Respect for The Man

With Walk The Line new to theaters this weekend, the once young and troubled Man In Black is all over the blogosphere. This pleases me greatly, as no other purveyor of popular Americana is more worthy of our clamor than the late, great Johnny Cash. At least that's how I see it. But then again I've always been a fan of blue-collar troubadors, especially those who've yet to quell all their demons. Headed for an early grave, young Johnny was a thunderbolt of promise and pills when he met an awkward daughter of musical royalty. June Carter didn't tame her man, but she did teach him how to live a much longer life than even he knew he was due. That he lived to be grandfather of such gravel and grit that music lovers as young as my eight year old hold his name in reverence, is testimony of this strong woman's power. Don't believe me? Listen to 'Jackson' sometime.

Which reminds me, anybody seen my Best of Johnny Cash CD? The last time I heard it was in Live 1; Whitey and I were speeding toward a late-day live shot and needed The Man to soothe us. Since then it's vanished, but I have no doubt that sacred disc is spinning for somebody, somewhere. As for the movie, I only hope that 'Walk The Line, fresh on the heels off 'Ray', will spur a long line of 20th century musical biopics. Maybe then, Mr. Rodriguez will stop making kids' movies and work on the long-delayed SRV film. Either that, Robert, or sell the rights...