Remembering Johnny Cash - 10 Years Later

by Julian Spivey
I just realized it's been 10 years since one of the saddest moments of my life. I used to listen to Johnny Cash all of the time in my bedroom. I'd sit there for hours listening and singing along (I probably annoyed the hell out of my family) to "Folsom Prison Blues," "Ring of Fire," "Hey Porter," "Sunday Morning Coming Down" and on and on. I'm shocked my "Essential Johnny Cash" CD still plays I played it so much. I consumed all the Cash I could. I bought and read his autobiography, still one of my favorite books. I was really digging his newest release from that year "Hurt" from his terrific album "American Recordings IV: The Man Comes Around."

Riding into school that morning 10 years ago (I was 16) listening to the local country music radio station as I always did the DJ announced the horrible news that Johnny Cash had died overnight. I cried. I didn't want to go to school. I had just heard the news that my hero had died.

I can't believe it's already been 10 years since that day. Johnny Cash is still my hero. One of many heroes. He always will be. Johnny Cash should be everybody's hero, because he stood for so many things that are good and stood for so many people who couldn't stand up for themselves.

I had the great pleasure of visiting the newly opened Johnny Cash Museum when I was in Nashville last week and I was awestruck and enamored by all the Cash artifacts that I got to see. I highly recommend it to everybody that considers themselves to be a Johnny Cash fan – and if you’re not a Johnny Cash fan why the Hell are you not?

The Man in Black is one of the most badass humans to ever walk this earth bar none. There will never be another like him.