John Prine Way
John Prine was a Grammy Award winning singer and songwriter. His style was humorous social commentary country folk music. He had worked as a letter carrier and in the 1970s performed weekly in local Chicago club, the Fifth Peg, when Roger Ebert wrote a glowing review in the Chicago Sun-Times which launched John’s folk music career. Since then many famous singers such as: Johnny Cash, Bette Middler, and Bonnie Raitt, and George Strait have recorded his songs. Since 1981 his son, Jody Whelan, has run John’s independent record and publishing company, Oh Boy Records. John Prine was posthumously named an honorary poet laureate of the State of Illinois in 2020. He died in Nashville at age 73 from complications of the COVID-19 virus.
Veteran: U.S. Army in Germany
Honorary John Prine Way
West Armitage Avenue between North Fremont Street and North Dayton Street (853-858)
Approved: May 2020
Ward: 43
Alderman: Smith
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
b. October 10, 1946. Maywood, IL
d. April 7, 2020. Nashville, TN
Age 73
* Amended location 2021