Johnny Cash died September 12, 2003, age 71.

Johnny Cash was born on February 26, 1932. That's today – except, 86 years in the past.

When Cash died back in 2003, I was pretty shaken up. I grew up listening to his music. Once I had my own home, his music was in constant rotation, along with bands like The Clash, The Pogues, and James.

Most of the people I know remember him from his latter day works, like his cover of "Hurt," or for Joaquin Phoenix's portrayal of him in Walk the Line. When I think of Johnny, it's for the fact that he never missed a chance to call bullshit on power or to highlight the plight of the less fortunate in the music that he wrote. "Man in Black" is a fine example of that.

Cash was no saint, but he tried hard to be a better person than he really was. I suppose, being something of an occasional turd myself, I still look to him in that regard. Read the rest

The late-great Johnny Cash had a playful sense of humor, as evidenced by this to-do list.

According to a 2012 New York Times article, the note, which was hand written by the legendary Man in Black, was sold at auction in 2010 for $6,250.

Julien's Auction reports the list appears on page 64 of the 2005 book, Cash: An American Man.

(bookofjoe)

photo by Jim Marshall (the story of Cash flipping the bird is here) Read the rest

This one goes out to Attorney General and volunteer Russia envoy Jeff Sessions. Read the rest