Johny Cash gone - not forgotten
Brett Meeks
Issue date: 9/18/03 Section: Editorial
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (U-WIRE) - It's all over now baby blue.
Damn right - Johnny Cash is dead. His wife having died in May, Cash followed to join her in the great beyond, perhaps trading in his traditional black garb for white, pending St. Peter's leniency.
Sometime between when you were stumbling home or your friend with better judgment was doing his homework this past Thursday night or Friday morning, one of the greatest storytellers to ever pick up a guitar was slipping out of consciousness.
Given, his body was a little ravaged from all the years of chaos and life on the road - but something inside you kind of dies away as well when someone so influential bites the bullet.
Born and raised in Arkansas, his life led him to music, and his soul slaved every day for that one cause.
His first recording contract was with Sam Phillips and Sun Records out of Memphis - that's right, the same studio that discovered Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis.
Even though Phillips initially turned him down, Cash sealed his popularity with the single "Cry Cry Cry/Hey Porter."
Perhaps Cash is best known for his rebellion. When he appeared on the Grand Ole Opry in 1957, he decided to wear all black instead of the rhinestones and glitter that garnished most guests on the popular show.
The outfit would stick, causing us to remember him forever as "The Man in Black." The black he wore was just one sign of his irregular behavior. Cash is one of the
original outlaws in the music industry.
His desire to record Gospel music caused a split with Phillips, and he signed a deal with Columbia in 1958. Unfortunately for Johnny, his life would not get any easier.
By the early '60s he had begun to get in trouble.
He was the first man to become so drunk that he started a forest fire, securing himself an $85,000 fine and a reputation that would never lose grip.
His second wife, June Carter, helped him write "Ring of Fire," his piece probably best known to our generation, which is either about his love relationship with Carter or his descent into drug and alcohol-induced destruction - the decision lies in your personal level of optimism.
Damn right - Johnny Cash is dead. His wife having died in May, Cash followed to join her in the great beyond, perhaps trading in his traditional black garb for white, pending St. Peter's leniency.
Sometime between when you were stumbling home or your friend with better judgment was doing his homework this past Thursday night or Friday morning, one of the greatest storytellers to ever pick up a guitar was slipping out of consciousness.
Given, his body was a little ravaged from all the years of chaos and life on the road - but something inside you kind of dies away as well when someone so influential bites the bullet.
Born and raised in Arkansas, his life led him to music, and his soul slaved every day for that one cause.
His first recording contract was with Sam Phillips and Sun Records out of Memphis - that's right, the same studio that discovered Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis.
Even though Phillips initially turned him down, Cash sealed his popularity with the single "Cry Cry Cry/Hey Porter."
Perhaps Cash is best known for his rebellion. When he appeared on the Grand Ole Opry in 1957, he decided to wear all black instead of the rhinestones and glitter that garnished most guests on the popular show.
The outfit would stick, causing us to remember him forever as "The Man in Black." The black he wore was just one sign of his irregular behavior. Cash is one of the
original outlaws in the music industry.
His desire to record Gospel music caused a split with Phillips, and he signed a deal with Columbia in 1958. Unfortunately for Johnny, his life would not get any easier.
By the early '60s he had begun to get in trouble.
He was the first man to become so drunk that he started a forest fire, securing himself an $85,000 fine and a reputation that would never lose grip.
His second wife, June Carter, helped him write "Ring of Fire," his piece probably best known to our generation, which is either about his love relationship with Carter or his descent into drug and alcohol-induced destruction - the decision lies in your personal level of optimism.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
don pollard
posted 12/17/07 @ 7:30 AM CST
I loved johny the very best , my singing hero Im in Adelaide Australia .
Jason Ebbers
posted 3/12/08 @ 9:06 AM CST
I LIKE TOAST
Post a Comment