Local musician working on John Prine tribute song

Singer-songwriter Stephen Rosney has revealed that he's working on a special song in tribute to John Prine, the legendary songsmith who died from Covid-19 earlier this year.

Stephen, based in Ballycumber in Offaly, is the frontman of the Americana and bluegrass group, The Back Axles, who claimed the Best Original Album prize at the Keltic Country Irish Entertainment Awards last November.

He has now recorded the Prine tribute, 'Still Around Somehow', with contributions from a number of top Nashville musicians.

"I can't wait for this song to hit radio, and for fans to be able to enjoy it, to be honest. So many of us in the music business would have looked up to John Prine all of our lives, both because of his talent and his personality," said Stephen (pictured above).

"There are so many ways in which he was the benchmark for the kind of songwriter, and the kind of entertainer, we all wanted to try and become.

"None of us could ever even hope to reach the heights attained by him, but that's not the point. The point is that he made you strive to always try and be better. That's how important he was.

"So to be a part of this amazing song in his honour, well the honour is definitely mine just to be involved in this project."

Prine, who wrote enduring songs such as Angel From Montgomery, Hello In There, Sam Stone, and That's The Way The World Goes 'Round, died on April 7. The tribute song 'Still Around Somehow' was penned by Joe Kelly and Paul McNeilly.

"The song itself is brilliant, and that's where everything starts. So hats off to the writers Joe and Paul for making the rest of this possible," said Stephen.

Further details about the release of the single will be announced on Stephen's Facebook page.