John Prine at Waterloo Records, June 4, 2018. Photo by Jorge Sanhueza-Lyon/KUTX.
John Prine was a legendary songwriter and an inspiration to new generations of music makers. He contracted COVID-19 and died in April. In normal times, he’d have a funeral and memorial service befitting a country/folk music legend, but these are not, obviously, normal times. So WPLN in Nashville has done that on the radio instead. In this hourlong tribute — which is truly an emotional listening experience for Prine superfans and newbies alike — host Jason Moon Wilkins talks to fans from around the country, fellow musicians, engineers and more about his work and legacy. Hear A Radio Wake For John Prine on Saturday, May 16 at 6 p.m. or listen at any time in the player above.
This show was created and hosted by Jason Moon Wilkins, produced by Jakob Lewis, and edited by Tony Gonzalez. Additional editing by Anita Bugg, Emily Siner, Mack Linebaugh, Kat Drinkwater, and Susannah Felts. And a special thanks to Oh Boy Records for making connections during a difficult time.