John Prine

John Prine was an iconic American country folk singer-songwriter who continues to influence musicians all over the world. So much has been made of his legend. Boyhood summers in Paradise – Kentucky, that is. A route as a postman in Chicago and a stint in the military. All that informed the clear-eyed vision and heartbreaking comedy he brought to songwriting, but it still doesn’t begin to explain the gentle genius of John Prine. As a writer, his material often had elements of protest and social commentary. He once described the place he hoped to occupy as somewhere between Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash, and it’s enough to say he stands shoulder to shoulder with both in the pantheon of American song. He was active as a composer, recording artist and live performer from the early 1970s until his death in April 2020.

Leslie West

If there’s a Temple of Hard Rock, Leslie West’s name is etched in stone with letters shaped by lightning. Known for his blazing licks and signature thundering tone, West came to light along with the legendary Felix Pappalardi in the groundbreaking metal trio known as Mountain. Best known for the blues stomp “Mississippi Queen,” Mountain set West on a course to collaborate with such rock gods as Jack Bruce, Al Kooper and Deep Purple’s organ master Ian Gillian. Leslie West left us on December 23, 2020. But his reverb will echo for eternity.