A diverse group of Recording Academy leaders have come together to pay tribute to GRAMMY winner John Prine, one of the greatest songwriters of our lifetime.

Prine, who died of complications due to COVID-19 on April 7, was known for his masterful songwriting and generosity. To honor him, some of the Recording Academy’s board members have recorded and released a special version of "Angel From Montgomery," out on May 22, off his self-titled 1971 album. Revenue from the song will go to MusiCares’ COVID-19 Relief Fund. 

"John Prine was one of the most amazing songwriters we've ever had, he's just unparalleled," Recording Academy trustee Michael Romanowski said. "We want to honor John and all of his awesomeness."

The GRAMMY-nominated mastering engineer, who originated the idea, added that the vision behind the project was not only to honor Prine but also to help the music community affected by the pandemic.

"We started this project as a way to raise money for MusiCares. With John’s passing, we also wanted to raise awareness that this can strike anybody. It doesn't matter if you’re famous or not, a seasoned veteran, or the perhaps just building your career," he said. "If we can help in some way, if we can help make sure that those in need have food, or rent, or something else to help keep get them through."

The origin of the project began years ago when Romanowski had the idea of recording with other board members. Along with a group of musicians—including Recording Academy Vice Chair Tammy Hurt, singer-songwriter Christine Albert, Helen Bruner, Brandon Bush, John Driskell Hopkins, Tracy Hamlin, Eric Jarvis, Terry Jones, Lee Levin, Susan Marshall, producer Jeff Powell—the team came together while in quarantine to recreate the track. "Angel From Montgomery" has been a part of Susan's repertoire for years; not only is she known for singing it in Memphis, she's actually had the honor of serenading Fiona and John Prine with it a time or two. While the track went unreleased and uncompleted for some time, Romanowski and Hurt saw an opportunity to turn it into something greater.

"It would come back to me, then I'd send it to somebody else and say, okay, cool, this is what we need to fill in the holes. And then off to somebody else. And, as we started filling in the pieces one by one, it really started taking shape," Romanowski explained. "This has been a really fun process, to get people involved and to guide them somewhat, but also to say, do what you do, we want your personality in this. I can’t say enough about the love and care everyone involved put into this. The greatest of admiration and Thank-Yous to everyone!"

The song will have a video featuring the musicians recording that will maximize the project’s impact, he added.  

"Let's get this song out, make it a tribute to John and a benefit for MusiCares," they recall thinking. The MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund was created to help people in the music industry affected by the pandemic due to the cancellation of income-generating music events and other industry work opportunities. To date, the fund has raised nearly $15M in assistance. 

The MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund was created to help people in the music industry affected by the pandemic due to the cancellation of income-generating music events and other industry work opportunities. To date, the fund has raised nearly $15M in assistance. 

"We’re so proud that a group of Recording Academy elected leaders have chosen to honor John Prine’s memory by collaborating on a special version of his beautiful, iconic song,” said Debbie Carroll, Vice President, Health and Human Services MusiCares.  “This moving tribute not only honors John, but will generate much needed funds to aid members of our music community in need during this unprecedented pandemic."

Hurt, who co-lead the project, is delighted it was able to become a reality. "It was an incredible collaboration. Everyone rolled up their sleeves and jumped right in—giving their time generously to make this possible. It's a beautiful project and I'm just so proud to be a part of it," she said.

Hurt also noted that the project means that much more, as Prine would have been honored on April 18 with a Lifetime Achievement Award. The ceremony could not happen as pandemic lockdowns have been in place since March. "We were all so heartbroken when we heard of John's passing. And, the fact that it was also recently announced that he was a 2020 Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient," she said. "We were looking forward to celebrating his achievements at our annual awards ceremony. So, it was really just, in a bittersweet way, very serendipitous that this came together as it did."

Hurt reiterated the song’s mission to aid those who need help now. "The fight continues with MusiCares, and all of us were really wanting to do something that could positively impact the effort to raise money. And, there were a number of us who wanted to come together to do what we do, and that's create music," she said. "The urgency that we have, it still remains very high. Even though we've been in the middle of this now for going on the third month. Everyone from creators, and artists, and engineers, and roadies, the lighting professionals, who can't pay their monthly expenses due to the fact that there is no live music right now. There are no tours, and they depend on those shows and gigs for a paycheck."

Romanowski added that being able to help MusiCares means a lot to him: "We never know when any of us might need a little help. Knowing they are there is comforting, but we need to make sure they have the resources necessary. We have all known many people who have had to rely on their services. For example, Susan Marshall had a bad fall couple of years ago and really damaged her arm. MusiCares was there to help her as she went through re-hab to be able to play again. It was extremely important to her to be a part of this to give back. And forward."

The track, both Romanowski and Hurt agree, also reflects the friendship the board has developed. For Hurt, this has been an opportunity to work with them outside of their Recording Academy responsibilities. “We have so many wonderfully talented elected leaders. Projects like this remind us all of our common goals, and brings us closer together doing that thing we do that brought us together in the first place…being creative together.”

"We do so much work together in our committees for the Recording Academy, and our board meetings all throughout the year. We work on different initiatives together. And it was just so refreshing to be able to be together in this way, to create something that had the possibility to support the music community. I mean, it's really just a very unique experience. While I love getting together in the studio, and recording all together, and that feeling and that energy feeding off of each other, we did that remotely through technology."

Romanowski has only felt closer to the board. "Through our Board service, Tammy, and Susan, and Eric, Brandon and Lee, John Tracy Terri and Helen, everyone, we've just become really tight friends over the years. Frankly, our elected leaders are just the most amazing, giving people, and to call them lifelong friends because of a shared musical experience to do something like this. It's just, it's really rewarding. It's just super special to me."

He says, “Hopefully, this is just the beginning of more collaborations, and perhaps it will spark other opportunities for the board to bring together their talents. to record and raise awareness together, and include all those who were not able to participate in the tribute to Prine.”

"Just because we’re in this moment of uncertainty, we can still find ways to be creative together," he said.  

Stream the song here

"ANGEL FROM MONTGOMERY" CREDITS:

John Prine Was The Master Of Lyrical Economy