FLORIDA
King Center, Melbourne FL
Date: 4\12\02
 Music legends make stops in Melbourne
Date: April 12, 2002
By: By Pam Harbaugh ~ Florida Today
http://cityguide.flatoday.com/fe/news/041202/exp041202h.htm
Melbourne plays host to legendary singer/songwriter John Prine when he performs in concert tonight at the King Center for the Performing Arts.
Prine, now 55, began playing guitar at 14. Born in a blue-collar town near Chicago to an Appalachian birthright, Prine was introduced to the guitar by his older brother and grandfather, who played with country artists such as Merle Travis. Prine's early lyrics in his song "Paradise" have been called evocative of the coal-mining area in western Kentucky where his parents lived and toiled.
Prine is also known as a musician's musician because of his musical strength and appeal. Throughout his career, Prine's work has evoked the essence of America's everyman while at times taking on lightness laced with some cynicism.
"There are some things he's written that are just so powerful," said Fred Migliore, host of "FM Odyssey," which runs 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays on WFIT 89.5 FM.
"He kind of takes a look at the world through the eyes of a third person. But that's where he adds a cynicism to it. There's one song (from the album 'Bruised Orange') he does called 'Fish and Whistle,' which says: 'Father forgive us for what we must do/You forgive us, we'll forgive you.' "
Migliore said Prine beat throat cancer two years ago and has been touring again.
"I saw him last year after he came back and started playing again," he said. "He was just as good as he's ever been."
Before settling into the music profession, Prine served in the army and worked as a Chicago mail carrier. In the late '60s, Prine began performing in Chicago coffee houses and was eventually discovered by Kris Kristofferson and Paul Anka.
They introduced Prine to New York and Los Angeles folk clubs and helped him land his first recording contract with Atlantic Records. His debut album, "John Prine," was released in 1971.
"Many of the songs that will be requested Friday night will be compared to that record," Migliore said.
Critics immediately compared the folk singer to Bob Dylan. Time magazine wrote, "He squeezes poetry out of the anguished longing of empty lives."
Yet despite his critical acclaim, his foray into the music business was not very happy. His albums did not sell well, causing Atlantic to drop him in 1975 after his album "Common Sense." Three years went by before he signed with a new record label - Asylum Records. Two years later, he left Asylum and formed his own record label, "Oh Boy."
Prine finally received a Grammy nomination in 1986 for "German Afternoons."
Ironically, his fame and fortune finally married for Prine in 1991 when his best-selling album, "The Missing Years" also him a Grammy award. That album featured Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty.
Migliore says "kudos" to the King Center for bringing a legend like Prine to Brevard County.
"This area has an audience for people who like John Prine," Migliore said. "With the success of this concert, I hope the King Center will consider bringing in other acts similar to John Prine."
By: PRM
Being a follower of John for many years, I couldnt miss this show. the opening act warmed us up until that moment arrived. A 3 piece band came out and pounded us with all the old memories from our past. I wondered how the music would sound without drums to carry the beat, would it be like the club scene i remembered? not at all, the sound came belting out loud and clear as if there were several drummers. The trio played for 30 min then John played solo for a good 45 min and then the band joined again for a 30 min finally. When the lights came up I saw the joy on every ones face along with lots of gray and bald heads and realized we had been treated with their best. I will never forget the fealing, soud and pressence of this show, as it was the best i have ever been to.
By: erin gypsy
awesome
By: PCS4rummies
Friday night felt just like a Sunday. John Prine at the King Center in Melbourne FL. This was our first trip to The Center which is a newer facility with easy access and great acoustics, I'd say 1500 seats give or take. We arrived late for the opening artist but the eighty mile drive seemed like around the block knowing what was in store. John banged out "Spanish Pipedream" to start and continued with two solid hours of old favorites and new to me songs e.g. "The Other Side of Town" and "In Spite of Ourselves". Having seen JP both with and without band, I think I like the acoustic trio best...(John, Jason and David). I think the trio maximizes the song's message and melody. This was Sheila's first JP concert and I think she learned why I am so drawn to Prine's lyricism and simple energy. Everyone was great. By the time "Peaceful Waters" began, the three beers I had in the lobby prior to the show were sending me a message of
their own. When John sang "We gotta go now", he had no idea! Sheila and I smiled at each other and headed for peaceful waters. We caught the encore from the lobby monitor and beat the traffic to the Krispy Kreme Doughnut Shop. Thanks for another great memory.
