RIP Man in Black

Janice Brooks · Post by **Janice Brooks** » 12 Sep 2003 2:46 am

Regret I never met him but I knew him through music and computer connections.
Also regards to relatives of John Ritter.

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Janice "Busgal" Brooks
ICQ 44729047

Dave Boothroyd · Post by **Dave Boothroyd** » 12 Sep 2003 3:34 am

Hear hear to that. There are not many truly in international Country stars- it's a bit of a contradiction,I suppose, but JC was one of the few.
RIP
Dave

Bill Hatcher · Post by **Bill Hatcher** » 12 Sep 2003 4:07 am

Played a concert with him years ago. Incredible artist. 1500 songs recorded on 500 records according to the wire services. Hard to be sad over a life this amazing. He and Luther and June are probably having a time right now!

Paul Graupp · Post by **Paul Graupp** » 12 Sep 2003 5:13 am

Wasn't John Ritter the son of Tex Ritter who used to be an early icon of country music ??

WE worked an evening with Tex in the 60s. He was the star at an Officer's Club in K-Town, Germany. There has been a power failure after a thunderstorm. Candles were on all the tables and some lanterns on the stage. Our drummer; and bass player on an upright someone had left on the stage; and our accordian player backed him up as he told stories and sang for hours. He got a standing ovation from the elite of the US Army and afterwards, he spent another hour just chewing the fat with all of the Cimmaron Cowboys. You remember things like that for the rest of your life.

Regards, Paul

Ron Whitworth · Post by **Ron Whitworth** » 12 Sep 2003 5:30 am

Johnny will be missed by many..He was an Icon for sure & a major stylist too.He sounded like nobody else before or since him.I really think he just gave up after he lost June.He is a link to the article in the Nashville paper...........Ron
http://www.tennessean.com/entertainment/news/archives/03/09/39200475.shtml?Element_ID=39200475

Jody Carver · Post by **Jody Carver** » 12 Sep 2003 5:31 am

Paul
Yes John was Tex Ritters son. I asked him why
he didnt have his dads Texas drawl and he answered I do when I wear western clothes.

A real nice fellow,he was with Suzanne Somers
at a Music Publishers convention here in NYC.

I always liked his acting and had a great sense of humor. So young to leave us at an early age.

edited for spelling.<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Jody Carver on 12 September 2003 at 06:37 AM.]</p></FONT>

Terry Edwards · Post by **Terry Edwards** » 12 Sep 2003 5:58 am

I think it was Vince Gill that said "When Johnny Cash sings, everybody else sounds like a sissy"!

Johnny Cash wrote the liner notes to Bob Dylan's breakthrough album.

He's a member of both the R&R and Country music Hall Of Fame.

"Icon" suddenly seems like a small word.

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Terry Edwards
Fessy D-10; Nash 1000
Martin D-21; Flatiron F-5

Dale Bessant · Post by **Dale Bessant** » 12 Sep 2003 8:40 am

Another country legend on his way to "Hillbilly Heaven" good-bye John,I hope I get a chance to meet you and all the others when I pass........

Steve Pacholl · Post by **Steve Pacholl** » 12 Sep 2003 11:58 am

I had the pleasure of meeting JC a couple times. Moments I will never forget. I know people who knew/met Hank Williams and to me, meeting Johnny Cash was just as impressive.

When I met JC he was very accomodating, kind and sincere, but the feeling that his pressence gave off was huge and intimidating. As kind as he was to me I felt that if I pissed him off he could crush me. It was a weird sensation standing next to him and talking to him. He was a giant. So far I haven't met anyone else that made me feel that same sense of being and greatnes.

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 12 Sep 2003 12:35 pm

I played with Carlene Carter in the West End of London in the mid-'80s - the show was 'Pump Boys & Dinettes'.

Mr Cash came to visit his step-daughter twice during the run of that show - he introduced himself to me the first time, and came by the pit to say 'hello' the second time. I was touched by this courtesy, and awed by his presence - a real gentleman who was kind enough to express his appreciation of a mere 'sideman'.

Truly, he was one of popular music's giants.

RR

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 12 Sep 2003 2:52 pm

The first thing I said to my band when June Carter died was that watch for Johnny to go within a year. They were spiritually linked.
"Hurt" is a very stark spiritual video. Its Johnny saying goodbye. I will be playing Folsom Prison on Saturday night. Enjoy your music everyone. We are only here for a little while. Let love prevail. The wind is blowing. I can feel the earth turning right now.

Greg Simmons · Post by **Greg Simmons** » 12 Sep 2003 4:43 pm

MAN IN BLACK
by Johnny Cash

Well, you wonder why I always dress in black
Why you never see bright colors on my back?
And why does my appearance
Seem to have a sombre tone?
Well, there's a reason for the things that I have on

I wear the black for the poor and the beaten down
Livin' in the hopeless, hungry side of town
I wear it for the prisoner
Who has long paid for his crime
But is there because he's a victim of the times

I wear the black for those, who've never read
Or listened to the words, that Jesus said
About the road to happiness, through love and charity
Why, you'd think He's talking straight to you and me

Well, we're doin' mighty fine, I do suppose
In our streak-of-lightnin' cars and fancy clothes
But just so we're reminded of, the ones who are held back
Up front there oughta be a man in black

I wear it for the sick and lonely old
For the reckless ones, whose bad trip left them cold
I wear the black in mournin', for the lives that could have been
Each week we lose a hundred fine young men

And I wear it for the thousands who have died
Believin' that the Lord was on their side
I wear it for another hundred thousand who have died
Believin' that we all were on their side

Well, there's things that never will be right, I know
And things need changin' ev'rywhere you go
But 'til we start to make a move, to make a few things right
You'll never see me wear a suit of white

Aw! I'd love to wear a rainbow every day
And tell the world that ev'rything's OK
But I'll try to carry off a little darkness on my back
'Til things are brighter I'm the man in black

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Greg Simmons
Custodian of the Official Sho~Bud Pedal Steel Guitar Website