John Prine was a man of rich storytelling, plain spoken music, and offbeat humor. Did you also know that he loved hotdogs?
John passed away on Tuesday, April 6, leaving behind a legacy of musical influence, personalized artist mentorship, and fan-recounted anecdotes. He will always be remembered as a quirky, brilliant man who penned incredible songs and encouraged clogging on plywood.
But, did you know these 5 facts about John Prine?
He Had His Own Record Label.
'Oh Boy Records' was founded in 1981, alongside his then-manager, Al Bunetta, and has released projects by Kris Kristofferson, Shawn Camp, and Todd Snider.
He LOVED Christmas!
'Oh Boy Records' always had a Christmas tree and holiday décor up, and per Rolling Stone, John kept a tree in his house year-round when he was single.
Prine's wife, Fiona, once shared with the New York Timesthat when they took their family to the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, "He cried when Santa came out. The colors, the lights, the idea of family, togetherness, bestowing gifts. It means a lot to him."
He Scheduled His Writing Sessions Around "Meatloaf Day."
John loved meatloaf from Nashville's Arnold's Country Kitchen, a popular "meat and three" diner located near downtown. In 2018, John admitted during a Tiny Desk Concert that the reason he and co-writer Pat McLaughlin worked together on Tuesdays was "'cause that's the day they make meatloaf. And I love meatloaf."
He Carried A Lot Of Baggage.
John spent a lot of time on the road, so it may shock you to learn that he wasn't the best at packing his bags. In fact, according to a Times story, from 2018, an Archie comic, a kazoo, and five pairs of reading glasses as the artist's must-haves on the road.
"I have one huge suitcase that's usually overweight, so I pay extra money for it, and two garment bags that look like body bags; they're stuffed — overstuffed — with clothes and suits that are too small," Prine shared. "I hate to admit it to my wife, but I only wear two outfits on the road, and then a third one during the day, but I carry about 20."
He Served In The US Military
Prior to starting his musical career, John served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War and was stationed in Germany.
John's popular tune, "Sam Stone," focuses on veteran drug addiction. While it does not explicitly mention the Vietnam War, it does include the lyrics "Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore," an anti-war song that aims at performative patriotism.
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Photo Credit: Getty Images.