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Post by SweetNadine on Sept 12, 2003 5:26:50 GMT -5
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Post by Busgaljan on Sept 12, 2003 6:03:51 GMT -5
It is very sad. Also the passing of John Ritter(Tex Ritters son)
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Post by Roughneck on Sept 12, 2003 7:22:58 GMT -5
Country legend Johnny Cash dies Associated Press
Johnny Cash, a towering figure in American music spanning country, rock and folk and known worldwide as "The Man in Black," has died, hospital officials in Nashville, Tennessee said. He was 71.
"JOHNNY DIED due to complications from diabetes, which resulted in respiratory failure," said Cash's manager, Lou Robin, in a press release issued by Baptist Hospital in Nashville. The release said Cash died at the hospital at 1 a.m. EDT. He was released from Baptist on Wednesday where he had spent two weeks being treated for an unspecified stomach ailment.
"I hope that friends and fans of Johnny will pray for the Cash family to find comfort during this very difficult time," Robin said.
Cash's manager says the singer died early this morning of complications from diabetes, resulting in respiratory failure.
He says he hopes fans will pray for the Cash family to -- in his words -- "find comfort during this very difficult time," Robin said.
Cash had battled a disease of the nervous system, autonomic neuropathy, and pneumonia in recent years and was once diagnosed with a disease called Shy-Drager's syndrome, a diagnosis that was later deemed to be erroneous.
VOICE OF THE WORKING MAN Dozens of hit records like "Folsom Prison Blues," "I Walk the Line," and "Sunday Morning Coming Down" defined Cash's persona: a haunted, dignified, resilient spokesman for the working man and downtrodden.
Cash's deeply lined face fit well with his unsteady voice, which was limited in range but used to great effect to sing about prisoners, heartaches, and tales of everyday life. He wrote much of his own material, and was among the first to record the songs of Bob Dylan and Kris Kristofferson.
"One Piece at a Time" was about an assembly line worker who built a car out of parts stolen from his factory. "A Boy Named Sue" was a comical story of a father who gives his son a girl's name to make him tough. "The Ballad of Ira Hayes" told of the drunken death of an American Indian soldier who helped raised the American flag at Iwo Jima during World War II, but returned to harsh racism in America. Cash said in his 1997 autobiography "Cash" that he tried to speak for "voices that were ignored or even suppressed in the entertainment media, not to mention the political and educational establishments."
Cash's career spanned generations, with each finding something of value in his simple records, many of which used his trademark "boom-chicka-boom" rhythm.
Cash was a peer of Elvis Presley when rock 'n' roll was born in Memphis in the 1950s, and he scored hits like "Cry! Cry! Cry!" during that era. He had a longtime friendship and recorded with Dylan, who has cited Cash as a major influence.
He won 11 Grammys -- most recently in 2003, when "Give My Love To Rose" earned him honors as best male country vocal performance -- and numerous Country Music Association awards. He was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1980 and inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992.
FAMILY OF SINGERS His second wife, June Carter Cash, and daughter Roseanne Cash also were successful singers. June Carter Cash, who co-wrote Cash's hit "Ring of Fire" and partnered with her husband in hits such as "Jackson," died in May 2003.
The late 1960s and '70s were Cash's peak commercial years, and he was host of his own ABC variety show from 1969-71. In later years, he was part of the Highwayman supergroup with Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Kristofferson.
In the 1990s, he found a new artistic life recording with rap and hard rock producer Rick Rubin on the label American Recordings. And he was back on the charts in with the 2002 album "American IV: the Man Comes Around."
He also wrote books including two autobiographies, and acted in films and television shows.
In his 1971 hit "Man in Black," Cash said his black clothing symbolized the downtrodden people in the world. Cash had been "The Man in Black" since he joined the Grand Ole Opry at age 25.
"Everybody was wearing rhinestones, all those sparkle clothes and cowboy boots," he said in 1986. "I decided to wear a black shirt and pants and see if I could get by with it. I did and I've worn black clothes ever since."
