One of my earliest memories centers around listening to albums on my parent's record player when I was a young boy. Artists such as Elvis Presley, Charlie Rich, and Johnny Cash were frequently played. In fact, the opening lines of "Folsom Prison Blues" are forever etched in my memory because that was the record, by Johnny Cash, that we seemed to listen to the most. While I am a lifelong fan of the late, great Man in Black, I have a particular fondness for Cash's later recordings in the award winning American series. The premise, suggested by producer Rick Rubin, was simple - sing the songs that Johnny wanted to sing. The result was many memorable recordings that were some of the very best of his long and storied career.
Johnny Cash's son and musician/producer John Carter Cash speaks about the American recordings, as well as his father's deep faith, addictions, family life and, of course, his humble beginnings in Dyess, Arkansas, in the book House of Cash: The Legacies of My Father, Johnny Cash (Insight Editions). The coffee table book is loaded with pictures, letters, poems, lyrics and other mementos that offer a closer look at the life of one of the greatest and most beloved musicians in history. While I was familiar with some of the information presented here, there are occasional personal recollections by the author that add to the already amazing legacy of Johnny Cash, including a somewhat harrowing fishing expedition that involved, of all things, a little bird that braved a powerful storm with father and son. Indeed, sometimes life throws things at you that are unexpected, yet inspiring.
John Carter Cash candidly speaks not only about his father's struggles with drugs and alcohol and the lasting effects they had on the family, but also what steps Johnny Cash took to overcome his problems. Therapy and rehab helped, of course, but prayer and Cash's deep, abiding faith were also instrumental in defeating those demons. The author also speaks of his father's gentle demeanor, respect for others and his undying gratitude for what he achieved throughout his life. While those qualities were not really a surprise to me, I was pleased to learn that what I already assumed was confirmed to be true. In fact, I remember an interview that Larry King conducted with Johnny Cash about a year before he passed away. When talking about his health issues, King asked Cash if he was angry about those ailments. Johnny Cash responded by asking how could he be angry about anything considering how fortunate he had been in his life.
From his beginning in small town Arkansas, to his final years of almost continuously recording, despite many health related issues, the story of Johnny Cash is a fascinating and unforgettable one. The final section of House of Cash is a collection of remembrances from family and friends of the late musician and they help to further express just how loved, respected and missed Johnny Cash is to those who knew him best. Many of his fans still feel the same way, too.
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