10 Musicians Who Died In 2020

10. John Prine

The sharply political, warmly empathetic Prine was discovered by Kris Kristofferson in the early ‘70s and invited to open for the country star. He was then discovered by Atlantic Records’ Jerry Wexler, and quickly embarked on a successful career as a singer and songwriter.

Prine released a steady stream of country and folk records throughout his career, finding particular success in the ‘70s and early ‘80s. He wrote with wisdom and anger on topics like Vietnam and US drug policies, and won fans in luminaries like Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash. His song “Angel from Montgomery” quickly became a much covered American folk standard.

He was an inspiration for the next generation of folk and country singers, acting as a mentor figure for the likes of Sturgill Simpson and Kacey Musgraves, and duetted with the similarly wry Kurt Vile on Vile’s excellent 2020 EP.

Prine was among the first celebrity figures to succumb to the global pandemic, dying at age 73 of COVID-19 related complications. A tribute to the revered figure featuring many of those he influenced aired this June.