I’m not really all that big on country music. There are only very few country artists that I like and Johnny Cash is one of them. I can listen to Johnny Cash all the time and never get tired of it. I have all of Johnny’s American albums except for the first one that was released in 1994 but I plan on grabbing it from Itunes soon. I also have a greatest hits album of all of Cash’s classic songs and have two live albums of his (“Live at Folsom Prison” and “San Quentin”). Yeah, I am that huge of a Johnny Cash fan. In case you can’t tell, Johnny is a huge influence in my own songwriting as well.

Here are a few of my favorite songs of his. He has way too many good songs. Johnny never wanted to be a country star. He wanted to be a gospel singer… that’s why he made those American albums as a way for him to get away from country and make gospel inspired songs. Johnny always had a love for gospel music than country. He was forced to get into country just so he can have a career.

Kev

When someone ask other people, “What is your favorite Johnny Cash song?”, my response to that would always be, “All of them, I don’t see how you could like just one Johnny Cash song”. It’s true. I loved all of Johnny’s music. Everything from the Sun recordings, all the Columbia stuff, and of course, the American era. I even loved all of Johnny’s gospel music too! Originally Johnny never wanted to be a country star. He originally wanted to be big in gospel music. He was forced to play country music ’cause it was the only way he could break into the industry, since gospel didn’t sell back in the day. Later in the years, Johnny focused on gospel more. As you noticed, all the American recordings weren’t country at all. The 6 American albums he did were mostly gospel influenced, and he did covers of modern songs but they were gospel like. He always hated the country genre, but he was dragged into it. He kept the country thing going through the years ’cause it was the only way for him to make a living and he wanted to be known for his music.

He has always been an incredible artist and a longtime favorite of mine. He was an inspiration to me too. Of course, I loved all the stuff he did with June Carter.

RIP, Johnny.

Kev

Today, marks the 8th year of Johnny Cash’s Anniversary death. His music has always been very important to me. May he rest in peace.

Kev

These days you hear Johnny Cash’s music everywhere. You heard “God’s Gonna Cut You Down” on the “True Grit” movie trailer and you heard the Undertaker use, “Ain’t No Grave” for his new theme song. You also heard Johnny Cash’s music in many TV commercials too. I love how they are keeping Johnny’s legacy alive.

Johnny maybe gone, but it certainly feels like he is still alive, when you keep hearing his music everywhere. People still deserve to know who Johnny Cash is. People of today’s generation wouldn’t know who he is (especially the young generation), but of course, the only people who would know who Johnny is are the longtime country fans. Continuing to play Johnny’s music in the media will help him get a new generation of fans.

Johnny deserves this and this is what he would have wanted.

Kev