Also, a suprise, John Ritter of Three’s Company fame (as well as actually being a pretty good movie actor) died at 54.
Too bad about them both. I’ve been a fan of them both for years.
I remember my dad playing and singing Johnny Cash songs when I was but a wee lad. I used to love Folsom Prison Blues. Even when real young I could picture a guy sitting in his cell, hearing the whistle of the train and imagining what it would be like to be there.
And how many women named “Sue” were bombarded with “How do you do!” back in the late 60’s?
I’'m shocked about. Ritter. Didn’t know that one. Also, I think Johnnys wife died recently. That is an odd, sad fact about long lifed marriges, that they truly become inseperable…
Even though everyone saw it coming it is a sadness to hear. Johnny Cash was one of my ony two exceptions to my kneejerk dislike of Country music (the other is Willie Nelson).
Look at the one good thing. Like Hendrix and Lennon and so many others, we’re fortunate to live in a time when the singer can leave us but his or her music can remain to give some comfort.
I’m also not a fan of country music, but I’m a fan of good music. There were so many things that made him great, big things and little things. It’s a rare person who has an awful voice but is a great singer. Something else that I really admire in him is that he had one of those rare marriages of two celebrities that worked. I suspect that he would still be with us if June hadn’t passed a few months ago.
Me too, at least in terms of Modern Country. Older Country or mountain music is different and Johnny music was as much folk as it was country. My first memory of Johnny Cash was him singing “John Henry”; the power in Henry’s hands stayed in Johnny’s voice through every song I every heard him play.
I can just imagine that deep contra-bass voice of his setting all the angels in a tizzy.
I will take an Irtrad break and listen to Johny Cash all day in his memory. He had so many great songs and let me say that Johnny Cash was an American, and that’s a label I only use for a few people but Johnny Cash was it. Ah, isn’t it great that we have some young singers to fill the shoes of these guys when they are gone? not… thanks MTV. I’ll be wearing black today.
I sure liked his music though I am not a country fan. One of my favorites is “Don’t take Your Guns to Town”.
Actually I like a lot of that “cowboy” music. Like the songs of Marty Robbins.
I have been fortunate enough to have seen Johnny Cash perform live 6 times in my lifetime. To show what a great entertainer he was, one of those times the sound system wasn’t working while he was on stage. He told the audience that he may not be able to perform, as not everyone would be able to hear him. The crowd urged him to sing anyway, and he graciously obliged, giving a wonderful and spirited performance. Thankfully, several songs into his performance the sound problem was fixed. He is definitely one of my all-time favorites and will be missed sorely, but his music will certainly live on.
I loved Johnny. When I first signed online and found out he had died, I started crying. I agree that if June hadn’t died a few months ago he’d probably still be here.
I also don’t like most country music. Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, and Dolly Parton (gotta love the drag queen!) are the only ones I listen to. Though I do listen to The Dixie Chicks, but I consider them pop (along with Shania, et al).
I had to chuckle when one Canadian bank, Canada Trust, first installed bank machines in the early 80s. They called them “JohnnyCash” Machines, and then ran commercials with Johnny, the man, singing “Why Walk the Line.” They were trying to get people out of the teller lines and stepping up to the bank machine. They even had lifesized cardboard cutouts of him placed along the queue!
I’ll miss his distinct voice.
That’s one funeral where everyone who shows up owes it to the man to be wearing black, all black.
I’m going to a funeral tomorrow – I’ll be in black in honor of Johnny, but don’t have any black dress shoes. I guess it’ll be running shoes.
Interesting about the cash machines – where I’m from, they were called Barney. I have no idea why, but now when I talk about getting some cash from the barney, I get some of the most confused looks, since it’s many years and many miles from that time and place. Maybe I’ll start calling them Johnny Cashes.
When I was a young teenager just discovering music (and right before my brother and I commandeered the record player for our Beatles and Rolling Stones albums), we listened to the records my folks owned: lots of classical and especially a couple of cowboy/storyteller-type albums: Marty Robbins and Johnny Cash. I still love their deep, expressive voices and (to my daughter’s embarrassment) can remember most of the words to many of their songs. It’s been a lot of years since I listened to Johnny Cash sing…I think I’ll see if I can find a clip of him somewhere online tonight.
(Teller machines: A co-worker in the advertising business came back from a conference years ago where they discussed ideas for teller machines. The worst: HelenTeller–“She can’t see and she can’t hear, but she can give you money.”) :roll:
I was watching one of those all day concerts on the boob tube. Cash and Cougar Meloncamp played Ring of Fire togather. I’ll never forget the look Cash gave Melontrap for fumbling around the lyrics. Here’s Johnny all dressed in black as serious as a 18 wheeler on I15, and there goes goofy Cougar forgetting the words, unable to read the teleprompt. It was priceless.
Best footage I have is with Ramblin Jack, on Johnny’s variety show. Excellent stuff there.
