THE HANDSTAND

OCTOBER 2003

Four words resonated throughout the world ! Johnny Cash has been a household name for longer than most people can remember, and his career spanned nearly five decades.

Few artists in history ever enjoyed the successful career Cash did. Many people describe him as a mythical, larger than life figure. Others describe him as one of the greatest recording artists of all time.

Yet there is no one description which adequately fits The Man In Black. He was a complex, unpredictable, ball of talent and energy that no one has ever been able to pigeonhole or categorize.

In an interview this time last year with Robert Hillburn he said

"Music is part of my life every day," says Cash, who is warm and surprisingly shy for someone who has been in the spotlight for so long. "It's hanging around every morning; sometimes it is with me at night. June says I was singing a song all last night in my sleep. She had to shake me."

Cash's voice breaks. "It's the asthma," he says as he reaches for a glass of water and tries to catch his breath.

Cash picks up an acoustic guitar and starts singing some songs, and his voice is straight and true.

"As long as I can make records, I'm fine," he says, setting down the guitar. "After all the years, I don't really miss the road. You know what a big fun day for me is now? It's when June gets up and we're both feeling good and we want to go shopping. We'll go to Wal-Mart and I'll get one of those electric carts and just race through the aisles. Imagine that being the highlight of your day."

Still, isn't he looking forward to going on stage in a few hours?

He looks up and smiles, "You bet."

He admits he'd worried that his upcoming album might be his last. He wasn't pleased with some of his vocals on it, and he wondered if his producer Rick Rubin was losing patience working with him. The last two albums may have won Grammys, but they didn't sell much -- a tiny fraction of Rubin's albums with the Red Hot Chili Peppers and other rock groups.

"I had just finished my last vocal for the record and I shook hands with Rick and I said, 'It's been fun.' I think it was my way of saying I understood if he wanted to call it quits.

"But he immediately asked what I wanted to do next. I mentioned the black gospel album, and then I mentioned an album of songs that would show my musical roots, and Rick said, 'Let's do them both.' I was dumbfounded. It was just what I wanted to hear. I had thought I might finally be at the point where I would only be singing for myself."

Taking a bet, and winning. robert.hilburn@latimes.com.

The Man in Black

From: joife1@aol.com

Venue for an Artist
Man in Black
By Johnny Cash

Well you wonder why I always dress in black
Why you never see bright colors on my back
And why does my appearance
seem to have a somber tone
Well there's a reason for the things that I have on
I wear the black for the poor and the beaten down
Livin' in the hopeless hungry side of town
I wear it for the prisoner
who has long paid for his crime
But is there because he's a victim of the times
I wear the black for those who've never read
Or listened to the words that Jesus said
About the road to happiness through love and charity
Why you'd think he's talking straight to you and me
Well we're doin' 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 oughta be a man in black
I wear it for the sick and lonely old
For the reckless ones whose bad trip left them cold
I wear the black in mourning
for the lives that could have been
Each week we lose a hundred fine young men
And I wear it for the thousands who have died
Believin' that the Lord was on their side
I wear it for another hundred thousand who have died
Believin' that we all were on their side
Well there's things that never will be right I know
And things need changin' everywhere you go
But till we start to make a move
to make a few things right
You'll never see me wear a suit of white
Oh I'd love to wear a rainbow every day
and tell the world that everything's okay
But I'll try to carry off a little darkness on my back
Till things're brighter I'm the man in black

Country music legend, singer, writer, author and actor, Johnny Cash died earlier this month; he was 71.  Winner of 11 Grammys, Cash starred in movies and wrote two autobiographies.  Fourteen of his songs rose to number one on the country music chart, including Folsom Prison Blues and I Walk the Line.  Since joining the Grand Ole Opry at the age of
25, Cash was the "Man in Black."  (Source: www.maininblack.net)

THERE WILL BE JOHNNY CASH TRIBUTES IN NEW YORK AND DUBLIN
THE RACKETEERS
Thurs Oct    9   SLIGO  The Garavogue  (11pm)
Sat Oct  11   DUBLIN  The Mezz, Temple Bar  (9pm)
Thurs Oct 16   JERSEY CITY  (USA) Venue T.B.A.
Sun Oct  19   NEW YORK  (USA) Sway, 305 Spring St. West Soho (9pm) eamon solo
Tues Oct  23   DUBLIN   Gubu, Variety Show !  Capel St (10pm)
Thurs Oct  28   DUBLIN  Spy Bar, Johnny Cash Tribute + Special Guests (late) eamon solo
New album due early January. 
For more info on the band visit http://theracketeers.com