Melbourne & Sarasota
4/12/02 & 4/13/02
By: Big Moe
MIAMI - Both shows were fantastic. Miami-Melbourne-Sarasota-Miami road trip took approx 38 hours and was over 700 miles when all was said and done. I would've have went to Portland Maine (with a 40 foot crane) if I could've swung it. He played every tune I wanted to hear and some great new ones. "The Other Side of Town" was especially excellent for the first two times ever hearing it. I've been hummin' it ever since. God bless you John Prine.
P.S. Maybe you could find your way to Miami sometime. Gusman Center for the Performing Arts would be just perfect.
http://gusmancenter.org
Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, Sarasota, FL
04/12/02
Prine has succeeded without mainstream success
Date: posted 04/12/02
By: By ROB O'CONNOR - CORRESPONDENT
http://www.heraldtribune.com/frontpage/story.cfm?ID=66373
SARASOTA -- John Prine was a mailman.
Speaking with him, you can imagine him drifting from house to house with an easy laugh and a que será será outlook on life, dropping letters in a slot and going on his way.
He doesn't seem to let much bother him. His demeanor is immediately inviting, and when he says that the reason he hasn't written more songs or recorded more albums is because he's easily distracted ("If I'm not inspired, I got plenty of things to go do. I go to a baseball game or sit and watch the grass grow ."), you believe him.
That casual demeanor permeates all of his best songs. It's what makes them feel worn.
He's been releasing records since 1972, when his self-titled debut blew critics away with of "Illegal Smile," "Sam Stone," "Donald And Lydia" and "Angel From Montgomery."
In the mid-'80s, realizing that major labels were more hindrance than help, he set up his own label, Oh Boy Records, to handle his affairs. The early '90s saw a resurgence of interest in Prine; his album "The Missing Years" featured high-profile admirers such as Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty and Bonnie Raitt, and a collection of his work, "Great Days," summed up his career in concise, noteworthy fashion.
On his way to making "In Spite Of Ourselves," a collection of duets with several female country singers of his choice, Prine discovered something wasn't right. He had cancer.
"It was the furthest thing from my mind when I was diagnosed," he says. "I started on this record in September '97 and we worked about a week on it and I went back on the road. I had this lump in my neck. I had told my doctor about it six months before that and I mentioned it to him again and he didn't seem to think all that much of it. So I finally went to a specialist to tell him I'd like to have it removed, since I thought it might be a breeding ground for something. And in order to do the minor surgery, they have to do a biopsy. That's when they discovered I had cancer and I'd had it for two years. If I hadn't asked to have it removed, who knows? I had no reason to think I was ill."
Prine shut down. He had the lump removed, and six months of radiation. The surgeon suggested he quit his 30-year smoking habit, and after all the difficulties, Prine does see one valuable change: "My voice seemed to drop some -- it's not as thin, or something . a little broader and sounding a little more mature. It's a heck of a way to get maturity."
He laughs. "But things could be a lot worse."
The difference is apparent on 2000's "Souvenirs," a collection of favorite songs.
Prine attributes his success to his ability not to succeed.
"I always had a private theory that if you've never had a big hit, it's hard to go out of fashion because you were never in fashion," he says.
"If you had a peak, then everybody's looking to see if you're up to there. I figure you keep dodging these things and before you know it, you've been around 50 years. You've got no gold watch, but lots of friends."
By: Judy Miller
John was wonderful.
That was the second time I saw him and if the opportunity
comes up, I'll see him again.
Been a fan for 30 years. And if I am sad I listen to John and
his songs are my cure.
Also got a autograph.
He is the BEST!!!!
By: Gail Ellis, Kissimmee, Florida
This was my first John Prine concert and I don't know whether to tell this or not, but I sat on the very first row and was so totally mesmerized that I was almost ashamed of myself! This may sound a little extreme but, my one BIG regret is that I didn't pay closer attention to this truly wonderful artist a lot sooner. As a rule, I'm not a concert goer, but Mr. Prine made it seem more like a night on the front porch than a concert. He is both bigger than life and "just folks" all at the same time and he made the experience seem like coming home. Greg Trooper only made things more exciting with his up-beat talent. I totally enjoyed both performances and will attend every future concert I can possibly get to if I have to walk! P.S. Shame on that girl for breaking his heart!
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