The big announcement on Radio 2 yesterday (or was it Tuesday? Anyway...) was that it is Johnny Cashs 70th birthday.

I'm surprised none of our American cousins has mentioned it! Is he not held in any regard there or is it not really country? Anyroads, reaching 70 is pretty good. Reaching it with his past lifestyle is quite amazing!

In the documentary feature on him it gave a list of people had influenced and it was was quite amazing. Merle Haggard you would expect, But Chrissy Hind? The list was massive. And did you know that Merle Haggard was in prison when Johnny Cash did one of his prison concerts. Mr H was so inspired he gave up his life of petty crime and took to country music instead!

I don't think any of our UK singers has done that - or did anyone in Strangeways turn to folk after hearing Mrs Hardings kid doing Strangeways Hotel?:-)

Cheers and many more of 'em, man in black.

Dave the Gnome