Today is September 12th. On this day in 2003, Johnny Cash – our man in black – passed away. Luckily there’s comfort to find in the music he left behind.
Cash released albums in a period over six decades: ’50s, ’60s, ’70s, ’80s, ’90s and ’00s. No wonder he is a legend!
In the early days, the ’50s, Cash would, together with other artist like Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis, be a pioneer for rockabilly and rock and roll. With his railroad stompin’ beat he added a new element to country music. He brought something new to music from the day his career began.
He would write and sing songs aboute themes that he cared about and had respect for. Some of the latest creations was the compiliationg Love, Murder and God. With a seperate album called Life. This were made to show wich themes he represented with his music. And Johnny’s interpretation of murder in his songs were first of it’s kind in country music. Like the famous line from Folsom Prison Blues; “I shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die”.
Cash was a great ambassodor for both country music and rock and roll through his career, and was awarded for it also. His wide-spread music from country, honky tonk, country gospel, bluegrass, gospel, outlaw country and americana to rock and roll, pop, swing and big band, made him an influncer for countless artists.
When his career got an much needed upswing in the ’90s Cash was regarded as a living legend for alternative country, and became an icon.
To illustrate his impact in the world of music I can mention that he was awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement in 1999, he was ranked as #31 by Rolling Stone Magazine on a list over the greatest artists of all time, he has recieved 9 CMA awards, 16 Grammy Awards, and let’s not forget that he was inducted to three hall of fames!
So Johnny Cash might have passed away, but his music lives on. And today we can all put on an old Cash LP and enjoy the legacy he left behind.
