I'm not sure how many of you saw yesterday's randomness. I just didn't feel like being festive. Sorry for the brief, but appropriate, interruption.
I don't know how to explain the loss I felt when I awoke yesterday morning and heard that Johnny had left this mortal coil. Johnny was so much more to me than just an artist. Johnny was, well, a part of my life.
Many of my earliest memories involve J.R. Cash. My grandfather (who I believe I have described on these pages as my favorite person on the planet) has always been a Johnny fan. I remember spending weekends with my grandparents in Marshall, Michigan, asking my grandfather to play Johnny Cash records on their bulky stereo. "Johnny! Johnny!" I'd exclaim. My grandfather was always more than happy to comply. I have vague memories of watching Johnny's variety show with my grandparents, as well.
John's health had, of course, been in doubt for the last few years. I think many of us thought we were going to lose him in 2000 when he first started his battle with neurological problems. But he kept pulling through and making some of the most interesting music of his storied career with the odd couple partner of Rick Rubin. I had just read on Thursday that he had suddenly become even more prolific after the tragic death of his beloved June. According to his daugher Rosanne he was writing three songs a day in preparation for a box set and a new disc for the holidays. Johnny told the Nashville Tennesean that he "wasn't going anywhere" and that he wanted to outlive all of his children. Things were looking up, I thought. To hear that he had lost his valiant fight was simply devastating.
I never got to see Johnny Cash in a proper concert. I'll kick myself forever for passing up a couple of opportunities. I called my grandfather yesterday afternoon. He's a spry 87 and certainly accustomed to dealing with death of friends and family. He knew immediately why I called and in a wistful voice he told me "Mike, it's so sad. I really don't want to talk about it. I just want to remember him."
I hear ya, Grandpa. I hear ya.
Posted by mikewolf at September 13, 2003 03:41 PMMy childhood was quite similar. Maybe it's a Michigan thing. My dad was a huge Johnny fan. I still have his vinyl copy of Folsom Prison Blues. Every week we would look forward to Johnny's weekly TV show. Of course I had to rebel at some point and dismiss Johnny as 'dad's' music. Didn't take long for me to come around again and recognize him as a genius. He's going to be missed.
Posted by: Dennis on September 14, 2003 08:25 AMI think Dennis is right it is a Michigan thing. I wish I make a joke here, but I can't. My dad knew all the words to his songs. We would ride around the backroads of Michigan, and he would sing his songs when they came on the radio. I know Mike might remember WNWN. They had a Sunday morning radio show filled with country gospel. There is not one Sunday that went by with out a Johnny Cash song. In recent years my favorite song from has been the re=make of Hurt. If anyone has not heard the song go and find a place to hear it today. Thank you Mike for letting me take up so much space.
Posted by: Brad on September 15, 2003 01:15 PMDEFINITELY a Michigan thing, I knew the words to "Walk the line" as well as "Puff the Magic Dragon"...My father played a lot of the old country classics in the garage and sang at the top of his lungs while he was "putzing" out there. He was played by many a campfire...He was a big part of a roadtrip out west in 1999 as my friend Jim has every album...I cherish the memories that his music evokes.
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