John Prine, Paramount Theater, Austin, TX, 1977

John Prine performing in Austin, Texas January 28, 1977.I played Willie's first Dripping Springs Reunion back in 1973. It was the fourth of July, and I was 27 years old, and what a ball I had ... people were thinking about Woodstock and stuff, and it was the first show where it was a bunch of hippies and a bunch of rednecks, and they were all drinking beer and getting along. And it was all because of Willie.It was hot as the devil that day, and that night, I get a phone call. They say, 'Willie's having a party up in his room.' So I go on up to the party. I walk in the door to Willie's suite, and sitting on this one sofa was Waylon (Jennings), Leon Russell, Tom T. Hall, Doug Sahm. I'd give anything to have that sofa today, man, I'll tell you. And there was two clowns from Ringling Brothers. I had a half-hour conversation with those two clowns, and I got two great songs out of it. -- John Prine, tribute to Willie at the Troubador, January, 2020

© Charlyn Zlotnik