He looked up at our eyes locked. And a smile evolved over his hardened yet tender face. He nodded and said, "Alright." I quickly let a stream of words flow from my mouth without thinking as I explained the experience I had seeing him, June and Roseanne at the Crazy Horse. He continued walking and the echo of his boots provided a rhythmic yet minimal soundtrack to his Cashesque response, "The Crazy Horse. Yeah. I like that venue."

He soon disappeared into the next intersecting corridor. For a moment I felt an opportunity missed. But then the reality hit me. Here I stood in the darkened halls of one of the busiest airports in the world alone with the man in black. My mind raced with the things I should have said. Could've said. Or never would've said.

But the imagery is imprinted. Unforgettable. Unlike many of my peers, I owned a number of Johnny Cash CDs. This may have been right about the time Rick Rubin and American Recordings discovered him. I can't remember. But we walked the line in the ring of fire as I headed to Prague and he headed to Europe for yet another tour.

When I arrived home on Saturday and through the faded plastic of a roadside newspaper vending machine read that Johnny Cash had died, I felt a pang of loss. Yet I remembered his performance. And I remembered the time we met. Alone — in the big city.

His first hit "I Walk The Line" could quite possibly have incubated the Rockabilly movement. His music transcended country, blues, pop and rock. It opened country music fans to pop, rock folk and blues, while paving the way for country rock and roll. His recent cover of Trent Reznor's Nine Inch Nails cut "Hurt" was nominated for 7 MTV music awards. Sadly, it only captured only one for cinematography. But even weeks before his death his influence and artistry is still recognized and respected by both fans and critics.

I'll miss Johnny Cash. But his music will always find a home on record, CD, MP3 or whatever is next.

Thanks John.

From The Digital TavernPast posts about Johnny Cash at the Digital Tavern: Circumstance | June