October 10, 1946 – April 7, 2020
John Prine represented the pinnacle of songwriting in American Folk music. I never met a musician of any significant talent that didn’t look up to John as one of the best there ever was. His ability to meld his poetry with bright, poignant melodic structures was equalled or surpassed by few.
Here is a recording of his first appearance in Reno, Nevada on May 28, 1986 at the Hacienda del Sol, a Mexican restaurant on South Virginia Street that had a bar area that could seat about 140. It was run by co-owner Barry Rivlin who had a soft-spot and generous heart for folk music and who allowed me (Jeff Cotton) to book/produce a couple of concert series in 1986 and 1989.
At 51 minutes, for what is believed to be the first set of a two-show engagement that night, it captures John in his always pure form, in great voice with accompanist Phil Donnelly.
John Prine Hacienda del Sol 28may86: