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Quote by Johnny Cash

“I had a song called "Folsom Prison Blues" that was a hit just before "I Walk The Line." And the people in Texas heard about it at the state prison and got to writing me letters asking me to come down there. So I responded and then the warden called me and asked if I would come down and do a show for the prisoners in Texas.”

Quote by Johnny Cash

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Johnny Cash, known as the 'King of Country', is a legendary American country music figure. His distinctive voice and emotional delivery style have won the affection of fans worldwide. Cash's career spanned over half a century, and he has created and performed numerous classic country music hits, such as 'Ring of Fire' and 'I Walk the Line'. more

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“We went down [Folsom Prison] and there's a rodeo at all these shows that the prisoners have there. And in between the rodeo things, they asked me to set up and do two or three songs. So that was what I did. I did "Folsom Prison Blues," which they thought was their song - you know? - and "I Walk The Line," "Hey Porter," "Cry, Cry, Cry." And then the word got around on the grapevine that Johnny Cash is all right and that you ought to see him.”

Knows Two Shows Song Three Lines Walks Cry Ought Prison Hey Prisoner Cash Rodeo Grapevine

Author:Johnny Cash

“The requests started coming in from other prisoners all over the United States. And then the word got around. So I always wanted to record that, you know, to record a show because of the reaction I got. It was far and above anything I had ever had in my life, the complete explosion of noise and reaction that they gave me with every song. So then I came back the next year and played the prison again, the New Year's Day show, came back again a third year and did the show.”

Knows Years States Shows Wanted Song Next United United States Records Thirds Prison Reactions Noise Prisoner New Year Explosions Next Year Request Back Again

Author:Johnny Cash

“I kept talking to my producers at Columbia about recording one of those [prison] shows. So we went into Folsom on February 11, 1968, and recorded a show live.”

Shows Talking Prison Producers February Columbia

Author:Johnny Cash

“My contract with mercury PolyGram Nashville was about to expire. And I never had really been happy. The company, the record company, just didn't put any promotion behind me. I think one album, maybe the last one I did, they pressed 500 copies. And I was just disgusted with it. And about that time that I got to feeling that way, Lou Robin, my manager, came to me and talked to me about a man called Rick Rubin that he had been talking to that wanted me to sign with his record company.”

Thinking Men Way Feelings Wanted Lasts Behinds Company Talking Records Albums Managers Copies Contracts Promotion Robins Record Companies Nashville Mercury Disgusted

Author:Johnny Cash

“That was American Recordings. I said, I like the name, maybe it'd be OK. So I said, I'd like to meet the guy [Rick Rubin ].I'd like for him to tell me what he can do with me that they're not doing now.”

Said Guy Names Can Do

Author:Johnny Cash

“Rick Rubin came to my concert in Orange County, Calif. I believe this was, like, '83 when he first came and listened to the show. And then afterwards, I went in the dressing room and sat and talked to him.”

Firsts Believe Shows I Believe Rooms Sat Concerts Orange Dressings County Dressing Rooms Orange County

Author:Johnny Cash

“Rick Rubin had his hair - I don't think it's ever been cut and very - dresses like a hobo, usually - clean but . Was the kind of guy I really felt comfortable with, actually. I think I was more comfortable with him than I would have been with a producer with a suit on.”

Thinking Kind Has Beens Guy Felt Cutting Hair Comfortable Dresses Clean Producers Suits Hobos

Author:Johnny Cash

“What I said, what are you [Rick Rubin] going to do with me that nobody else has been able to do to sell records with me?”

Has Beens Said Able Records Sells

Author:Johnny Cash

“Rick Rubin said, well, I don't know that we will sell records. He said, I would like you to go with me and sit in my living room with a guitar and two microphones and just sing to your heart's content everything you ever wanted to record. I said, that sounds good to me. So I did that. And day after day, three weeks, I sang for him.”

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Author:Johnny Cash

“When I finally stopped [singing], he had been saying, like, the last day or so, he'd been saying, now, I think we should put this one in the album. So without him saying I want to record you and release an album, he kept - he started saying, let's put this one in the album. So the album, this big question, you know, began to take form, take shape. And Rick [Rubin] and I would weed out the songs.”

Thinking Knows Want Should Bigs Lasts Form Song Records Shapes Singing Albums Release Weed Last Day Big Questions

Author:Johnny Cash