- Johnny Cash may have celebrated his 70th birthday earlier this year, but the party is far from over for one of the most influential artists in country music history. Re-releases of his classic albums are being joined by two tribute CDs. One is from 18 alternative country artists including Hank III, Raul Malo, Rodney Crowell and Rosie Flores, and the other leapfrogs genres with the likes of Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Keb' Mo' and Little Richard.
"You know you're a true icon when you have a birthday year,'' said Chuck Mead of the alt-country group BR549, who co-produced "Dressed in Black, A Loving, All-Star Tribute to 'The Man in Black''' (Dualtone), now store shelves.
"He's part of our culture, part of the air we breathe,'' said Marty Stuart, an edgy country star and one-time Cash guitarist who produced "Kindred Spirits: A Tribute to the Songs of Johnny Cash'' (Lucky Dog/Sony Nashville), which will be released Tuesday, Sept. 24th. "He is like Woody Guthrie in a way,'' Stuart said. "He was on the edge of our culture during his time in the 20th century, and his take on our lives' trials and troubles helped write the script that moved the American story along.''
Born in Kingsland, Ark., Cash learned guitar while in the Air Force in the early 1950s. After the service, he moved to Memphis, Tenn., and signed on with Sun Records, the pioneering rock and rockabilly label. He had a hit with his first song, "Cry, Cry, Cry,'' in 1955, with others soon following - "Folsom Prison Blues,'' "I Walk the Line'' and "Give My Love to Rose.''
Lean and muscular lyrics, spare arrangements somewhere in the middle of country, folk, rockabilly and rock, and his penchant for dressing in black quickly made Cash stand out from the rest of the artists of the day - and for the next four decades.
He wrote lighthearted records about "A Boy Named Sue'' and stealing parts to build a Cadillac "One Piece at a Time'' alongside songs of pain, prison, misery, heartache, murder, love, patriotism and God. They resonated with millions and inspired generations of artists who grew up believing there always had been a Johnny Cash.
The first record Stuart bought was "The Fabulous Johnny Cash.'' Today he has every recording Cash ever released. "I was a die-hard Cash fan - still am,'' said Stuart, 43, who recalls his mother taking him out of school in 1970 and driving 90 miles to catch a Cash show in Jackson, Miss.
"I don't remember flying out of my seat and running to the stage the minute he came out, but the next thing I knew a security guard was hauling me back. Some people felt that way about the Beatles, but this was my guy.'' Stuart, once married to Cash's daughter Cindy, ended up in Cash's band in the early 1980s. "The first night I played with him we did 'Folsom Prison Blues,' and that all came rushing back. I hung my head and cried.''
So when Sony's Blake Chancey asked Stuart to do a tribute album with country hit-makers singing Cash songs, Stuart expanded on the idea. "I thought Cash was never celebrated as a great American songwriter, someone who has influenced several genres of music,'' he said, adding that because Cash's music is rhythm-based he never could be classified as pure country or rock.
"It never ceases to amaze me when you look at his body of work - over a thousand songs - and they're all 1:50 to 2:30 minutes long, in and out in just a couple of minutes but there's a whole lot that goes on in between. Along with his truth and honesty, that's one of the brilliant things about his songwriting. Simplicity is one of the hardest things to write.''
Stuart had no trouble assembling a roster, including the country stars Dwight Yoakam, Travis Tritt and Hank Williams Jr. alongside Dylan, Springsteen and more. Like Stuart, BR549's Mead cannot recall life without Cash. "He's always been there, ever since I can remember, he and Hank Williams,'' said Mead, who was approached by Dave Roe, Cash's longtime bass player, to put together a tribute album and co-produce it with him. "Dave called and wanted a tribute featuring people like us, a little left of center in the country music world, who are out there playing this kind of music all the time,'' Mead said. "Cash is a staple for anyone doing roots-based music. There's nobody cooler.''
Although Cash's persona often overshadowed his gifts, Mead believes he elevated country music to a higher ground spiritually and intellectually, "He's the only guy I know of that everybody knows, around the world,'' he said. "He's a true American icon, and he deserves for us to celebrate his birthday for a whole year.'' The San Antonio Express-News web site is at http://www.express-news.net
Johnny Cash: Live at The Fold 5. juli 2003 (video)
Johnny Cash: Presents A Concert Behind Prison Walls
Johnny Cash: American IV: The Man Comes Around
Johnny Cash: 70 år - 26. februar 2002
Johnny Cash spyr ut årgangsalbum