Like so many others I grew up listening to Johnny Cash and was greatly saddened to hear of his passing. I guess the music we listen to when we are 10 years old or so has the greatest impact on our lives. I remember listening to the young Johnny Cash along with the young Waylon Jennings. They (among others) formed my view of what country music should be. I do not think Waylon stayed with style or quality of his early work, but you could listen to Johnny Cash at any stage of his career and the music and lyrics were so similar - aged perhaps in the way a fine wine ages, but always similar. Something else that Johnny Cash introduced to us was the Statler Bros., a group he heard and chose for his warm up act. They went on to record a tremendous song in honor of Johnny "We Got Paid By Cash."

One thing that bums me about all the tributes (except this site) is that so much of Johnny's other work is forgotten. It's true he was a voice for the downtrodden, but he also had some really quirky, funny work. One album that has just about disappeared from the face of the earth is "Everybody Loves A Nut" with a song of the same name. I can't find it anywhere and have looked for years. If memory serves me correctly there was also a little give and take with Waylon Jennings where they sing about stepping out with each other's woman. The song is virtually the same, just each other's name is switched depending on who was singing. I have Waylon Jenning's version, but can't find the one where John sings.

Anyway, a true master is gone, but the legend will live on. The circle will never be broken.