monday, 11/5/2018 @ 20:31pm

I have to agree with Paul in KY, Timothy Pernell, and Shrek now, that he's not obscure but I just don't think that he deserves a Performer induction, so I think that the Hall made a mistake nominating him as a Performer, he's far more remembered for being a songwriter/composer, his nomination as a Performer this year does an injustice to other '70s singer-songwriters that have not been nominated yet and were much more well-known, namely Willie Nelson, Warren Zevon, Harry Nilsson, Carly Simon, Jim Croce, and Emmylou Harris, so I think that he's more likely to get inducted via the backdoor (either the Ahmet Ertegun Award for Lifetime Achievement (aka Non-Performer) or the Musical Excellence category for his songwriting) rather than get inducted as a Performer.

Posted by richie on Monday, 11/5/2018 @ 21:08pm

John Prine truly needs to be inducted. Such an amazingly gifted artist which is proof because his lyrics and music. If this is not possible, then yes, definitely, a lifetime achievement award is truly deserved.

Posted by Barbara Fillio on Tuesday, 11/6/2018 @ 07:41am

I have a feeling that he's getting in, but not as a Performer. They'll probably squeeze him in at the last minute as a Non-Performer, Award For Musical Excellence, or the Ahmet Ertegun award. That's what happened with Sister Rosetta Tharpe back in 2018.

Posted by Michael on Tuesday, 11/6/2018 @ 09:00am

Michael,
Sister Rosetta Tharpe was not inducted under those categories.
She was inducted as Early Influences
Prine may be inducted under the categories you mentioned.

Posted by Mark on Tuesday, 11/6/2018 @ 09:08am

John Prine just got a nomination to the Songwriters Hall of Fame. It's possible he can get inducted into both the Rock & Roll and Songwriters Hall of Fame but I feel his chances at induction this year will be at the Songwriters Hall of Fame than R&RHOF (as a performer at least).

Posted by Timothy Pernell on Wednesday, 11/7/2018 @ 17:21pm

John Prine is nominated for the 2019 Songwriters Hall of Fame as well.

Posted by Roy on Thursday, 11/8/2018 @ 07:20am

John Prine wants the Zombies inducted before him.

Posted by Roy on Wednesday, 11/14/2018 @ 22:40pm

John Prine might join this club.

ARTISTS WHO WERE INDUCTED INTO THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME AND THE SONGWRITERS HALL OF FAME IN THE SAME YEAR

01. 1986: Chuck Berry
02. 1997: Joni Mitchell
03. 1999: Bruce Springsteen
04. 2000: James Taylor
05. 2010: Jesse Stone
06. 2011: Leon Russell

Posted by Roy on Wednesday, 11/14/2018 @ 22:43pm

Richie

Go look at the Old Town School of Folk Music and you will find out that they already have one student that has been inducted.

You will not be able to understand John Prine without also looking at Steve Goodman.

Bonnie Raitt was also inducted into th Blues Hall of Fame, Look it up.

Posted by Zuzu on Thursday, 11/15/2018 @ 14:06pm

Angel From Montgomery

Bonnie Raitt & John Prine live Farm Aid

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfF5W2-cjZg

Posted by Zuzu on Tuesday, 11/27/2018 @ 14:22pm

Celebrity quotes on John Prine

http://www.jpshrine.org/lyrics/prineapps5


This site also has other info

Posted by Zuzu on Monday, 12/3/2018 @ 12:28pm

Maybe this will open the door for The Kingston Trio, Peter, Paul and Mary, Phil Ochs, and Judy Collins.

Posted by Roy on Wednesday, 12/12/2018 @ 09:09am

Anyone else think John Prine didn't get in because he said that The Zombies deserve it more than he does?

Posted by Follower on Friday, 01/4/2019 @ 02:47am

Follower,

It's possible. Or maybe he just didn't have enough votes considering the group he was in. Like for the most part, I didn't think he had much of a chance this year and I was right. But I think an induction for him will probably come next year. He just got in the Songwriters Hall so it's possible for him to get into the Rock Hall. Unless he wasn't really popular enough for a new induction nomination. We'll see though.

Posted by Timothy on Saturday, 01/12/2019 @ 12:18pm

2019 Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee!

Posted by Roy on Saturday, 01/12/2019 @ 22:23pm

I would like to talk a little bit about the importance and influence of Mr. Prine. Unless you were of a certain age when his first album came out, you would not necessarily know what he brought to the table.

The Vietnam War was a disasters in a hundred different ways, but one way it was really bad, which is not really remembered now, is the treatment of the returning veterans. The nation did not really want to know about them or have to think about them. There were no parades. Many of them served well and survived the experience, but a whole bunch went down the rabbit hole into oblivion...

