New Johnny Cash Bio!

Robert Hilburn’s vivid new biography,  Johnny Cash: The Life, thoroughly examines all aspects of the performer’s life, from his start in the Arkansas cotton fields to his late-life renaissance working with producer Rick Rubin. But Hilburn is particularly canny when it comes to Cash’s genius for slipping in and out of musical categories.

He was not exactly a country singer, but not really in the rock ‘n’ roll camp either. Nor was he a straightforward folk or gospel singer, although he excelled in those genres.

At every turn, Hilburn ably conveys the impossibility of pigeonholing this unique artist, but two moments, excerpted here, stand out: when Cash wrote and recorded ‘I Walk the Line’ and when he performed for the inmates at San Quentin.

                  - The Daily Beast

Johnny Cash Is Now Literally "Forever" Thanks To A New Stamp

The United States Postal Service, John Carter Cash and other members of the Cash family celebrate the legacy of the Man in Black with the release of a limited-edition Johnny Cash Forever stamp June 5, 2013 at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium (116 Fifth Avenue) at 10:30 a.m. CDT. Doors open for stamp sales at 9 a.m. and the event is free and open to the public.

Artists set to appear, perform or speak at the first-day-of-issuance ceremony include John Carter Cash, Carlene Carter, Larry Gatlin, Jamey Johnson, The Oak Ridge Boys, The Roys, Marty Stuart and Randy Travis among others.  650AM WSM personality Bill Cody will serve as emcee of the event.

“It is an amazing blessing that my father Johnny Cash be honored with the issue of this stamp. Dad was a hard-working man, a man of dignity. As much as anything else, he was a proud American, always supporting his family, fans and country. I can think of no better way to pay due respect to his legacy than through the release of this stamp,” said John Carter Cash.

“My family is thrilled that my father will grace a United States 'Forever' stamp, a great honor for any American, and an honor that would have particularly delighted him. It is a joy to know that generations will use this stamp, and my father will forever be where he loved to be: traveling the world,” added Rosanne Cash.

Designed by art director Greg Breeding, the Johnny Cash stamp features a photograph captured by Frank Bez during the photo session for Ring of Fire: The Best of Johnny Cash (1963).  The stamp is part of the U.S. Postal Service’s Music Icon series, which also includes stamps honoring Lydia Mendoza (available now)  and Ray Charles (to be released in September).

The stamps will be available for purchase at the Ryman Auditorium June 5 from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., at the CMA Festival Fan Fair X at LP Field June 6-9, local Post Offices and online at usps.com/stamps.

Legendary Performers Work For Cash

Vince Gill, Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers, Jimmy Fortune of the Statler Brothers and Joanne Cash Yates will join show host Tommy Cash for the third annual Johnny Cash Music Festival, according to an announcement made today by concert producer and festival founder Bill Carter.

The 2013 event is set for August 17 and will once again take place at Arkansas State University’s Convocation Center in Jonesboro, AR.  Showtime is 7:00 pm and tickets will go on sale April 1 (see box office info below).

As in year’s past, proceeds from this year’s event will fund the restoration of the Johnny Cash Boyhood Home in Dyess, Arkansas, as well as support a scholarship fund established in the international  superstar’s name. Already, four young people are attending ASU thanks to the money raised at the previous events.

“We have been extremely happy not only with the progress on Johnny’s boyhood home, but also with the funding of this scholarship,” Carter said,  “Johnny’s family made it clear from the start that giving children from his hometown area an opportunity to get a college education is something Johnny would have been very proud of. Likewise, the Dyess area will benefit from the economic boost we feel certain this museum will bring to the community. We’re grateful to the artists who are coming in this year to put on a great show for a great cause.”

The restoration of the home is well underway and according to Dr. Ruth Hawkins, director of Arkansas Heritage Sites, the museum is projected to open in the Spring of 2014. The goal is to establish the Johnny Cash Boyhood Home as a museum to honor the legacy of the Man in Black. Keeping the attraction in Cash’s hometown of Dyess will help boost the local economy. It is of interest to note another piece of historical data attached to the house.  Cash’s family moved to Dyess and the 40 acres of land as part of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s New Deal.

“We have made great progress on the actual restoration of the house and are now working with members of the Cash family on acquiring the appropriate furnishings, which are being carefully researched,” Hawkins said. “Thanks to Joanne’s and Tommy’s great memories, it’s going to seem as if the Cash family has just stepped outside the door to head to church.”

Tickets for the Johnny Cash Music Festival will go on sale April 1st.

"Grammy Nominations Live" From Nashvile

Last night's Grammy Nominations Concert Live broadcast from Nashville featured country performers, Little Big Town, and Chris Young, as presenters…plus…performances by Luke Bryan, Hunter Hayes, a terrific tribute to Johnny Cash by The Band Perry and Dierks Bentley singing "Jackson."  Also, 6-time grammy winner, Taylor Swift, co-Hosted the show with LL Cool J.

In the opening Taylor welcomed LL Cool J. to town, offering to be his tour guide of music city.  Taylor then tried her best rapping ability and LL sang a bit of Taylor's "Mean."
Hunter Hayes lead off the singing announcements of nominees singing the list of nominees that included Kelly Clarkson and Maroon 5.

The show, broadcast from Nashville's Bridgestone Arena, was broadcast on HDTV and CBS TV..

Launching in conjunction with last night's  "The GRAMMY Nominations Concert Live…Countdown To Music's Biggest Night, airing Dec. 5 on CBS, music fans can log on to GRAMMY.com or CBS.com to pre-order the album and enter to win a trip for two to the 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards. Music's Biggest Night will be held on Sunday Feb. 10, 2013 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles.

 - NEIL HAISLOP's NASHVILLE IQ ©