Cash birthday tribute concert draws Chesney, Kristofferson, Johnson
Tuesday, February 28, 2012 – Johnny Cash would have turned 80 this year, and artists ranging from Kenny Chesney to Jamey Johnson to Kristofferson to Chris Cornell will join for "We Walk The Line: A Celebration of the Music of Johnny Cash," an April 26 concert in Austin.
The concert will be at Austin City Limits Live at The Moody Theatre. Other performers are Carolina Chocolate Drops, Ronnie Dunn, Ray LaMontagne, Amy Lee and Lucinda Williams, as well as performances by Brandi Carlile, Andy Grammer, John Hiatt, Shooter Jennings and Rhett Miller with more performers to be announced shortly. Tickets go on-sale to the general public on Wednesday, Feb. 29.
"Our family is honored to know that this amazing line-up of artists will gather together on one stage to pay tribute to the music and history of my father," said John Carter Cash. "There is no doubt in my mind that, although he is no longer with us in body, his spirit will shine true on this night thanks to these inspired artists."
"Having been a fan of Johnny Cash and his music for as long as I can remember I could not be more excited to produce an event that honors such a musical legend," said event producer Keith Wortman. "His iconic voice, style and authenticity has inspired musicians for generations and we are proud to be able to celebrate his artistic legacy with some of today's greatest entertainers while also benefitting such an amazing children's cause Charley's Fund."
An all-star band led by Don Was includes Buddy Miller, Kenny Aronoff, Ian McLagen, and Greg Leisz. Was, who worked with Cash on an album for The Highwaymen, will serve as musical director. Charley's Fund helps find a cure for the fatal children's disease Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
"We Walk The Line: A Celebration of the Music of Johnny Cash" will be produced and distributed in conjunction with Legacy Recordings, the division of Sony Music Entertainment that serves as the home of Johnny Cash's music catalog.
Cash's 80th Birthday celebration kicks off on Feb. 26, the day which would have been his 80th birthday, with the ground-breaking of the Johnny Cash Boyhood Home Project in Dyess, Ark. The house that Cash grew up in will become a permanent tribute to him and his family's early life, as well as reflecting a historical slice of American life during the 1930s Great Depression. In addition, Legacy Recordings is set to celebrate this landmark year with a full slate of projects to be released throughout the next 12 months. First up is "Bootleg Vol. IV: The Soul of Truth," a 2-CD, 51-track collection which comprises gospel and spiritual recordings made by Cash in the 1970s and '80s, to be released on April 3.
More news for Johnny Cash
CD reviews for Johnny Cash
Bootleg Vol. IV: The Soul of Truth
For the most recent addition to the Johnny Cash Bootleg Series, Columbia Records/Legacy Recordings dipped into the deep well of Cash's gospel and spiritual recordings for Columbia and smaller boutique labels throughout the 1970s and '80s. This set is unique from its predecessors thanks in large part to the three full-length studio albums contained within.
The 2-disc, 51-track collection, released in conjunction with ongoing celebrations of Cash's 80th birthday, gets off to a »»» |
From Memphis To Hollywood
Legacy Recordings' latest release of archival Johnny Cash material is a bit of a mixed bag. Although the set is packed with goodies from the start of Cash's career, the 57 tracks on this 2-disc set cover a lot of musical territory with recordings ranging from radio appearances and early demos to non-album singles, B-sides and other rarities, resulting in a collection that ultimately lacks cohesion. If you can remove the idea of a fully-realized album from your head and view the set as a »»» |
American VI: Ain't No Grave
To say that this is the death knell from Johnny Cash would be an understatement. That was made clear by the aging, withering Man in Black when he recorded the title track with the opening words "There ain't no grave that can hold my body down." This CD surfaces seven years after the death of Cash and is said to be the final of a series of six CDs he recorded with ace producer Rick Rubin (he has worked with everyone from the Dixie Chicks to the Red Hot Chili Peppers), who helped lead »»» |
Editorial: Walking the talk –
When names like Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Waylon and the Hag are invoked, you're talking hard core country. These are the touchstones of country , the guys who made country music what it was and still is (or maybe can be). When these folks would sing about being down-and-out and the rough-and-tumble, they knew of what they were singing about. Fast forward a few years to the country singers of today. »»»
Concert Review: McGraw has plenty of fight left –
Despite the fact that Tim McGraw is five years sober, fit as a triathlete and touring behind a number one album, he is still in an unenviable position. As he approaches 50, McGraw has to stay a step ahead of the current crop of young country hunks with TV shows, cross format radio airplay and wider appeal. But as he proved at First Niagara's... »»»
Concert Review: Steve Earle doesn't rest (on laurels) –
If you didn't realize Steve Earle had a new disc out, "The Low Highway," it would have been no problem realizing that quite and quickly.
