The Musings of Scott

James Dean was famous for acting like a rebel, Johnny Cash was famous for being one

“I’m here to do what you want me to, and I want to do.”

This is the quote that inspired me to write this piece, and was one that I felt particularly summarized the man’s (surprisingly) long career. As a pioneer of Rock and Country music, he went on to write over 1000 songs, win countless awards, and has inspired multiple generations of artists to follow him. His life has been adapted into 2 films and 2 Broadway musicals (half of which won awards as well). There are few people who are able to achieve the level of influence Johnny Cash ultimately had on American culture within their life time. The best part, and probably the reason he earned it, is that it wasn’t his goal.

“Success is having to worry about every damn thing in the world, except money.”

He Changed American Music

Besides his obvious influences on the Rock and Country genres, traces of Johnny’s influence ended up embedded in popular music across the preference spectrum. He is well known for his spiritual sound which he refined with Gospel songs in his more “tame” years.

But did you know… (click picture for video)

He Was Punk Before Punk

He was Gansta' before Gansta' (wait What?!)

Dawn Of The Dead Remake Intro
Dawn of the Dead 2005
Who didn’t think I could work Zombies into this article?

True Grit 2010
The man’s talent had an amazing reach, one of the most common comments I came across in researching for this post (and an attitude I share): ‘I don’t like country, but I like Johnny Cash.” After nearly 60 years since the beginning of his music career, his songs and style are still sought after in Pop Culture, covered, and imitated. In our modern consumerist culture, that is as good as immortal in my book. But the man was more than just pure talent…

The Man In Black

“We’re doing mighty fine I do suppose
In our streak of lightning cars and fancy clothes
But just so we’re reminded of the ones who are held back
Up front there ought to be a man in black.”

While iconic for his all black regalia (which teenagers are still asked to this day if they are imitating with their displays of wardrobe angst), Johnny was also an ardent humanitarian. You can hear this quality in the original sound clip I started this post with, as he addresses a room filled with convicted felons as if they’re old friends; later in the show he even brings his wife on stage to perform their duets. Johnny began giving free concerts in various prisons during the late 50′s, but his 1969 San Quentin performance is considered by fans to be among his best concerts of all time.

1972- Johnny Advocates Prison Reform to President Nixon (irony ensues)

In addition to prison reform, Johnny was quite outspoken on the mistreatment of Native Americans, Vietnam, and social inequalities.

“You build on failure. You use it as a stepping stone. Close the door on the past. You don’t try to forget the mistakes, but you don’t dwell on it. You don’t let it have any of your energy, or any of your time, or any of your space.”

The Pheonix

Through his life Johnny had done his fair share of failing: drugs, women, jail, suicide, and even accidentally causing a fire which burned down hundreds of acres of National Forest killing 49 of 53 endangered condors. Of this list he only ever repented from women, suicide attempts, and jail; this is probably why he claimed to be the only man to ever have been sued by the U.S. Government for a forest fire. Unlike those poor condors, Johnny always rose from the ashes, his creativity and thus his career never dying. Just years after the avian inferno, he won a Grammy Award with his future wife, and love of his life, June Carter (they won yet another together 3 years later). June was undoubtedly a huge influence in Johnny’s life, requiring he change his lifestyle before she would marry him. While Johnny could never completely quit drugs, with June he did find religion, avoided arrests (and arson), and gave up womanizing. Their love was the focus of Walk The Line, the best of the biographical spin-offs of Cash’s life. One could make a compelling argument that June Carter is the reason Johnny Cash outlived Elvis. The only person to outlive Johnny in this picture is Jerry Lee Lewis, with Carl Perkins & Elvis Presley completing this group of legends. I am doubting too many people saw that one coming.

The Last Resurrection

Johnny’s popularity started to wane after 1975, during this time he got clean for a 7 year stretch, and relapsed into morphine after a rib-crushing fight with a pet ostrich. By the late 80′s, major record labels considered Johnny washed-up after 30+ years, and was ultimately dropped from contract in 1991. The next few years he recorded some songs on other Artist’s albums, until 1994 when he was startlingly signed by Rick Rubin.

Rick had spent the past decade establishing himself as a premier producer, helping launching the careers of LL Cool J, Public Enemy, The Beastie Boys, Slayer, and The Red Hot Chilli Peppers. Having made a name for himself working on rap and heavy rock acts, Rick was signing a 60 year old Johnny Cash to his new label (Refer to Gansta before Gansta). For their first album together, Rubin picked a selection of covers, for which Johnny won a Grammy for Best Contemporary Folk Album. Three years later he would win another for Best Country Album at the age of 67. Having already been inducted to numerous Halls of Fame for his work, one must admire the drive to continue creating up until the very end.

Fade to Black

After his last Grammy, Johnny started getting sick and canceling performances. Despite his declining health he produced 2 more albums before he died. He even managed to get a critically acclaimed single with a cover of Nine Inch Nail’s Hurt:

The context of Johnny’s illness and life gave this song a new meaning, and the artistic style of this video left fans wondering if Johnny was saying goodbye.

One year later, on May 15, 2003 June Carter Cash died, her final request to Johnny being that he continue to make music despite her death. He complied with her request before passing away himself the following September from diabetes.

The spirit of June Carter overshadows me tonight with the love she had for me and the love I have for her. We connect somewhere between here and heaven. She came down for a short visit, I guess, from heaven to visit with me tonight to give me courage and inspiration like she always has.

July 5, 2003 (His last performance before dieing)

If you are reading this, I sincerely thank you for lending me so much of your time. I hope you leave feeling it was both time well spent, and with a deeper appreciation for The Man In Black. He was a legendary artist, rebel, humanitarian, and husband. He is still an inspiration for millions, and lives on in an incredible variety of American artistic mediums.

Popularity: 77% [?]

Be Sociable, Share!

•