LaRue: 'The Life' chronicles Johnny Cash vividly : Diane Larue
“Hello, I’m Johnny Cash”. If you remember hearing that
phrase in that iconic baritone voice, then Robert Hilburn’s comprehensive new
biography, Johnny Cash: The Life is one of fall’s not-to-be-missed books.
Hilburn was the editor and pop music critic for the Los
Angeles Times from 1970-2005, and his meticulous research and flowing writing
style elevates this biography from good to great.
The book takes the reader through Cash’s entire life, from
his days as a child, living with his family in Dyess, Arkansas, picking cotton
on their land and singing gospel songs his mother taught him.
When John’s brother Jack died tragically in a farming
accident, it devastated the entire family. John admired and loved his older
brother and was destroyed when his father said aloud that it was John’s fault
Jack died, even though there was no basis in fact for that.
Jack’s death colored the rest of John’s life; he never got
over it. John loved music and after a stint in Germany in the military where he
began to write songs and wrote to a young girl, Vivian Liberto, whom he met back
home.
John courted Vivian, and when he came home they married and
ended up in Memphis. There he met two other men, and they played music
together. When Sam Phillips opened Sun Studio in Memphis, they began to get
serious about a career in music.
Hilburn interviewed many people for this book, and at the
end, he lists chapter by chapter with whom he talked. Over the years, he had interviewed
Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash, so he had a personal knowledge of his
subject, which adds a great deal to this book.
This is a big book at 688 pages, but Cash led a big life,
and calling Johnny Cash- The Life is more than apt. From the successes and
good times to the pervasive drug use and infidelities, not only with June but
with other women, and dwindling sales and creative dry spells, this book covers
an amazing American life.
There are so many fascinating stories, and many of them have
been covered before in other books and the terrific movie 2005 “Walk the Line”,
but there is a depth here that gives a much more complete picture of his life.
After the success of the late 1960’s with the incredible “Johnny
Cash at Folsom Prison- Live” album, Cash hosted a successful variety show on
ABC. He clashed frequently with ABC executives about the format of the show; he
wanted to feature interesting musical guests and themed shows revolving around
gospel music and folk music, they wanted circus themes and popular country
music stars.
The 1970s and 80s were less kind to Cash. He recorded dozens
of albums, few of them successful artistically or commercially. He was dropped
by Columbia Records and moved to Mercury, but his slide continued.
Cash was supporting a large entourage, and June spent money
extravagantly, so he had to tour hundreds of days a year to make enough money
to support everyone. It was exhausting, and the drug use continued, much to the
dismay of people close to Cash.
At the end of Cash’ career, he met iconoclastic producer
Rick Rubin, best known for his collaborations with hip hop and rap artists.
Rubin spoke extensively to Hilburn, so this part of the book is especially vivid.
Cash did four CDs with Rubin, and it revived him artistically. Although his health was deteriorating
to the point where he couldn’t see or walk, his sessions with Rubin were a high
point creatively. He won multiple Grammys, and was even nominated for an MTV
Video of the Year Award for his video “Hurt”, which is now considered by many
to be one of the finest videos ever made.
Hilburn brilliantly conveys the life of an American icon.
From the Depression-era impoverished family life to musical superstardom to
eventual decline to phoenix-like rise at the end of his career, from a failed
first marriage to finding lifelong love with June and becoming a good father,
from drug use to failing health and losing his beloved wife, this is a book not
only for Johnny Cash fans, but for everyone who likes a good biography.
If you weren’t a fan before reading this, you will be after,
and you’ll be searching out Cash CDs as well. This is simply one of the best
books of the year, I give it five stars.
You can read an excerpt from Johnny Cash- The American
Life on Hilburn’s website at roberthilburnonline.com.
Bloggers Recommend review is here.
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