EARLY TRAGEDY John R. Cash was born Feb. 26, 1932, in Kingsland, Ark., one of seven children. When he was 12, his 14-year-old brother and hero, Jack, died after an accident while sawing oak trees into fence posts. The tragedy had a lasting impact on Cash, and he later pointed to it as a possible reason his music was frequently melancholy.
He worked as a custodian and enlisted in the Air Force, learning guitar while stationed in Germany, before launching his music career after his 1954 discharge.
"All through the Air Force, I was so lonely for those three years," Cash told The Associated Press during a 1996 interview. "If I couldn't have sung all those old country songs, I don't think I could have made it."
Cash launched his career in Memphis, performing on radio station KWEM. He auditioned with Sun Records, ultimately recording the single "Hey Porter," which became a hit.
Sun Records also launched the careers of Presley, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis and others.
"Folsom Prison Blues," went to No. 4 on the country charts in 1956, and featured Cash's most famous couplet: "I shot a man in Reno/ just to watch him die."
Cash recorded theme albums celebrating the railroads and the Old West, and decrying the mistreatment of American Indians. Two of his most popular albums were recorded live at prisons. Along the way he notched 14 No. 1 country music hits.
NEVER SERVED PRISON TIME Because of Cash's frequent performances in prisons and his rowdy lifestyle early in his career, many people wrongly thought he had served prison time. He never did, though he battled addictions to pills on and off throughout his life.
He blamed fame for his vulnerability to drug addiction.
"When I was a kid, I always knew I'd sing on the radio someday. I never thought about fame until it started happening to me," he said in 1988. "Then it was hard to handle. That's why I turned to pills."
He credited June Carter Cash, whom he married in 1968, with helping him stay off drugs, though he had several relapses over the years and was treated at the Betty Ford Center in California in 1984.
June Carter Cash was the daughter of country music great Mother Maybelle Carter, and the mother of singer Carlene Carter. Together, the couple had one child, John Carter Cash. He is a musician and producer.
Singer Rosanne Cash is Johnny Cash's daughter from his first marriage, to Vivian Liberto. Their other three children were Kathleen, Cindy and Tara. They divorced in 1966.
In March 1998, Cash made headlines when his California-based record company, American Recordings, took out an advertisement in the music trade magazine Billboard. The full-page ad celebrated Cash's 1998 Grammy award for best country album for "Unchained." The ad showed an enraged-looking Cash in his younger years making an obscene gesture to sarcastically illustrate his thanks to country radio stations and "the country music establishment in Nashville," which he felt had unfairly cast him aside.
Jennings, a close friend, once said of Cash: "He's been like a brother to me. He's one of the greatest people in the world."
Cash once credited his mother, Carrie Rivers Cash, with encouraging him to pursue a singing career.
"My mother told me to keep on singing, and that kept me working through the cotton fields. She said God has his hand on you. You'll be singing for the world someday."
Cash lived in Hendersonville, Tenn., just outside of Nashville. He also had a home in Jamaica.
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Post by WallabyTed on Sept 12, 2003 7:43:21 GMT -5
A sad day indeed, Nadine. Vale, Johnny Cash - a musical hero for my generation. With Marty Robbins and (later) Alan Jackson, Johnny was my favourite all time. Thanks for the music all the pleasant memories, Johnny. I'll see you there.
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Post by Wildrider on Sept 12, 2003 8:15:31 GMT -5
Oh, no. I knew it was coming and I still wasn't prepared for it. God rest him! At least I know he's on the other shore with June now.
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Post by Mr._Shooter on Sept 12, 2003 8:29:55 GMT -5
Tears here on earth, joy in heaven.
Farewell, Johnny.