That was because Earle started the two-hour show with three straight tracks from "The Low Highway," and he would not be done for the night. The title track of was a midtempo effort... »»»
|
|
Country News Digest
 CST
 CST
Elsewhere in the news
Currently at the CST blogs
Some folks listening to Kelly Willis and Bruce Robison's new duet album, "Cheaters Game," may well exclaim, 'Well, it's about time!' after finally hearing these two talented country singer/songwriters recording music as a pair for the first time. Willis has built quite a following for her independently-minded feminine perspective, while Robison has written hits for the Dixie Chicks ( Travelin' Soldier) and Tim McGraw and Faith Hill ( Angry All the Time), as well as penning the ultimate Willie Nelson tribute, What Would Willie Do? and recording it as a solo act.
... »»»
Last fall, singer/songwriter Steve Forbert dropped the 14th studio album of his 35-year career, the impeccable "Over With You." Critics recognized the album as a return to the form Forbert displayed on his earliest works - 1978's stripped back and personal "Alive on Arrival" and 1979's more lushly produced and commercially accessible "Jackrabbit Slim" - but the fact is that Forbert has never strayed far from their basic folk/rock tenets.... »»»
Over the course of the past 20 years or so, Jim Lauderdale and Buddy Miller have both experienced a certain rise in their respective rootsy country profiles. Miller has become one of Nashville's hottest speed dial numbers, as an artist, a guitarist-for-hire (a role he has performed for Lucinda Williams, Emmylou Harris and Robert Plant, among others) and an intuitive producer (he's currently working with Executive Music Producer T Bone Burnett to provide the soundtrack for ABC's "Nashville" television series).... »»»
Wilderness
"Wilderness" is another twisted menagerie of The Handsome Family songs. Once again, husband Brett Sparks sings their songs, sometimes in a bellowing gravedigger voice, after adding music to wife Rennie's lyrics. This time out, each and every tune is named after an animal, insect or other such nature creature. However, Rennie studies animals the way Flannery O'Connor wrote about humans, which is with the weirdness and character flaws in primary focus. »»» |
Love Is Everything
George Strait may have reached his seventh decade, but he shows zero signs of slowing down. In fact, Strait seems to be getting even more consistent as he gets older. Strait doesn't stray all that far from the formula that has resulted in superstar status. First and foremost, that means his sonorous voice is mixed far above the music, a very good thing. »»» |
Dark Dirty Mile
Jason Boland and the Stragglers have released a new country album that sounds old. This isn't to imply that the sound is aged in a negative way; they have a classic country maturity that isn't heard too much these days with the exception of Jamey Johnson. For those not familiar with the music of Boland, the first track is a great way to decide whether this is your kind of country music. The title track is a mid tempo country song reminiscent of the late Waylon Jennings. »»» |
Golden
Lady Antebellum probably needed a change in direction after "Own the Night" dropped in 2011. The material was overly geared towards taking dead aim at the radio jugular. That isn't the case this time out on the trio's fifth release because most of the songs veer away from being obviously radio fodder (except for the current single Downtown with its soulful beginning and strong vocals from Hillary Scott), but that also doesn't man that this was the right change. »»» |
Annie Up
For those who thought "Hell on Heels" was a one-off side project for Miranda Lambert (along with sidekicks Angaleena Presley and Ashley Monroe), think again. The Annies, aka "Lonestar Annie" (Lambert), "Hippie Annie" (Monroe), and "Holler Annie" (Presley), are no novelty act. Instead, they tackle material that you just are unlikely to hear on mainstream country radio both in subject matter and sonics. »»» |
|
