He was one of the greats, a living monument who shaped half a century of music history. There are photos of him that trace his life as if illuminated by flashbulbs. First, there is a boy in a windbreaker with a quiff in a small studio, surrounded by Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis, with whom he is practicing a song. The "House of Cash" in Nashville/Tenneessee shows the Legacy of the Man in Black, the great Johnny Cash.
Then, a tall, strong man who, after a concert in Folsom Prison that would make him famous, angrily sticks up his middle finger at an intrusive camera. Then there is a mature, attractive character sitting on a couch in a television studio, exuding charm and singing "I Never Will Marry" with Linda Ronstadt.
A Giant in Black
And finally, this giant in black with his guitar case, his hair now slightly gray, but his back unbowed. Johnny Cash, awake after a long night of pills and understimulation, ready to take his place again among America's most important artists.
Johnny Cash was 62 years old and had three international careers behind him when producer Rick Rubin offered to rescue him from the artistic basement in which the man from Arkansas had settled since the end of the '70s. Cash spent the '80s in a perpetual routine of touring, recording the same songs over and over again - and almost completely squandered his reputation.
The album called "American Recordings", which Rubin distilled from their joint recordings, brought Cash back into the light.
The country giant who had already given up was back. And, as his biographer Robert Hilburn described in "Johnny Cash - The Biography", he turned the last curve of a career relieved and happy.
His heart is in Nashville
This is being followed here, in the "House of Cash" in Nashville, Tennessee, where the air is already filled with the magic of music. The city, known as the home of country music, has many treasures to offer, but one of the most fascinating places is undoubtedly the museum dedicated to the Johnny Cash era.
The "House of Cash" brings together thousands of exhibits related to the man in black, including personal belongings, memorabilia, and documents. The House of Cash attracts visitors from all over the world who want to learn more about how the son of a poor American farmer doing his military service in the German town of Landsberg became a man who inspired millions.
It was only in Germany that Cash began to play the guitar. But he also fished on the side, as a permit issued by German bureaucrats proves. More importantly, he decided to become a musician, returned home, worked as a household appliance salesman, and stubbornly continued to forge his vision of one day being famous.
Successful like the Beatles
When the time came, Johnny Cash took on his role: when the word "star" for singer did not yet exist, he was one of those on par with Elvis, more successful than the Beatles, a role model for Stones guitarist Keith Richards, and a rebel in the conservative country music business, although he himself would remain a conservative-minded man throughout his life.
When you enter the museum, you are immediately struck by the aura of the uniquely independent artist. The walls are covered with photographs and posters documenting various stages in Johnny Cash's life and career. Born on February 26, 1932, in Kingsland, Arkansas, Cash grew up in modest circumstances. His childhood was characterized by hard work in the cotton fields but also by a deep love of music, which was instilled in him by his mother.
Boy from a small house
One of the first exhibits that catches your eye is the faithful replica of the small house in which Cash grew up. It is amazing to see how humble his beginnings were and how far he has come.
Next to it is a collection of handwritten song lyrics that give insight into the artist's creative process. Particularly impressive is the text of "I Walk the Line", one of his best-known songs, which was released in 1956 and made him a star overnight.
Cash was simply in the right place at the right time with the right attitude. Sam Phillips of Sun Records in Memphis, Tennessee, produced the hottest sound in the USA at the time, in the mid-'50s. With his unique baritone and the jagged "boom-chicka-boom" sound of his backing band Tennessee Three, Cash came just in time to become one of the leaders of the first pop revolution.
Feelings of guilt
But even in his success, he remained an artist plagued by feelings of guilt and temptation, who was unsure throughout his life whether his talents were really enough to fill the role that fate had given him at his persistent insistence.
The dignified, dark museum in his honor does not conceal the dark sides. In addition to display cases that contain some of Cash's iconic stage outfits - such as the black suit he wore for his legendary performance at Folsom Prison - personal memorabilia are on display that show the artist not as a national saint or as the head of his own television show, but as a sufferer.
He was so successful that he hardly had time to write songs anymore. He was an egomaniac who was not averse to any affair. And he searched in vain for a long time for an artistic path for the rest of his life after the Folsom performance in 1968 became the turning point in his career.
A laid-back Country-Singer
At that time, the laid-back country singer became the man who never denied his deep connection with ordinary people and the outsiders of society. Cash drew the energy and passion he showed on stage from this source.
Another fascinating area of the museum is the room dedicated to his collaborations with other music legends. Here you can find memorabilia from his performances with June Carter, his great love and musical partner, as well as with greats such as Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson. Particularly touching is a letter from June Carter to Johnny in which she expresses her love and admiration for him. These personal items provide deep insight into life behind the scenes and the relationships that influenced Cash's music.
"I wear the black for the poor"
The next room examines the political and social side of Johnny Cash. He was not only a musician but also a man of strong convictions. His songs such as "Man in Black" and "The Ballad of Ira Hayes" addressed social injustice and gave the oppressed a voice. An exhibition panel shows a quote from Cash: "I wear the black for the poor and the beaten down, livin' in the hopeless, hungry side of town." These words reflect his deep empathy and his desire to change the world through his music.
A special highlight of the museum is the room dedicated to his later years. Here you will find the guitar he used to record his "American Recordings" albums. These albums, released in the '90s, brought him a new generation of fans and showed that his music is timeless. The raw, emotional power of his voice in songs like "Hurt" and "The Man Comes Around" is palpable in every chord.
His legacy is here
The tour ends in a room dedicated to the numerous awards and honors Johnny Cash received throughout his career. From Grammy Awards to his induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame, the list is impressive. Yet despite all his success, Cash always remained humble and down-to-earth, which made him such a beloved and respected figure.
When you leave the "House of Cash," you feel inspired and moved, and the museum's designers can confidently hope that visitors will shop for the massive Cash merchandise like there's no tomorrow - from T-shirts, records, guitars, to coffee mugs. The journey through Johnny Cash's life and career can be taken here as a reminder that true greatness is defined not only by talent but also by character and integrity.
Johnny Cash's legacy lives on, not only through his music but also through the stories and memories preserved in the "House of Cash." It is a place that touches the soul and fills the hearts of visitors with the timeless magic of music.
