LifeZette: There are many great stories about the singer’s faith that should have made it to the screen — and didn’t.
He was born J.R Cash on February 26, 1932, and he would change his name twice. First, because the United States Air Force wouldn’t permit him to use his initials as a first name, so J.R. Cash named himself John R. Cash. He would change his name one more time when he signed with Sun Records. He created his own stage name: Johnny Cash.
The man who had three names had two loves. We all know one of them, thanks to the 2005 biopic, “Walk The Line.” Her name was June — June Carter Cash.
But he had another love. A higher love. One never mentioned by name in the entire movie.
There are some hints and intimations in the movie. In an early scene in the film, a young Cash, played by Joaquin Phoenix, is auditioning for the man who he hopes might make him the next Elvis Presley: Sam Phillips, the Sun Records impresario.
Cash walks into the small Memphis studio and begins playing a Gospel song. Phillips isn’t moved, and tells Cash he should play something more meaningful. No one listens to Gospel anymore, Phillips told the young Cash. Legend has it he told the real Johnny Cash these words: “Go home and sin, and then come back with a song I can sell.” read more
My favorite hymn. Never fails to choke me up.
I will always appreciate J. Cash.
My earliest memories are of my grandma playing his 78’s.
Here is a good LIVE cover:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_daJjRrv0A
Johnny Cash fan here since the early 60s. His music is the first I remember from my two-foot-tall toe-head days.
I have an entire hymn selection of Johnny Cash Gospel on MP3 and I never tire of hearing it. All the great hymns and some not-so great.
It’s worth checking out. (The Gospel Music of Johnny Cash, My Mother’s Hymn Book, and the Definitive Johnny Cash are just a few – on Amazon)
He continued to record a lot of religious in the last few years of his life, embracing new musical sounds and perhaps a different direction. This is one of my favorites from his more recent work – Sooner or Later God’s Gonna Cut You Down: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJlN9jdQFSc
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Ya got me started:) Had a blah kinda feeling going most the day and was going to tune out of news/politics/iotw for an eve. Thot of grabbing an old HeeHaw Show (for the babes) or something from that era, but this music is better. Cash and also the Statler Brothers.
And I’m tricked again. Thought Old Fur posted this one but no it was the young’un 🙂 Nice.
Statler Brothers- How Great Thou Art
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2YCGhh1bAg&index=2&list=RDimIFtW4O5S0
Thanks for sharing this. Brings many great memories of my dad.
Wonderful music I grew up with. Brings
back a lot of memories. Thanks!
I still miss Johnny Cash.
Will the Circle be Unbroken. Great album, great song. Johnny wasn’t on it, but his mother-in-law was. I think old man Carter wrote the song.
I’m a heathen from way back, but the old gospel tunes were best and have been known to jerk a tear in this curmudgeonly agnostic.
See his last album, My Mother’s Hymn Book.
Last song, number 15: ‘Just As I Am’
Love Johnny Cash !! There were many spiritual elements in his songs… as I recall, didn’t he record an album in Israel, and also do a documentary on Jesus’ life?
I never appreciated Johnny when I was younger.
Now that I’m older I have some of his work in my library.
The older ya get, the more you learn… or at least you should.
Hurt, which Johnny Cash recorded when he was 70 has become of my favorite Johnny Cash songs. I’m glad God uses broken people who know that they’re messed up like him to get his message across. I got to see Johnny Cash in concert at the old Spokane Coliseum (we called it the Boone Street barn) along with my parents back around 1973 or 74 when I was home on leave from the Navy.