Texas Music at it’s best on Real Texas Blog
It’s music video Friday #15 in case my friend Jim Bob can’t figure out the X’s and V’s.
I think Folsom Prison Blues was one of the first recollections of Johnny Cash that I have. Yes, he started his career in country music, but he was also proficient in blues, rock-a-billy, rock ‘n roll, Gospel, and prison rock.
I just made that last one up, but you all know he always started his concerts with “Hello, I’m Johnny Cash.” And then he would go right into Folsom Prison Blues. He also made some humorous songs with his wife June Carter Cash including Jackson and others on his own including One Piece at a Time and A Boy Named Sue.
There is not a bigger name in country than Johnny Cash and I’ve watched the movie “I Walk The Line” more than once. He was also a conflicted Christian and called himself the biggest sinner of them all. That’s probably not true, but just a statement of faith more than anything. He once recorded King James Version of the New Testament word for word on a deep baritone voice. I’ve heard parts of it and he sure sounds like a dedicated Christian with that deep voice.
He was a brief Texas resident, at Lackland Air Force Base for his basic training and later at Brooks AFB also in San Antonio for his tech training. After the Air Force he came back to Texas and married a Texas girl named Vivian who gave birth to four daughters, Roseanne, Kathy, Cindy, and Tara. Later, his drug and alcohol abuse and his close relationship with June Carter led to their divorce. He married June Carter in 1968 after proposing numerous times.
Despite his reputation and his song Folsom Prison Blues, Cash never served time in prison. He was arrested 7 times, but never spent more than a night in jail. It was his last arrest and a late night conversation with Sheriff Ralph Jones about Cash literally wasting his potential that Cash credited with turning his life around.
Here’s an old video of Folsom Prison Blues
A Boy Named Sue at San Quentin
June and Johny sing Jackson
Here is a multi talented tribute to Johnny Cash
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Watched every minute this morning…and thanks for dropping the Roman Numerals!
Thanks David, I haven’t enjoyed anything in such a long time. I used to watch Johnny every chance igot when I was much younger, and I wached Willie faithfully even back when he was singing on Saturday TV show for Pioneer Furniture Store in Odessa. I guess I am just a hopeless Johnny and Willie fan. Thanks again.
Rick C. now I now who you are,
Kims brother………..