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His style, his voice, his persona, and the impact he had on music and culture would be enough reason for Johnny Cash to be my all-time favorite performer, but there are also personal reasons that reveal a bit about Johnny Cash, myself and my upbringing. My father passed away a few years ago and whenever I hear Johnny Cash's music I am returned in awe to my childhood, where my dad would rush home with the newest Cash album and the entire family would turn off the TV and fire up the record player. We'd sit and listen to his latest offering and laugh or cry or get angry or nostalgic with each song. Within a week or so, we'd be able to pluck the basic notes from the songs on our guitars, but were never happy because we didn't play it the way Johnny and his band did. Forever, larger-than-life Johnny will be linked in my mind with my larger-than-life dad. While I never met him or saw him perform, my father arranged a CB radio conversation with him for me when I was about 17 or so. Johnny was playing in the local community college gym and dad had two tickets. He didn't need them because he worked for the college and got in free. Instead of giving my friend and I the tickets he kept them to put away. He met Johnny, shook his hand, and explained how disappointed I probably was. Johnny asked Dad if we had a CB radio, which were very popular at the time. Dad said yes and Johnny and my Dad put together a surprise for me. After the show, my Dad ushered me into the family station wagon and we followed Johnny's tour bus as it rolled out of town. My Dad turned on the CB, flipped it to a specific channel, handed me the mic and said to break for the Cottonmouth. I did and the next voice I heard resonated throughout the car. It was Johnny Cash. We talked for about 10 minutes as we followed his bus. Johnny was obviously tired but he put aside 10 minutes of his time to give me a memory I'll never lose. My Dad and Johnny Cash - I can't remember one without remembering the other. So, you see, to me, the Man in Black was a hero, a winner, an inspiration and an adopted uncle. When I listen to new "country" music and think of Cash is that they don't make then like they used to and never will again. God Bless you Johnny and thanks, Dad.

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