The WCR Center for the Arts is excited to invite John Prine fans to remember and celebrate the iconic musician’s 75th birthday on Sunday, October 10, 2021, 2:00 p.m., at the WCR located at 140 North Fifth Street in downtown Reading.
The celebration will include a showing of “The Best of John Prine on Austin City Limits” video, birthday cake, a toast with Handsome Johnny’s, live music (Prine covers, of course), Prine merch, a chance to reminisce about favorite songs, concerts, and lyrics with other like-minded Prine fans, and fun photo ops. This unique event is free to the public. Donations will be accepted. Masks will be required to attend.
“The idea for this party sprung from deep-seated admiration and appreciation for the music and the person of John Prine,” said Crystal Kowalski, WCR board member and event organizer. “Not only was John Prine a gifted singer and songwriter, he also was a gifted, kind and decent human being.”
John Edward Prine, considered one of the most influential songwriters of his generation, was a composer, recording artist, live performer, and occasional actor from the early 1970s until his death on April 7, 2020, from COVID-19 complications. He was 73.
Prine was admired by Bob Dylan, Kris Kristofferson, and many others, known for his ability to write about seemingly ordinary experiences that covered the full spectrum of the human experience.
Prine’s string of acclaimed solo albums began with his self-titled 1971 debut, featuring a song list that reads like a greatest-hits compilation: “Illegal Smile,” “Spanish Pipedream,” “Hello in There,” “Sam Stone,” “Paradise,” “Donald and Lydia,” “Your Flag Decal Won’t Get You Into Heaven Anymore,” and “Angel From Montgomery.”
“The WCR event is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate John Prine’s music,” said Suzie Ernesto, member of the organizing committee. “Prine was an amazing storyteller, a poet, who simply wrote about everyday life. When he put his words to music, it was magic.”
Prine’s career was marked with many songwriting and recording honors, including five Grammy Awards. In 2019, Prine was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame with a speech by Bonnie Raitt. In 2020, he received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
“WCR is excited to host this special event,” said Kowalski. “We want the music community to join us and celebrate the gift of John Prine.”