Passed away at age 71. A “Country Singer” who had a penchant for gospel, a fascination with St Paul and yet a gritty chronicler of life in the USA.
Sam Phillips probably still has the pages from his notebook which logged the session details, cash advances and the like and he definitely still has his original contract with Presley. The Sun International Corp., a division of the Shelby Singleton Corp. in Nashville, also has the tapes of the legendary Million Dollar Quartet, a session recorded in the old Sun studio in December 1956 just after Elvis had finished his first dates in Las Vegas. Elvis played piano in the two keys he knew, Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins played guitars and Jerry Lee Lewis, just arrived from Louisiana, sang and played piano occasionally. “John was already there,” recalled Perkins. “He stopped by to pick up a little money and Elvis . . . came to see us. We started singing old hymns and we did things like Blueberry Hill, Island of Golden Dreams, I Won ‘t Haue to Cross Jordan Alone, Tutti Frutti, Peace in the Valley and The Old Rugged Cross. I guess Sam must must have two hours of tape there with lots of laughing and joking on it.” The tapes have been the subject of a lawsuit and it seems unlikely that they will be issued legally in the near future.
This news saddened me this morning. For me, he was the epitome of cool.
"Johnny Cash lights the back alleys of my mind
With a power that forever will remain undefined."
-Mike Dunnell 1999
Dear Cash Family, How does one say solong to such a beloved person?
Very quickly, im a recovering alcoholic and drug addict. To survive the 70s is, in itself a miracle!But I fell in love with Johny way back in the early 60s!Before I knew about the bottle and the drug! Therefore Ive enjoyed and loved Johny Cash in two different life styles!
Hence, to lay to rest my addiction,came only from God,for only God can restore and make whole,an old drunk like me!
Therefore God took Johny, and has made him whole as part of me.For in my heart he lives, and in my eyes my friends in recovery see his wormph, his great spirit, and at times his great rath!
Yes like you ill miss him,but best of all like you he lives in my heart, and in my stereo,on c.d.
Always your gratfull fan,+ - +
Father Gerald H.
Love Never Fails........Revelation 7:16-17
He was and is an inspiration every day of my life,may his memory live on forever....AMEN
Posted by: gord at December 26, 2003 08:45 PM