Rest in Peace Malden Pianist Preacher Jack Coughlin - Posted around 8 pm by Jack's manager, 4-26-2020

 My Malden Observer  interview/ article on Preacher Jack

https://malden.wickedlocal.com/x392062497/-Just-a-closer-walk-with-Preacher-Jack

By Joe Viglione /

Posted Sep 5, 2008 at 12:01 AM
Updated Sep 5, 2008 at 5:16 AM
For those who love the unique piano sound heard on the soundtrack to the Tom Cruise/Sydney Pollack movie “The Firm,” the hard-working piano man from Malden offers that style of ivory tickling and so much more.

“Preacher Jack” (a.k.a. Jack Coughlin), commands the stage like an evangelist explaining his “religion” of rock and blues with a raw, distinctive voice that cuts through better than Jimmy Swaggart or Jerry Falwell could ever hope to — probably because when The Preacher dives in to “Just A Closer Walk With Thee,” resplendent in Gospel overtones and backing vocalists, you believe him — and understand he believes in what he’S singing and playing.

The Malden Observer caught a performance by Jack on May 8, 2008 at Club Bohemia, the downstairs of the Cantab Lounge in Central Square, Cambridge.

It’s a dark den of sin in need of redemption that Preacher Jack lovingly provides as he bangs away on his traveling keyboard. Offstage, he’s a very personable — and quite reserved — individual, pleasant and engaging.
Here’s a bit of background that the Boston-area legend provided us.
Observer: How long have you lived in Malden?
Preacher Jack: I was born in Malden Feb. 12, 1942 and lived there until the late 1970s. I moved to Salem, Mass., and have resided at the Lafayette Hotel on Washington Street ever since