razor13

the first lp i was ever given was on my 4th birthday/x-mas in 67', it was titled "a man and his songs" , i recieved a johnny cash record from my grandma on this day for the next 5 years, he was my first musical inspiration and the beginning of my album collection, i remember the years my uncle was locked up in folsom and how i would play folsom prison live while i read his letters and how i would beg my mom to play it on the 8-track during the long drive from san bernardino to folsom during the holiday visits....i grew weary of alot the country/ blues as my 70's adolescence began(had to revolt somehow, so i went from aor to p-funk to punk), but i never grew tired of the man in black...even in my fist punk band the first pop tune that we covered for fun was "ring of fire", and i remember mike ness coming up to me and telling me what a kick ass song that was to cover, and i always get a chil when i hear "don't take your guns to town, son, leave your guns at home, bill, don't take your guns to town" i learned so much about tempo changes, being a humble man and battling demons from his songs and life stories....and about my own native history from "the ballad of ira hayes"....his tunes are a permanent part of my psyche and they have gotten me through hard times(i probably wouldn't of made it out of san quentin without that tune in my head to keep me calm and focused)....i give thanks for all that and then some and i wish him godspeed and my condolences to the carter/cash family.....