I'm a big John Prine and I discovered Steve Goodman through listening to Prine. They toured around a lot together and collaborated on some songs before Goodman passed away much too early.

I played the Brandon Folk Festival a couple years ago and was told the following story by one of festival directors. John Prine and Steve Goodman were booked to play the Winnipeg Festival. I guess Prine was drinking a bit too heavily in those days and the organizers were afraid he wouldn't show up or that he might show up pissed.

In order to avoid either scenario the festival directors told Steve Goodman that they were trusting him to deliver a sober Prine to the festival grounds. Well, an hour or two prior to his show Prine was nowhere to be found. Some festival volunteers were dispatched to tour the local bars and sure enough they found Prine who was allegedly pissed. Goodman, who was supposed to keep Prine sober was allegedly drunker than Prine was! However, I guess they got to the festival on time and delivered an amazing show.

The moral of the story is "Don't trust another horse not to lead his fellow horse to the river for several drinks!"

Of course, this may all be hearsay, but it's a good story.

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