Johnny Cash

From American Journey, by Joseph S. Bonsall

The Man in Black, Johnny Cash came first and to this very day we love him
dearly. In 1973 through 1975 he took us out on the road with him from time to
time and paid us much more than we were worth in order to keep our heads above
water. Working with John and June Carter, The Tennessee Three as well as Momma
Maybelle and the Carter Family gave us our first taste of what the really "Big
Time," was all about. Cash was and IS a real legend. His very presence in a
room exudes a magical and shimmering charisma that very few possess. A great
songwriter, singer, writer and actor. A big, BIG star with a heart of gold and
a mannerism that suggests a wonderful and very distinct individuality as well
as a huge dose of pure American manhood.
We learned a lot about life from being around John R. Cash.

Johnny took us to Tahoe and Vegas for the first time. We would open with
twenty minutes and then go off stage and sing some backup with him from behind the
curtain. At the finale of his show we would join him onstage for a rollicking
version of the old Gospel song, The Fourth Man. We didn't have two coins to
rub together in our pockets, yet, here we were............ singing with a
legend on the stage of the Las Vegas Hilton. But, it may have very well been
offstage where he influenced us the most.

In the summer of 1974 our heads were hanging low and we wondered if we even
had a future. We had very few dates in the book and we were getting ourselves
into debt by coming home from many trips with less money than we started out
with. John, perhaps sensing that our spirits were a bit low invited us all up to
the star suite of the Las Vegas Hilton for a late dinner one night after the
show. Richard had been up here before with Elvis several years before and he
showed us where all the bullet holes were.

Johnny gave us a pep talk that would rival Knute Rockne or Vince Lombardi. He
said, "Now Boys, there is magic in your group. All one has to do is stand
here amongst you to feel this magic. If you give up.......... the rest of the
world will never know what I know now. The Oak Ridge Boys are going to be big
stars someday. So do NOT lose Hope or Faith...... in God........ OR, each other."

We left that suite that night believing in our hearts that we would make it.
Johnny Cash told us so!

In 1978, at the Country Music Association Award Show, broadcast live from The
Grand Ol Opry House in Nashville, TN. on CBS Television, the Oaks were given
the award for Best Country Vocal Group. The host of this show was none other
than Johnny Cash. The four Oak Ridge Boys ran to the stage but NOT to the
acceptance speech podium. We ran to the host. We ran to the Man in Black and hugged
him tightly. All he said was,"I told you!"


	We have lost the Man In Black. There are no words to describe the loss of John R. Cash. In my struggle to come to terms with his passing I would like to reflect upon a little piece that I wrote from an up and coming book about The Oak Ridge Boys called American Journey. It is part of a tribute chapter wherein I mention several people who had an extraordinary influence on our lives and career. The working title is Cash, The Cowboy and The Gambler. It is all about Johnny Cash, Jimmy Dean and Kenny Rogers. We will all miss Johnny Cash because we all loved Johnny Cash. I do take a measure of comfort in knowing that John and June are together again and someday we will all sing songs in the presence of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. (JSB) From American Journey, by Joseph S. Bonsall The Man in Black, Johnny Cash came first and to this very day we love him dearly. In 1973 through 1975 he took us out on the road with him from time to time and paid us much more than we were worth in order to keep our heads above water. Working with John and June Carter, The Tennessee Three as well as Momma Maybelle and the Carter Family gave us our first taste of what the really "Big Time," was all about. Cash was and IS a real legend. His very presence in a room exudes a magical and shimmering charisma that very few possess. A great songwriter, singer, writer and actor. A big, BIG star with a heart of gold and a mannerism that suggests a wonderful and very distinct individuality as well as a huge dose of pure American manhood. We learned a lot about life from being around John R. Cash. Johnny took us to Tahoe and Vegas for the first time. We would open with twenty minutes and then go off stage and sing some backup with him from behind the curtain. At the finale of his show we would join him onstage for a rollicking version of the old Gospel song, The Fourth Man. We didn't have two coins to rub together in our pockets, yet, here we were............ singing with a legend on the stage of the Las Vegas Hilton. But, it may have very well been offstage where he influenced us the most. In the summer of 1974 our heads were hanging low and we wondered if we even had a future. We had very few dates in the book and we were getting ourselves into debt by coming home from many trips with less money than we started out with. John, perhaps sensing that our spirits were a bit low invited us all up to the star suite of the Las Vegas Hilton for a late dinner one night after the show. Richard had been up here before with Elvis several years before and he showed us where all the bullet holes were. Johnny gave us a pep talk that would rival Knute Rockne or Vince Lombardi. He said, "Now Boys, there is magic in your group. All one has to do is stand here amongst you to feel this magic. If you give up.......... the rest of the world will never know what I know now. The Oak Ridge Boys are going to be big stars someday. So do NOT lose Hope or Faith...... in God........ OR, each other." We left that suite that night believing in our hearts that we would make it. Johnny Cash told us so! In 1978, at the Country Music Association Award Show, broadcast live from The Grand Ol Opry House in Nashville, TN. on CBS Television, the Oaks were given the award for Best Country Vocal Group. The host of this show was none other than Johnny Cash. The four Oak Ridge Boys ran to the stage but NOT to the acceptance speech podium. We ran to the host. We ran to the Man in Black and hugged him tightly. All he said was,"I told you!"