Steve Goodman’s Chicago apartment 1972, L to R: Earl Pionke, Goodman, John Prine, Jimmy Buffett, Ed Holstein and Fred Holstein
In 1974 Chicago club owner Earl Pionke partnered up with the late singer songwriters Steve Goodman and Fred Holstein (along with Bill Redhead and Duke Nathaus) to open the North Lincoln Avenue music room “Somebody Else’s Troubles.”
The club was named after Goodman’s second album.
Although Earl died in April, 2013 at the age of 80, he is still playing that song.
Earl was a Type A pack rat. In 1993 Earl and his girl friend Sharon Biggerstaff moved into the former Landmark [...]
White Sox fans Earl and Sharon (Courtesy of Marina Jason)
Earl Pionke always had big dreams.
He was a White Sox fan.
The beloved nightclub owner, mentor to countless musicians of the 1960’s Chicago folk boom and ex-boxer died on April 26, 2013 after battling pancreatic cancer. He was 80.
Earl loved life more than most people and even saw his White Sox win a World Series. In 1993 he left the north side for Pullman, a far south side neighborhood built on the escape of distant train whistles.
He wanted to open a bar in Pullman.
In 1993 Pionke and his long time girl friend Sharon [...]
