Johnny Cash: Music from the Heart

~by Van Rose~

Johnny Cash is a country music icon with more than 135 Billboard magazine certified hits to his credit. That's more than The Beatles and Frank Sinatra combined. In 1980, Cash became the youngest inductee to the Country Music Hall of Fame, and in 1990, he received the Grammy "Living Legend Award." While Cash is affectionately known to most country music fans as The Man In Black, to some loyal fans, the legendary singer will always be A Boy Named Sue.

CountrySpotlight: What kind of impact has "A Boy Named Sue" had on your career?

Johnny Cash: It's one of my all-time favorite songs. I'll always be associated with "A Boy Named Sue as long as I live. I've rarely performed a concert where they (the fans) haven't made me sing "A Boy Named Sue." It's always one of the highlights of my show.

Spotlight: Do you believe the song would have enjoyed the same kind of success if it had been released in 1997 instead of 1969?

Cash: I think it would still get on the radio because it's a good song. Country music fans always react positively to a song if they like it, even if it's different.

Spotlight: Is there another song that has the same kind of meaning to you as "A Boy Named Sue?

Cash: "Ring Of Fire," possibly. It was one of my first big hits. It's also a much requested song. It seems to me like it's been covered by hundreds of artists.

Spotlight: For four decades now, you have championed the cause of working men and women throughout the world with songs that explore every aspect of human existence. How does that make you feel?

Cash: I hope it gives me a special identity. I have always tried to make honest music, the kind of music that people can relate to as part of their day-to-day lives. Looking back on it all, I wouldn't change anything about my music.

Spotlight: So does that mean you'll never conform to what is now considered new country?

Cash: New country? Not a chance. I'm a hard-core country traditionalist. My music will always come from the heart, without regard to country radio. Besides, most of today's so-called "new country" is over-produced.

Spotlight: For the past several years, you've been part of country music's most famous quartet, The Highwaymen. You must have a great love for Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson.

Cash: I love working with those guys. We've been together a long time. We work well together. A lot of the things we do on stage are spontaneous, but everything always seems to fall in place.

Spotlight: What does the future hold for Johnny Cash?

Cash: Hopefully, just keep on making music.