In 1971, John Prine released his namesake album, which was was loaded with tremendous songs....Illegal Smile, Paradise, etc. However, there was one song that cut through the night...Sam Stone. If you are not familiar with it watch a version on YouTube.

Here is a lyric that I remember as a 14 year old telling me what I needed to know about the War and its aftermath:

Sam stone was alone
When he popped his last balloon
Climbing walls
While sitting in a chair

No one else resonated the way he did, in causing us to understand the Vets situation.

The people who should want Prine in the Hall should be those of you in your late teens and early 20’s. He is your guy. The truth always cuts through, eventually.

Posted by Jay on Tuesday, 07/16/2019 @ 22:14pm

"I would like to talk a little bit about the importance and influence of Mr. Prine. Unless you were of a certain age when his first album came out, you would not necessarily know what he brought to the table."--Jay

Jay, that's exactly the reason some debate his merits. If you have to be a certain age when the debut album came out to really get his importance, that doesn't exactly help him be described as "timeless." That said, "Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore" is more pertinent than ever, nowadays.

Posted by Philip on Wednesday, 07/17/2019 @ 01:04am

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/john-prine-covid-19-symptoms-974909/

John Prine is currently hospitalized in a critical condition after showing symptoms related to COVID-19.

Posted by Michael on Sunday, 03/29/2020 @ 22:05pm

R.I.P. John Prine. Just heard about his passing at age 73 due to coronavirus complications. Rolling Stone has put out a great article about him.. Excuse me while I go listen to "Paradise", and "Angel From Montgomery"..

Posted by Will N. on Tuesday, 04/7/2020 @ 21:54pm

There are many things wrong with the Rock Hall Of Fame, and the fact that John Prine was not inducted is one more.

Posted by Jay Rosenblum on Tuesday, 04/7/2020 @ 22:00pm

R.I.P. John Prine

Posted by Philip on Tuesday, 04/7/2020 @ 22:05pm

I certainly like John Prine and think his writing was amazing. The problem I have is his body of work. I know many of his songs have been covered but, it seems to me, that most of these have come from his first album. I don't think any of his other work live up to the first recording. He's had a lot of albums but nothing to really compare to the first. Yes, he is revered and covered by a lot of musicians, but there simply isn't enough to justify the Hall.

Just my thought.

Posted by Bill Otto on Friday, 04/10/2020 @ 23:21pm

John Prine was a great singer-songwriter. His music blended many types of music-rock, blues, Americana, country, folk, blue grass and rockabilly. He is a member of the Songwriters' Hall of Fame and won Grammys for his work including a Lifetime Achievement Grammy. He is widely respected by a wide diversity of artists for his almost 50 year career. While not the most commercial artist, Prine was consistently excellent throughout his career. I respectfully must disagree with the previous poster as he made many other excellent albums besides his great debut album. I don't necessarily expect it, but Prine is certainly deserving of a place in the Hall of Fame.

Posted by Neil K Winchester on Wednesday, 09/23/2020 @ 22:05pm

Harry Nilsson doesn't really fit musically with all the other singer songwriters you mentioned as he is more baroque pop and less rootsy.

Posted by David W Richman on Thursday, 02/11/2021 @ 17:26pm

John Prine should be in the Rock and Roll hall of fame before any rap singer .The rock and roll hall of fame should only be for rock and roll nothing else period.

Posted by Russell Vinion on Sunday, 05/30/2021 @ 10:52am

Perhaps the best songwriter of all-time. Even legends like Bob Dylan & Johnny Cash were blown away by Prine's lyrics. It is completely ridiculous that Prine is not already in the Hall of Fame.

Posted by DRM1985 on Saturday, 07/17/2021 @ 02:10am

I just traveled to Cleveland, spending most of Friday enjoying the R&R HofF. Shocked and surprised not to see any mention of John Prine. Come on! Honor the music, poetry and life of this man.
Deserving is he of this recognition.

Posted by Judith Price on Sunday, 09/12/2021 @ 21:50pm

Anyone can listen to John Prine for 2 minutes and recognize his ability to take someone out of reality in the 3rd minute, make them laugh in the 4th minute and make them think for a second.

Posted by james a Lindsey on Saturday, 11/27/2021 @ 17:11pm

John Prine is one of my favorite artists. He must be in ASAP. His songs writing was the best. He will be missed.

Posted by Carl Hardy on Saturday, 08/27/2022 @ 09:06am

Like Conway Twitty, I believe he will never appear on the ballot again

Posted by power on Friday, 10/20/2023 @ 12:52pm