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honkytonker
Junior Member
I play in a outlaw country band from chattanooga tn called The Rounders
Posts: 75
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Post by honkytonker on Sept 12, 2003 9:07:31 GMT -5
I was in Atlanta last night seeing Dale Watson and I requested "Living legends" about 12:50. He started playing it and I thought to myself this is really hitting home with Johnny in the hospital. Then after the song Dale mentioned he heard he had been released from the hospital and we all gave a big applause for Cash and he started the next song. All that had to have taken place minutes before he passed away. After the show Dale and I were talking about Johnny and his health and now I am overwelmed at the last 8 hrs. I just thought I'd share that with you guys.... CW
Ps. "Don't bother praying today, God has front row center to one hell of a show."
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Post by SanAntonioMike on Sept 12, 2003 9:15:03 GMT -5
I heard the news driving in to work this morning and almost crashed. Thanks for the story about Dale, there, hoknytonker. Must have hit him hard this morning, too; he loved Johnny. Always willing to do a Cash number. I'm kinda still in shock. Don't know if I can gather my thoughts together. It's like country music as I know it is just passing silently and painfully away and I can't do anything to hold on to it. What a sad day for MUSIC. (I think the John Ritter thing will hit me a little later. That one comes as a complete surprise.)
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Post by tcb on Sept 12, 2003 9:24:36 GMT -5
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Post by tcb on Sept 12, 2003 10:10:31 GMT -5
From Rodney Crowell:
"I am deeply saddened by the loss of my children's grandfather and my very dear friend. I loved big John with all my heart. The citizens of the world have lost one of their most enduring guiding lights. As a musical hero to millions, a trailblazing artist, humanitarian, spiritual leader, social commentator and most importantly, patriarch to one of the most varied and colorful extended families imaginable, Johnny Cash will, like Will Rogers, stand forever as a symbol of intelligence, creativity, compassion and common sense. I'm thinking Mt. Rushmore."
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Post by bayoubum on Sept 12, 2003 13:27:35 GMT -5
I just heard the news and I'm wordless...sure feels like the end of an era...
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Dino
New Member
Posts: 5
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Post by Dino on Sept 12, 2003 14:26:10 GMT -5
Terrible news. A great man, a legend, and the greatest iconic figure in country music history. Let's treasure Merle, George and Willie while we have them.
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Post by SweetNadine on Sept 12, 2003 17:46:23 GMT -5
It was 6:00 this morning..I had the radio on...I heard "Country Music Legend has died...I was frozen for a couple of minutes waiting for the name to be given.
I don't know about you guys, but, our Legend's deaths are becoming harder and harder to swallow. I am listening to Dale Watson's - Legends (What if...) and I could cry like a baby. They are people that I didn't know personally, but, I have listened to their music all of my life. Like Dale sings in his song ''we have to remember our treasures we have with us."
Thanks for sharing Honkytonker. I'm sure Dale cried a few tears today along with all of us who treasure our Legends.
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Cory
New Member
Posts: 41
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Post by Cory on Sept 12, 2003 19:44:10 GMT -5
It would be selfish for me to be sad about Johnny's passing.
Praise the Lord he was a born again Christian and is in heaven right now with Christ. He is no longer in any pain, all of his diseases are gone, he is no longer alone and more than anything he is with Jesus.
I rejoice that is finally home!
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Post by WallabyTed on Sept 12, 2003 19:52:33 GMT -5
Hmmm! Seems I was wrong. Maybe we're all wrong? Johnny is still alive, I reckon. I heard him singing inside my head this morning `Guess Things Happen That Way', `Don't Take Your Guns To Town' and `Big River'. Talking to missussted. She said: `I feel real sad. It feels like not just Johnny but a whole era has died. Wish we'd got to see him live. Put on some Johnny music. He was singing with the Tennessee Two and the Carter Family and The Highwaymen but the one that really grabbed me was `The Song of the Patriot' with Marty Robbins....two heroes from Heaven. I feel real sad too, missussted. Seems like part of me died right along with Johnny. The song that seemed to set the tone was `Cry, Cry, Cry'. Yep, there were tears in our house this morning. But why should there be. Johnny's alive. His music and his memory will live in our hearts and our minds forever. Sorry, folks. Gotta go. I'm still breakin' up. Dunno why?
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